Featured Artist: Daniel Mitsui

Meet Daniel Mitsui, a popular Catholic fine artist, as Alix Murray and Kathryn Laffrey interview him about integration of Celtic and other styles into his religious art and ask him about his journey as an artist; his unique styles and influences, and the importance of beauty.

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Turning Darkness Into Light

Explore the influence of St. Colmcille on sacred art, especially the Book of Kells. Alix Murray and Kathryn Laffrey delve into the significance of the Iona abbey founded by St. Colmcille, the symbolism in Celtic crosses, and the relationship between Celtic Christianity and sacred art.

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Pisanki: Make Them, Bless Them, Share and Eat Them!

Learn the art of Polish Easter eggs. Kathryn Laffrey, along with cohost Alix Murray, shares how to make the wonderfully delicate and beautiful decorated Easter eggs called Pisanki. Originally an Easter special episode for Patrons, we’ve now made it available to our whole audience.

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The Secret of Kells

Exploring the intersection of art, history, and faith, Alix Murray, Kathryn Laffrey, and Jeff Haecker discuss the 2009 animated film The Secret of Kells, the historical significance of the Book of Kells; the blend of Christian themes with Irish folklore; the clash between paganism and Christianity; and the film’s use of Celtic imagery

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Mass on the Hood of a Jeep: The Art and History of Military Travel Altars

Portable traveling altars have been used throughout Church and military history. Kathryn Laffrey and Alix Murray explore the use, development, and art of field altars from the early Church, the American Civil War, both World Wars, and today.

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Our Glorious Heavenly Hosts: A Survey of Angels in Sacred Art

Explore the history and symbolism of angels in sacred art with Alix Murray and Kathryn Laffrey as they draw on Catholic doctrine and history to examine angelic depictions across various art forms and periods, emphasizing their roles as messengers and guardians.

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Ste. Anne de Detroit: Basilica Breakdown

In the first of a series, Kathryn Laffrey and Alix Murray take a deep dive, exploring the art and images of the Basilica of Ste. Anne in Detroit; its historical and architectural significance; and the symbolic significance of the various design elements.

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Architecture and the Liturgy

How do the art and architecture of churches contribute to Catholic liturgy? Kathryn Laffrey and Alix Murray discuss the elements of the Catholic church, incuding verticality, permanence, and iconography, highlighting how these features connect the faithful to the divine, as well as the history of church architecture across cultures.

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Pugin: God’s Architect

Augustus Pugin was a 19th-century English Catholic artist and architect. Kathryn Laffrey and Alix Murray discuss his enduring works in architecture, design, and art and how Catholicism both informed his work, but also affected him in the face of anti-Catholic bias.

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Ghent Altarpiece, Part 2 – Images and Restoration

What is the Ghent altarpiece, also known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, by the Van Eyck brothers? Kathryn Laffrey and Alix Murray explore its history, intricate details, and symbolism. highlighting its artistic, historical, and spiritual significance.

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Ghent Altarpiece, Part 1 – The Artists

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as the Adoration of the Mystical Lamb, is an incredible piece of sacred art. Kathryn Laffrey and Alix Murray tell us about the brothers who painted the altarpiece, Hubert and Jan van Eyck, their world, their other works, and religious themes in their art.

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The Secrets of Monuments Men

In this crossover of Secrets of Sacred Art and Secrets of Movies and TV Shows, Kathryn Laffrey, Alix Murray, and Thomas Salerno discuss the 2014 film Monuments Men and the true story and real sacred art involved in the daring WWII effort to rescue great works of art.

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The Art of Bouguereau

Enter the captivating world of Bouguereau’s art. Alix Murray and Kathryn Laffrey explore this 19th-century painter’s works, its fame and fall from grace in the 20th century, and the profound historical, religious, and artistic significance and why it remains so popular among Catholics.

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Catholic Ladders: Teaching the Faith with Images

Catholic ladders were visual representations of the faith used for teaching the catechism. Alix Murray and Kathryn Laffrey discuss their use in the Pacific Northwest missions in the 19th century and the power of visual imagery and symbolism to convey religious truth to varied audiences.

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