그리스도교 미술의 역사적 고찰을 통한 전례미술의 기능과 역할에 관한 연구

Study on functions and roles of liturgical art through historical inquiry of Christian art

Liturgical art has the function of a medium that communicate with God in a religious world of Christianity. In other words, art expresses invisible religion to be visible with abstract symbol and metaphorical expression. A ritual has meanings of worship, admiration and participation in the festival for God living with us surpassing time and space. This study aimed to become a cornerstone of future church art development by studying the history of Christian art and the role of liturgical art in the contemporary Catholic Church. First, it has a doctrine educating role delivering messages of the Bible. The themes of the Bible shown in paintings and sculptures of all ages helps illiterates to step closer to the salvation mystery just like understanding messages of God by reading the Bible. Second, Catholic churches are the places where 7 Sacramentum including the sacrament and the baptism, the most important things in Catholic Church, take place. Also, it is the actual element and a tool of liturgical art. Third, beautiful liturgical art has important roles of rituals and inspiring devotions of believers by increasing mystery of church spaces. Human beings prefer substances they can actually see and touch to a conceptual world of letters and languages. By respect and the rosary for sacred images and objects, they raise their religious devotion. Fourth, liturgical art is the expression of religion of the church community formed over a long time in the history and the culture of perpetual Catholic Church. It plays a central role of sharing religious experiences of each community by speaking for the age and the culture and the sentiment of the people. Fifth, it has a role of evangelization and prophecy. Built churches should be recognized as a symbol of hope and salvation even to those who have never been to church. Liturgical art including Catholic churches should do a role of propagandizing Christianity to the world. The most important thing in Liturgical art is creating beauty with integrated ritual functions and artistry by harmonizing all arts including paintings, sculptures, stained glass and ritual crafts with church construction as an organic whole. Liturgical art is an act of revealing glory of God in churches with blessed creativity and the realization of holy religion through Catholic religions, development of believers' devotion and services in religious education.