St. Peter's Basilica

highly religious for thousands of years, and attributed their success as a world power to their collective piety in maintaining good relations with the Gods. Churches like the Roman Catholic church, located inside Rome in the Vatican City, or St. Peter’s Basilica, were so important to people because churches like in Rome, were built by common people, like the artisans. And build so grandly to show their representation to God. These churches were protected greatly from enemies, with security…

In the 15th century, the Medici family ruled over Florence. They were a family of bankers and merchants who rose to power due to their enormous wealth. They were also influential in the art community by being patrons of artists such as Donatello and Michelangelo. Their interest in humanism would have them seek out artists to paint or sculpt classical figures such as Venus from Roman mythology or David from the Bible. They would also help with funding the construction of the Florence…

father to Venice to study with a composer known by the name of Francesco Gasparini. Domenico Scarlatti had lived during the Baroque era and had written some operas. In 1715, he had composed his most popular piece of music at the Julian Chapel at St. Peter’s. His piece of music called the Stabat Mater had become so popular that it had been used as a Catholic hymn. Sadly most of his other masterpieces didn’t make it into the hymns. They had eventually faded away and were soon forgotten.…

Leonardo da Vinci, Jan Van Eyck, Michelangelo, and Raphael captured in art the translation of the word Renaissance, meaning “rebirth” or “reawakening.” Throughout the period, from the late 14th century to the end of the 16th century, artists discovered new techniques and attributes of artistic design, as well as created many of the most famous and beloved sculptures and paintings of all time. As da Vinci commented, “A beautiful body perishes, but a work of art dies not.” Italy introduced…

Homeless Jesus, also known as Jesus the Homeless, is a bronze sculpture by Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz in 2015 that depicts Jesus as a homeless person. The sculpture is located outside just St. Mary’s Catholic Church in downtown San Antonio. It honors The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and The People of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and was given by Edward and Linda Speed whose family have been members of the Church for over 100 years. Homeless Jesus depicts The Son of God lying on a…

Pope Leo X was selling indulgences and relics to pay for the building of St Peter’s Basilica but Martin Luther didn’t like this, so he wrote his 95 Theses stating his problems with the corrupt Catholic Church. This started the Reformation and Martin Luther went on to start the Lutheran church that relied solely on the Bible for its…

fill the hole of a sin to make the person complete. This practice was believed to lessen the sinner's time in purgatory and even save the soul of a dead person. Pope Leo X pushed for the sale of more indulgences to get money to rebuild the St. Peter's Basilica. Martin Luther became outraged at the corruption of this practice arguing that the pope was misleading in the issuing of these indulgence, that one cannot conduct enough good deeds get into heaven, and that salvation could not simply be…

Renaissance Architecture A little about Renaissance Architecture The Renaissance architectural period is the period in from 15th century till the 17th century in Europe. Actually Renaissance architecture pursues or follows the Gothic architecture and. The Renaissance architecture can also be described as the renewal and development thought material and culture. Renaissance architecture was developed in Florence, Italy with Filippo Brunelleschi whom we will talk later, one of its finest…

society who preferred to pay money, say a lot of prayers, and partake in many masses in order to shorten their suffering in Purgatory. The selling of indulgences had become an industry for the Papacy, so much so that it paid for the building of St. Peters Basilica, one the largest church’s of its time. Selling indulgences was an unbiblical doctrine created by the Catholic Church.…

The 95 theses was wrote in 1517 by Martin Luther as a protest of selling in indulgences. Salvation could only be reached by faith and divine grace only. One of the most popular legends say the Luther nailed the 95 theses to the Wittenberg castle church door. The 95 theses would start to become the foundation for the Protestant Reformation. The 95 theses quickly spread through Germany and started making their way to Rome. The 95 theses refueled the Reformation that resulted in the rebirth of…