Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Part Three

activity, art is not an absolute end in itself, but is ordered to and ennobled by the ultimate end of man. 296 2502 Sacred art is true and beautiful when its form corresponds to its particular vocation: evoking and glorifying, in faith and adoration, the transcendent mystery of God—the surpassing invis ible beauty of truth and love visible in Christ, who “reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature,” in whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” 297 This spiritual beauty of God is reflected in the most holy Virgin Mother of God, the an gels, and saints. Genuine sacred art draws man to adoration, to prayer, and to the love of God, Creator and Savior, the Holy One and Sanctifier. 2503 For this reason bishops, personally or through delegates, should see to the promotion of sacred art, old and new, in all its forms and, with the same religious care, remove from the liturgy and from places of worship everything which is not in conformity with the truth of faith and the authentic beauty of sacred art. 298

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IN BRIEF

“You shall not bear false witness against your neigh bor” ( Ex 20:16). Christ’s disciples have “put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” ( Eph 4:24). Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists in showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and guarding against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy. The Christian is not to “be ashamed of testifying to our Lord” ( 2 Tim 1:8) in deed and word. Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith. Respect for the reputation and honor of persons for bids all detraction and calumny in word or attitude. Lying consists in saying what is false with the inten tion of deceiving one’s neighbor.

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296 Cf. Pius XII, Musicae sacrae disciplina; Discourses of September 3 and December 25, 1950.

297 Heb 1:3; Col 2:9. 298 Cf. SC 122-127.