“The wisdom of the word as a guide on the paths of everyday life” is the justification for the Per Artem Ad Deum medal awarded to Anselm Grün, a theologian, writer and monk. Under the auspices of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education, the award was presented in one of the most important Benedictine monasteries with over 1,200 years of history – Münsterschwarzach Abbey.
Anselm Grün shows that spirituality is of crucial importance in the life of modern man; his works not only help people understand Christianity but also inspire deeper reflection on the meaning of life, faith and man’s place in the world. Anselm Grün books and all publications are written in a simple. Yet, original language which conveys the richness of the Christian message to people seeking spirituality, thus presenting typical religious themes from a new perspective.
Creativity that offers inspiration
– Anselm Grün creativity has been inspiring and responding to the needs of the times for years. He is an outstanding book author – not only does he write on spirituality and is a spiritual guide on the most important aspects of human existence. Together with one of the previous winners of the Per Artem Ad Deum Medal – the Czech Rev. Prof. Tomas Halik, they undertook the task in the book “Is God Absent?: Faith, Atheism, and Our Search for Meaning”. A significant relationship between faith and unbelief is discussed – said the President of Targi Kielce, Dr. Andrzej Mochoń, at the medal presentation.
Anselm Grün’s first book, “Purity of Heart”, was published in 1976; since then he has written 300 publication, with the total circulation of over 14 million copies. The books have been translated into many languages, including Chinese, Spanish, Czech, Korean, Romanian, Swedish, and Italian. Father’s work is very well known and appreciated also in Poland, as his books have been published by “W Drodze” Publishing House, St. Wojciech Publishing House, Jedność Publishing House and WAM Publishing House, to name a few.
Beauty brings people together, regardless of religion.
Anselm Grün is modest about his achievements as he says, his goal has always been to show the beauty of the Christian heritage and tradition.
– I’m not an artist, but a writer. I think that my books on the beauty of the Christian heritage and tradition paved the way for my Per Artem Ad Deum award. I wanted to make people aware that the message of Christianity is not primarily morality but beauty and goodness; as beauty is something that unites all people, regardless of religion – emphasises Anselm Grün.
A Monk and Man
Brother Ansgar Stüfe, director of the Vier-Türme-Verlag publishing house, which has published Grün’s books for years, emphasises the enormous effort the Benedictine put into developing his writing career.
– Anselm Grün’s great success is the result of his hard work I witnessed how the Father began his writer-monk work. At the beginning, small-format books of several dozen pages devoted to various socio-scientific theories and issues were created and these books mainly reached small towns. Then Father developed his own writing spirit. Recently, our printing house received the latest book by Anselm Grün. His autobiography “The Monk and the Man” – said Brother Ansgar Stüfe, Director of the Vier-Türme-Verlag Publishing House.
Münsterschwarzach Abbey – a place of spiritual development
Münsterschwarzach Abbey, where Anselm Grün has dwelled his spiritual and creative life for years, is not only a place of prayer but also a vibrant community. The Benedictines run a school attended by 850 students. In the monastery there are about 20 different workshops: metal, electrical, painting, two printing houses, two publishing houses, a bakery, a butcher’s shop and a sewing workshop. The monks also grow grain, maise and potatoes on lands which are a part of the abbey.
Through Arts to God
“Per Artem ad Deum” gala awarding ceremony has accompanied the International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO for years. This is the only distinction of this type awarded by the Pontifical Council for Culture. 31 distinguished laureates have already been recognised with this award since 2005. The accolade fellowship included such masters as the composers Ennio Morricone, Arvo Pärt, Wojciech Kilar and Krzysztof Penderecki, directors Giuseppe Tornatore and Krzysztof Zanussi, architects Stanisław Niemczyk and Mario Botta, sculptors Arnaldo Pomodoro and Wincenty Kućma, and theologian Fr. Tomáš Halík
The 2023 Per Artem Ad Deum Award was granted under the auspices of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education.