The Neocatechumenal Way initiator, outstanding painter, theologian, writer and musician – Kiko Argüello was awarded the medal “Per Artem ad Deum”

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At the Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Rome, the awarding a ceremony of the “Per artem ad Deum” medal; the accolade presented to the co-initiator of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Argüello. Sunday, December 1 witnessed the assembly attended by, inter alia Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Metropolitan of Łódź, artists collaborating with Kiko, and his closest friends. The event gained extra splendour owing to the performance by the Orchestra of the Neocatechumenal Way

The International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious SACROEXPO – for twenty years SACROEXPO has combined the sacred with the business world. Every year SACROEXPO attracts distinguished guests from the world of culture and religion and creates a space for dialogue and exchange. In this spirit, since 2005 the exhibition has hosted the Per Artem Ad Deum Awarding ceremony which was granted the honorary auspices of the Pontifical Council for Culture (from 2005 to 2022). The Medal has been awarded to artists or institutions whose artistic achievements and heritage contribute to cultural development and shape man’s spirituality. Subsequent laureates receive the medal under the auspices of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, which was established in 2022. The Per Artem Ad Deum for 2024 under the auspices of the Dicastery was awarded to Kiko Argüello. The medal presentation ceremony was held at the Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Rome. The event was graded by the presence of Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, who spoke about the beauty of art and culture, as well as the significance of the Per Artem Ad Deum medal:

– Properly experiencing the Per Artem Ad Deum idea requires not only talent but also effort, discernment, the discipline of poverty, prayer, and vigilance. The award bestowed today therefore concerns not only artistic skills, but also the radicalism of the Gospel life. The way Per Artem Ad Deum is the way of God. God himself prepares it and sends it to man. – said Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś in his laudation;

Andrzej Mochoń PhD, Targi Kielce, President of the Board, highlighted Kiko Argüello’s work significance.

 By presenting the medal to Kiko Argüello, we wish to acknowledge his significant contribution to sacred art and his strong commitment to the work of evangelization expressed in the Neocatechumenal Way community. Kiko’s work goes far beyond the boundaries of traditional artistic creation, inspiring and transforming the hearts of people around the world. – said President Andrzej Mochoń.

At the ceremony, the winner of the award, Kiko Argüello, also spoke, referring to the text of “The Idiot” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, which says that “beauty will save the world”:

– Christ Jesus Himself is the only true beauty; His love revealed on the cross – love for enemies. Man, created beautiful in God’s image and likeness, sinks into ugliness through sin. Only the saving and gratuitous love of Jesus for the sinner can make him and the entire Church (composed of sinners) beautiful again, like the apocalyptic “New Jerusalem adorned with jewels like a bride for her husband” – said the 2024 Medal winner of the Per Artem Ad Deum.

Father Segundo Tejado also delivered a speech, presenting in detail the figure and work of the medal winner and  emphasised that thanks to Kiko Argüello, religious aod spiritual art is transferred to the heart of the Church to lead man to an encounter with God, among others through the beauty of the liturgy, the interior design of temples, and music.

The full broadcast of the Per Artem Ad Deum award ceremony is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/tmE4Xnx7YeI?app=desktop&si=aoMA78fQImCQ2Q-s

The accolade fellowship has included 32 – outstanding creators masters as 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. Stanisław Rodziński and Jerzy Jan Skąpski, mosaicist Alexander Kornoukhov, and theologian and writer Anselm Grün. These personalities transcended the boundaries of time and space with their works and lead us to the transcendent.

The upcoming Per Artem Ad Deum medal will be awarded at the upcoming 26th the  International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO. Targi Kielce, 2-4 June  2024.

Benedictine monk Anselm Grün awarded the Per Artem Ad Deum – the Papal Medal.

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“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.