I - Introduction

Inspired from the french expression Brillant de Beaut, which signifies that there is always something splendorous in beauty that captures the heart, I would like to begin the module we have today. But before that, let us take a look first at our objectives:
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to understand that art is an integral component of Philippine festivities; to identify three properties of beauty taught by St. Thomas Aquinas to facilitate appreciation; to view movie clips to enhance understanding of these properties; and to make own embellishment of a festivity mask.

Catholic biogeneticist Jerome LeJeune,

who isolated the Down syndrome gene, spoke of man as the animal who could be filled with admiration, the animal admirante who could be swept up by the radiance of the beautiful. *** Here narration of the longings of paradise ever since Adam and Eve left there *** Before we will do come copying about common festivals celebrated in the Philippines. Let us watch movie clips when at times taken for granted by human beings but nature unfolds as it should: 1) The grandeur and the beauty under the sea 2) The hummingbird with its amazing costume.. From the usb: 3) The bowerbird; and 4) The Phantom of the Opera

Inspired by the impressive words of the Servant of God, John Paul II, in his Letter to the Artists, "Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart."; the Brilliance of Beauty Summer Camp (BBSC) is borne. Based on Our Lord's call to perfection this summer camp adopts this motto: Be you therefore perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. It is apropos to speak a little bit on beauty. St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor of the Church, commenting on The Divine Names by Dionysius, cited beauty to be the motive and reason for God's creating the world in the first place. "Because God possesses His own beauty, He wished to multiply it as far as possible through the

communication of His own likeness [which every being bears]." And he adds, "For all things are made so that they may portray the divine beauty in some way." In order to avoid any form of deviation in understanding and in order not to fall into any kind of misinterpretation of the word beauty, it is herein defined according to the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas. He writes that its properties are three, namely: clarity or radiance, proportion or harmony, and integrity or wholeness.
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Clarity or radiance is what first attracts us to a beautiful object, whether it be a person, a scene from nature, or a painting. By clarity, this does

not only mean ordinary brightness, for even the darkest night lit by a pale moonlight may call forth an experience of the beautiful, and even the sunless depths of the sea under certain conditions may unveil its marvelous treasures. Thus, St. Thomas hesitates not in affirming that the intimate association of light with beauty marks the ingredient of knowledge that is present in beauty, so that the beautiful always has a cognitive element in it, though not necessarily in a form that can be expressed adequately in ideas, concepts, and words.... Imagine the awe that a beholder has staring at the

dazzling luminosity of a gothic Cathedral's stained glass window!

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The second feature of beauty according to St. Thomas, is proportion or harmony. As we observe closely the light of a setting sun bouncing on the stillness of a lovely lake, we are struck with an inner order that composes the scene; a harmony that lends its gracious glow to the scene. We also experience a kind of "rightness" or unity that we also find in a well-played symphony, a well-rendered song, a well-performed dance, a well-composed painting, or a well-directed life. Lastly, the third feature of beauty, St. Thomas explains,

is the integrity of the object; that is, a certain wholeness that spells completion and that gives us at least a fleeting sense of rest. The Brilliance of Beauty Summer Camp (BBSC) is committed in providing the vehicle/means so that learners retain information learned during the school year, in addition to acquiring additional knowledge through the learning experience that the camp provides. Camp curriculum is theme oriented, with planned activities that allow campers to share and display their special skills and talents. Young campers are given wellresearched input that prepares them to discover their various vocations in life. It is the camp's

goal to lead them on the great path by which every human being ascends to God Who is Truth, Beauty and Goodness Himself inspired by the educational methods and philosophies of our Catholic Faith. All decisions spring from the realization that in order to build up a truly Christian society, Truth must be proclaimed effectively, Virtue must be lived and Beauty celebrated.

Part II

Vision

The ideal young camper/learner that the Brilliance of Beauty Summer Camp (BBSC) hopes to "produce" is one who has discovered BEAUTY as the key that opens the door along with Truth and Goodness

of his/her learning success.... ++++++++++ Perfection not only embraces truth and the practice of virtue but also beauty. ++++++++ ++ Part III Mision

The ideal of perfection, Be you therefore perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. will be externalized in all activities daily encounter, workshop, as well as behavior and dress. The ceremonious approach in dealing with the summer camp activities will be to some extent a resemblance of the celestial ceremonies awaiting us in Heaven.

Thus, it is the camp's earnest desire to provide a truly exciting camping atmosphere that fosters love and practice of the truths of the Holy Catholic Church inspired by St. John Bosco. The goal is sound training through camping in an ambience that cultivates respect for each camper/learner as a temple of the Holy Spirit and child of Mary Most Holy. With sincere efforts, the Brilliance of Beauty Summer Camp (BBSC) committee and its campers are encouraged to perform their daily endeavors, in such a manner as to render the greatest glory to God and Our Lady. ++++++++++ "It is better to be

an eagle for a minute than to be a frog for a lifetime."++++++++++ Part IV - General Objective of the Summer Camp The target campers may include children from 7-12 years old. Emulating the love that St. John Bosco has for a young child is the motivation of this summer camp. The Patron Saint of Youth affirms that anyone who is loved can do many beautiful things. It is also known that his was the conviction that there was no such thing as a bad child, only bad circumstances, and he worked hard to give children a place to play, and to learn to trust again. Ultimately the summer camp is an

attempt to respond to the challenge given by His Eminence Cardinal Godfried Daneels, the Archbishop emeritus of Mechelen-Brussel. His Eminence said that in our days young people tend to close themselves to the invitation of encountering God through the doors leading to Him. He explained that there are three doors to go to Him. God has three names: Verum, Bonum, Pulcrum, these are the three universalia of medieval philosophy. Thus, he continued: Theres an entrance to go to God through the path of truth (for example, underlining that God is the first Truth); theres another entrance which is through goodness (underlining that God is the ultimate good, the supreme sanctity), and also an entrance through beauty,

because God is the supreme beauty.

St. John Bosco: Who knows that the beloved loves.... And he who is loved can do many beautiful things. +++ The campsite is 40 acres and we offer football, basketball, cricket, arts and crafts, rounders, netball, canoeing, talent show, fishing, archery, swimming, table tennis, table football, and much, much more. From the moment the children wake up, until they go to sleep, we hope

that there is always something for them to do. This takes a lot of energy: we also prepare all the meals for the children and helpers, and so there are times in the kitchen, and times washing up. The atmosphere is superb everyone gets involved together, and new people are always paired up with experienced helpers. _______ * Quia (Deus) enim propriam pulchritudinem habet, vult eam multiplicare, sicut possibile est, scilicet per communicationem suae similitudinis. - Omnia enim facta sunt ut divinam pulchritudinem qualitercumque imitentur. (

+++Prospective Students Dear parents of prospective students, The purpose of Lumen Veritatis Academy is to educate young people according to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Faith is an integral part of the entire curriculum from religion to physical education, providing students ample opportunities to see how their faith can be applied in their daily lives. We are called to be, "Alter Christus," other Christs. Students are encouraged to treat their peers, as well as staff members, as extensions of Christ Himself, with the utmost charity, respect, and kindness. Sound moral virtues are

instilled in the students' lives to help them develop into exceptional Catholic pillars in society. Some students will hear the call of God to religious life; while most students will serve society with principles based on the Commandments of God. The echo of Pope John Paul IIs words ring out loud and clear to the youth of today, "Don't be afraid...be saints." All Lumen Veritatis Academy students are helped and encouraged to follow this call to sanctity. Lumen Veritatis Academy students are guided to follow the motto, "Be you therefore perfect as also your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) The ideal of perfection is externalized in all activities - daily work, projects, as well as behaviour and dress. In the ceremonious daily life at the Academy students and

staff strive to reflect the celestial ceremonies awaiting us in Heaven. Perfection not only embraces truth and the practice of virtue but also beauty. In his Letter to the Artists, the late Holy Father, John Paul II reminds us, "Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart." Surrounded by beauty, the students enjoy learning and opening their souls more freely to hear God's plan for them. The curriculum emphasizes the core subjects of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Science, History, Geography, Latin, Music and Drama are also studied. Religion, being of utmost importance, is taught by a Herald of the Gospel. Indoor and outdoor physical education programs expose students to a variety of sporting and adventurous

activities. Moreover, field trips related to educational subject material provide students with practical learning experiences. We look forward to seeing you and your children at Lumen Veritatis Academy. Sincerely, In Jesus and Mary, Lumen Veritatis Academy Enrollment Department Quem no sabe passar das estrelas aos vermes, no digno das estrelas, nem dos vermes!

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e.g. good thief said: "Remember me when you are in your kingdom..."

... dying Christ forgave His enemies, promised Paradise to a thief, and gave thee to me as my Mother. .....
prayer: Restoration Prayer : "Paradise thou didst place in me by the great communication that I had with thee."

INPUT: A picture says a thousand words according to Confucius...

http://www.arautos.org/view/show/10358pulchrum-caminho-para-o-absoluto-1 : pulchrum

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A haven amid the materialism of our century There is a mysterious relationship between music and prayer. More than its technical perfection, what undoubtedly gives special beauty to sacred chant is to see the aspiration of the soul for sanctity reflected in it owing to a mysterious power by which art is capable of materializing the spirit. It could truly be said that authentic Gregorian chant springs more from the heart than the lips. Pius XI admirably affirmed this by stating that anything that is the fruit of the interior life of the Church surpasses even the most perfect works of this world. 21 This statement reveals the enduring vitality of Gregorian chant, despite its ancient origins. It also explains why it is sought after and admired for its simplicity by countless people, many of whom are not practicing Christians. Authentic sacred

music emits the fragrance of the supernatural, appeasing the undying thirst for the sublime and the eternal that haunts our century, so warped by science and technology. (from Heralds Magazine)

+++ Existir uma glria uma glria ser, existir, pensar. O ser j de si um fato luminoso, expansivo, eu diria, em certo sentido, explosivo, irradiante de uma alegria harmnica: Eu sou, eu existo, eu fui criado, que maravilha! Alm do mais, como o ser susceptvel de ter dimenses, atingir a plenitude de suas dimenses outra glria dentro da glria, que

requinta, destila, d uma projeo especial glria de ser. Continuamente, se a pessoa atentasse para o que , veria, brilhando em tudo, esta glria. O ser deve ser visto como uma espcie de luz que refulge, que rebrilha, que magnfica. +++ Existe a harmonia, existe a perfeio! O inocente tem um desejo[83] de encontrar reproduzida em todas as coisas, sobretudo em todos os homens, a harmonia absoluta. Quando se diz criana que [algo

que fez] feio, ela fica vermelha, porque contrariou uma das regras do ser, por onde lhe mais sensvel toda a ordem do ser: as coisas devem ser belas. Se se der a uma criana um brinquedo esfrico, ela, sem perceber; procura a esfera perfeita. Tanto que, se a esfera tiver um defeito e lhe derem uma esfera perfeita, ela deixa a esfera imperfeita. A primeira operao mental, que mais interessa criana, verificar a existncia do perfeito no perfectvel[84]. O senso do perfeito a matriz primeira em funo da qual a criana far todo o seu trabalho intelectual.
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Um borboto de certezas A criana tem uma certeza, uma fora de lgica[85] que uma das maiores jias do esprito humano e o contrrio do egosmo ptrido do quinquagenrio desabusado. Dizer criana comece duvidando mata nela algo de precioso, porque no se comea duvidando, uma vez que se tm certezas originrias que no permitem a dvida[86]. Essa fora, essa certeza primeira, essa energia de lgica, fazem brotar um borboto de certezas iniciais[87], pelas quais a alma, se for fiel, fica dotada de certezas para a vida inteira, e cheia de luz[88]. E tambm de uma energia e uma capacidade de se sentir feliz dentro dessa atmosfera, que como que a posse

continuada do paraso, ponto de partida para tudo.

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E a serpente entra no paraso Vem depois a tentao de achar que o mundo dos arqutipos[89] e das belezas originrias, das certezas originrias, um mundo muito alto, longnquo, pouco til e portanto no manusevel. Aparece, ento, a tendncia a ir esquecendo aquilo, lentamente. Um riso malicioso como cido sulfrico derramado nos olhos da criana. E ento a criana tem a primeira queda[90], solicitamente apoiada pelo ambiente que

comea a dizer a ela que a realidade apenas o palpvel. Se, antes de a criana ser tentada, ela amou o bem de tal modo que o fez com certo exclusivismo[91], quando comea a tentao, ela est armada. Se ela o amou sem exclusivismo, mas por diletantismo, est desarmada. De maneira que no elemento mais originrio da relao da criana com o bem que ela comea a se definir[92]. Quando entra o exclusivismo, entra a imolao. E quando vem a tentao, encontra um dique dentro da alma.
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A criana e a bola

Pelas energias do senso do ser, a criana levada a amar uma bola com as qualidades ideais da bola, sem t-las explicitado. Duas crianas brincam com duas bolas iguais. No modo de brincar, podem aparecer as caractersticas especiais do unum [isto , do modo de ser uniforme] com que uma e outra criana vo tocar a vida, porque transparece algo de como se portaram por ocasio de suas primeiras percepes do ser. Uma criana tem a tendncia de olhar a bola, analis-la e brincar; o outro pe a bola no corredor e mete um chute. So duas atitudes diante do ser e da vida: uma voltada para a destruio, e outra para a contemplao[93].

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Eplogo

Era uma noite de vero, no extraordinariamente bonita. Comum. O esprito que inspirou todas essas Catedrais se faz sentir, e ento... ... mais vivemos no Cu do que na Terra. A Catedral[97] estava iluminada e o automvel em que eu vinha passava da rive gauche para a ilha. E eu via a Catedral assim de lado, e numa focalizao completamente fortuita. Naquele ngulo tomado ao acaso se acaso existisse, e em algum sentido existe olhei e achei to belo, que fiquei com

vontade de dizer ao chauffeur: Pra, que eu quero ficar aqui. Eu sei que o resto muito belo, mas creio que poucos olharam a Catedral deste ngulo e pararam. Eu queria ser dos poucos a dar a Nossa Senhora louvor deste ponto de vista, que os outros talvez no tenham louvado suficientemente. Ao menos se diria que um peregrino vindo de longe amou o que muitos, por pressa ou por no terem recebido uma graa especial para aquilo, no chegaram a amar. E em todos os grandes monumentos da Cristandade, depois de admirar as maravilhas, eu tenho a tendncia de ir admirando os pormenores, num ato de reparao, porque estes pormenores talvez no tenham sido amados como eles deveriam ser amados. * * * Do fundo de nossas inocncias sobe algo que luz, super-luz, mas ao mesmo tempo

 penumbra, e obscuridade, sem ser treva. a idia de todas as catedrais gticas do mundo. As que foram construdas e as que no foram construdas, dando uma idia de conjunto de Deus que, entretanto, ainda infinitamente mais do que isso. O esprito que inspirou todas essas catedrais como que se faz sentir, e ento realmente mais vivemos no Cu do que na terra. E nosso desejo de uma outra vida e de conhecer um Outro, com O maisculo, to interno em mim que mais eu do que eu mesmo sou eu, mas to superior a mim que eu no sou sequer um gro de poeira em comparao com Ele, esse meu desejo se realiza. Eu digo: - Ah! Eu compreendo. O Cu deve ser assim. Ns amamos ainda mais o esprito eterno e invisvel que criou tudo aquilo e parece dizer:

- Meu filho, eu existo, v estas coisas e compreende: isto semelhante a Mim. Mas, por mais belo que isto seja, Eu sou infinitamente dissemelhante disto; tenho uma forma de beleza to quintessenciada e superior, que s quando me vires verdadeiramente te dars conta do que Eu sou. Vem, meu filho. Vem, que Eu te espero. Luta durante algum tempo, que estou me preparando para te mostrar, no Cu, belezas ainda maiores, na proporo em que foi grande e dura a tua luta. Espera, e quando estiveres pronto para ver aquilo que Eu tinha inteno de que visses quando Eu te criei, Eu te chamarei. Meu filho, Eu sou a tua Catedral. A Catedral demasiadamente grande, a Catedral demasiadamente bela, a Catedral que fez sorrir nos lbios da Virgem um sorriso como nenhuma jia fez florescer, nenhuma rosa e nenhuma das belas criaturas que Ela conheceu.

Esta Catedral Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, o Corao de Jesus que ps no Corao de Maria harmonias indizveis. Ali, tu conhecers Aquele que disse de Si mesmo: Serei Eu mesmo tua recompensa demasiadamente grande.

H momentos, minha Me, em que minha alma se sente, no que tem de mais fundo, tocada por uma saudade indizvel. Tenho saudades da poca em que eu Vos amava e Vs me amveis, na atmosfera primaveril de minha vida espiritual. Tenho saudades de Vs, Senhora, e do paraso que punha em mim a grande comunicao que tinha convosco. No tendes tambm Vs, Senhora, saudades desse tempo? No tendes

saudades da bondade que havia naquele filho que fui? Vinde, pois, a melhor de todas as mes, e pelo amor ao que desabrochava em mim, restaurai-me: recomponde em mim o amor a Vs, e fazei de mim a plena realizao daquele filho sem mancha que eu teria sido, se no fosse tanta misria. Dai-me, me, um corao arrependido e humilhado, e fazei luzir novamente aos meus olhos aquilo que, pelo esplendor de vossa graa, eu comeara amar tanto e tanto. Lembrai-Vos, Senhora, deste David[98], e de toda a doura que nele pnheis.

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