has had a profound influence on our modern ideas about human nature, morality and society. Blessed John Paul II helped heal the divide by reasserting the Christian vision, reuniting the soul and the body in his theology on the body. In time, this reunification will dramatically change our ideas about ourselves and the world. I cannot imagine what such ideas will be like, but I expect they will be breathtaking and that the Church will be at the forefront of their development.

Art offers us a another perspective of the connections between things. In this case, the various points between objects within the work of art. For those who are visually oriented, the video included above should be helpful. It is an art-instruction video and an advertisement for a particular art school. I am not endorsing the school. I am using the video because I think it is delightful and an excellent example of how beauty is related to the connections between things. The video is divided into two parts: the first part talks about substance and three dimensionality in art, and it sets the stage for part two. In the second part, the instructor analyzes what appears to be a childlike drawing of apples, and he shows us how the apples are connected to each other. What we learn is that this is a true work of art and a sophisticated design, despite having the appearance of a simplistic line drawing.

I have tried to show you the beauty that Blessed John Paul II rekindled in me by using examples from his writings and from art. While this great man is many things to many people, I will always remember Blessed John Paul II as the one who inspired me to seek heavenly things, and he did it through the beauty of his ideas. Although he has touched each of us in a unique and special way, I believe that his beatification reminds all of us that our experience of beauty is important and to look for beauty in the connections between things, especially ideas. In this way, perhaps beauty can help us evaluate the ideas that confront us today, help us find richer meaning in our lives and inspire us to seek heavenly things.

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Michael Terheyden was born into a Catholic family, but that is not why he is a Catholic. He is a Catholic because he believes that truth is real, that it is beautiful and good, and that the fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. However, he knows that God's grace operating throughout his life is the main reason he is a Catholic. He is greatly blessed to share his faith and his life with his beautiful wife, Dorothy. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.