I can't stand Luce, and wouldn't like her even had she nothing to do with the Church at all. But I shan't cancel my subscription: you have a perfect right to have terrible taste...
“Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Luce is high art, and I’m not suggesting that she should be painted as a fresco inside some contemporary cathedral. I don’t think she’ll stand the test of time, or be revered by art historians centuries in the future, or even in decades.
But Luce introduces the concept of pilgrimage in an accessible way, as an invitation that can be universally understood to take up a cross and follow after the Lord. I don’t think she’s a sign of the Church’s capitulation to modernism or crass commercialism or anything like that: I think she’s an example of the Church speaking in intelligible and approachable signs and symbols to the world as it is.
And in that sense, I like Luce.”
I agree, JD! I thought it was very clever for the Vatican folks to do that! 🙂
If Luce is sold in a gift shop to children and the Vatican can get a cut to help their deficit then fine. They should not advertise her for anything beautiful or to try to entice adults to come to Rome for the Jubilee. I hope we don’t see her like we did that awful Synod artwork and font.
I would probably be fine with her if the Vatican was also commissioning great art for the Jubilee. Instead, they are still promoting Rupnik and other ugly art. See last years Vatican nativity.
I would be fine with Luce as a side project for kids, but using it as the main mascot meant to appeal to everyone everyone is almost insulting. I don't want the hierarchy to treat me like a little child and try to appeal to me like I'm child.
Maybe it’s still coming…? (Though I probably won’t hold my breath.)
I think she’s cute, but I agree with what you’ve said - I wish she wasn’t the main attraction, but just one piece of a larger approach. I also think it was an unfortunate choice right after the Synod logo — a crayon-drawing or cartoon might be fine once in a while (TBH, I would far rather have Luce than the Synod logo), but while these may be ‘accessible’, they don’t lift and draw the soul like beauty does. And that’s important.
Just FYI and a correction - Luce apparently is not the mascot for the Jubilee Year but created for the World Expo 2025 Japan. So makes a little more sense .
"Baptism does bestow on every believer the calls of priesthood, prophecy, and regency."
Question. I have read that the three munera bestowed in Baptism are really our participating in Christ's munera once we become part of His mystical body (sorry, I don't have a citation)--is that accurate?
If that is the case, I think that frame is more helpful than the quote I pulled (above). I know it seems picky; however, it's not MY priesthood or prophet or kingship, it is Christ's. I think that is a very different frame of reference. It's not my work (munera) but the work of the Father which I undertake in the obedience of the Son.
Though you make a strong case in favor of Luce, and I admire your tenacity in doing so, nothing will sway me from disliking this mascot or from thinking it is silly to waste time, money, and energy on a mascot for a jubilee year. In my years as a Pillar reader (in a good way), I have never disagreed with a take like I disagree with this one, so the record is still pretty good. Can't win 'em all, I guess.
My subscription is staying right where it is. Pop art preferences aside, JD, Ed., et. al. provide too many insightful articles and public accountability for the Church for me to do anything other than support this important work. Luce bad. Pillar good.
Agreed — this is a bad take and I would have preferred the Pillar not presenting an opinion/preference at all. Not unsubscribing, but it would be nice if “news” wasn’t prescribing you to “chill out” if your opinions of Luce don’t align with JD’s.
Taken as friendly and fraternal! And I believe it to be sound advice, especially in a very divided social media/ecclesial/political/other landscape.
I accept your chill out, and calmly repeat my belief that Luce (the mascot) is not good. Probably wouldn't be a Pillar Reader In A Good Way. I bet she'd just read sans subscription.
Understood — my fault for mixing categories of modes.
I suppose as one who does find Luce a bit scandalizing to my sensibilities and at the same time looking for resources of “how did this come to be” , it was difficult to parse through the post looking for ways to synthesize why the Vatican thought this was a good idea.
I don’t see Luce as symbolically trivial, but I’m willing to be corrected on that!
Not a fan of Luce. I get what they're trying to do. But those eyes...yikes. Gives me Rupnik vibes. At least this is better than what we got for the Year of Mercy.
Really looking forward to Ed's (likely correct) take on this.
*First thing that comes to mind seeing it is merchandising opportunities for kids*
Sorry JD, you walked right into that one.
My issue with it is more just the frivolity of it all. And a belief that this is what is likely to generate interest among children. Maybe I'll be wrong! But i doubt it.
I also think the church seriously underestimates the risk that it can become fun and cool to mock as being out of touch. In an age of low trust, that's a risk, and all it takes is a few people doing it for it to degrade the institution as a whole. Bemoaning that situation as not befitting of this or that is obvious and pointless.
If you gotta go the funkopilgrim route, you've got centuries of people to draw from. Lean into it, rather than creating a character for it.
Agree . Even though Luce was apparently designed for the 2025 Japan world Expo not the jubilee year, I doubt there will be a critical mass drawn to the Church in Japan or Korea as a result . I could be wrong. But it is hard for the Church to do pop culture as well as pop culture itself. In other words, there is better anime /manga that this image will be competing with. Also it also has that lame “running to catch up with the culture” feel that has been going on for decades that poses the risks you note.
// Funko is a company that specializes in creating pop culture collectibles, best known for its line of vinyl figures called Funko Pop! These figures are characterized by their oversized heads, large black eyes, and simplified, stylized designs, often depicting popular characters from movies, TV shows, video games, comics, and other areas of pop culture. In addition to vinyl figures, Funko produces other types of merchandise like action figures, bobbleheads, plush toys, keychains, and apparel, all featuring popular and recognizable characters or franchises. Funko products are highly collectible and appeal to fans of all ages. //
With Election Day in the USA coming up a week from today, I encourage all my fellow Pillar readers, whatever your political persuasion or nationality, to pray for peace and reconciliation in the USA, for the continued renewal of Catholicism here, for safety for all voters, election administrators, and election judges on Election Day, for the peaceful transfer of power after Election Day, and that we won’t see any election-related violence before, during, or after the election.
There have already been two ballot boxes attacked by arsonists: one in Portland, OR and another in Vancouver, WA, and far too many people have forgotten that the people who disagree with them are their brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s appalling and it’s sad.
We Pillar readers need to work on bringing, as Bishop Barron states well, “the Lumen to the Gentes” and evangelize our brethren by both word and example.
Sadly, there has already been "election-related violence": two domestic attempts on Trump's life, plus an Iran-sponsored effort to eliminate him and several of his appointees.
What did the Iranians do? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Yes, the attempted assassinations were evil and abhorrent, and I’m grateful they were unsuccessful. I guess by “election-related violence” I meant violence at polling places or against election officials and/or violent attempts to overthrow the 2024 election results or block the transfer of power to the winners of the 2024 election, whoever the winners end up being on November 5, but I can see you can interpret that to include attempted assassinations of a candidate for public office.
Also, it strikes me she'd be fine as part of a "Little People" toyset, but if this is meant as an official thing to appeal to adults - I'm sorry, but get outta town. At any rate, I love what y'all do, despite the hilariously long justification of odd opinions from time to time.
I like Luce too 😂
I can't stand Luce, and wouldn't like her even had she nothing to do with the Church at all. But I shan't cancel my subscription: you have a perfect right to have terrible taste...
phew.
Agree. Luce is a bore. Can't believe i wasted time and money reading such tripe.
I love that the Pillar is unafraid to take a controversial stance.
lol.
While I largely agree with your takes on Luce and people needing to chill out, I will not stand for the blasphemous take on Izzy.
There's a reason that shops in Underground Atlanta still had plenty of unsold Izzy merchandise on hand well into the 2000s.
I fondly remember those days when my family and I moved to Atlanta in the mid-2000s.
“Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Luce is high art, and I’m not suggesting that she should be painted as a fresco inside some contemporary cathedral. I don’t think she’ll stand the test of time, or be revered by art historians centuries in the future, or even in decades.
But Luce introduces the concept of pilgrimage in an accessible way, as an invitation that can be universally understood to take up a cross and follow after the Lord. I don’t think she’s a sign of the Church’s capitulation to modernism or crass commercialism or anything like that: I think she’s an example of the Church speaking in intelligible and approachable signs and symbols to the world as it is.
And in that sense, I like Luce.”
I agree, JD! I thought it was very clever for the Vatican folks to do that! 🙂
If Luce is sold in a gift shop to children and the Vatican can get a cut to help their deficit then fine. They should not advertise her for anything beautiful or to try to entice adults to come to Rome for the Jubilee. I hope we don’t see her like we did that awful Synod artwork and font.
This is the correct stance. Thank you for supporting Luce
I would probably be fine with her if the Vatican was also commissioning great art for the Jubilee. Instead, they are still promoting Rupnik and other ugly art. See last years Vatican nativity.
I would be fine with Luce as a side project for kids, but using it as the main mascot meant to appeal to everyone everyone is almost insulting. I don't want the hierarchy to treat me like a little child and try to appeal to me like I'm child.
Yes, exactly. Especially when the historic precedent is for the Vatican to commission great art like Caravaggio’s Saint Matthew chapel.
Maybe it’s still coming…? (Though I probably won’t hold my breath.)
I think she’s cute, but I agree with what you’ve said - I wish she wasn’t the main attraction, but just one piece of a larger approach. I also think it was an unfortunate choice right after the Synod logo — a crayon-drawing or cartoon might be fine once in a while (TBH, I would far rather have Luce than the Synod logo), but while these may be ‘accessible’, they don’t lift and draw the soul like beauty does. And that’s important.
Just FYI and a correction - Luce apparently is not the mascot for the Jubilee Year but created for the World Expo 2025 Japan. So makes a little more sense .
She is the mascot for the jubilee year and will be present at World Expo 2025, according to the press conference.
I won’t cancel on you JD but, no, I can’t get with you on liking Luce.
"Baptism does bestow on every believer the calls of priesthood, prophecy, and regency."
Question. I have read that the three munera bestowed in Baptism are really our participating in Christ's munera once we become part of His mystical body (sorry, I don't have a citation)--is that accurate?
If that is the case, I think that frame is more helpful than the quote I pulled (above). I know it seems picky; however, it's not MY priesthood or prophet or kingship, it is Christ's. I think that is a very different frame of reference. It's not my work (munera) but the work of the Father which I undertake in the obedience of the Son.
I wonder if we know someone just “reflexively contrarian enough” who has a different take on Luce 🤭
Though you make a strong case in favor of Luce, and I admire your tenacity in doing so, nothing will sway me from disliking this mascot or from thinking it is silly to waste time, money, and energy on a mascot for a jubilee year. In my years as a Pillar reader (in a good way), I have never disagreed with a take like I disagree with this one, so the record is still pretty good. Can't win 'em all, I guess.
My subscription is staying right where it is. Pop art preferences aside, JD, Ed., et. al. provide too many insightful articles and public accountability for the Church for me to do anything other than support this important work. Luce bad. Pillar good.
God bless your labors!
Agreed — this is a bad take and I would have preferred the Pillar not presenting an opinion/preference at all. Not unsubscribing, but it would be nice if “news” wasn’t prescribing you to “chill out” if your opinions of Luce don’t align with JD’s.
Fair enough.
Our editorial policy is that our news reporting does not express opinions, but our weekly pillar posts do just that.
And the chill out was meant in a friendly and fraternal way.
Taken as friendly and fraternal! And I believe it to be sound advice, especially in a very divided social media/ecclesial/political/other landscape.
I accept your chill out, and calmly repeat my belief that Luce (the mascot) is not good. Probably wouldn't be a Pillar Reader In A Good Way. I bet she'd just read sans subscription.
confoundit, Luce!
Just until she's old enough to get her first job - then I'm sure she would sign up to be a subscriber!
Understood — my fault for mixing categories of modes.
I suppose as one who does find Luce a bit scandalizing to my sensibilities and at the same time looking for resources of “how did this come to be” , it was difficult to parse through the post looking for ways to synthesize why the Vatican thought this was a good idea.
I don’t see Luce as symbolically trivial, but I’m willing to be corrected on that!
I'd be curious to hear more about how you see her as symbolically significant!
Thanks for engaging.
I’m slowly starting to become more OK with Luce — I think her meme potential has softened me (oddly enough)
Luce with Father Martin rainbow/induced crucifix
That would, um, work, yes.
Pillar of Salt
Not a fan of Luce. I get what they're trying to do. But those eyes...yikes. Gives me Rupnik vibes. At least this is better than what we got for the Year of Mercy.
Really looking forward to Ed's (likely correct) take on this.
I don't like Luce for crass commericalism...
*First thing that comes to mind seeing it is merchandising opportunities for kids*
Sorry JD, you walked right into that one.
My issue with it is more just the frivolity of it all. And a belief that this is what is likely to generate interest among children. Maybe I'll be wrong! But i doubt it.
I also think the church seriously underestimates the risk that it can become fun and cool to mock as being out of touch. In an age of low trust, that's a risk, and all it takes is a few people doing it for it to degrade the institution as a whole. Bemoaning that situation as not befitting of this or that is obvious and pointless.
If you gotta go the funkopilgrim route, you've got centuries of people to draw from. Lean into it, rather than creating a character for it.
Agree . Even though Luce was apparently designed for the 2025 Japan world Expo not the jubilee year, I doubt there will be a critical mass drawn to the Church in Japan or Korea as a result . I could be wrong. But it is hard for the Church to do pop culture as well as pop culture itself. In other words, there is better anime /manga that this image will be competing with. Also it also has that lame “running to catch up with the culture” feel that has been going on for decades that poses the risks you note.
// If you gotta go the funkopilgrim route //
Had to look that up. ChatGPT:
// Funko is a company that specializes in creating pop culture collectibles, best known for its line of vinyl figures called Funko Pop! These figures are characterized by their oversized heads, large black eyes, and simplified, stylized designs, often depicting popular characters from movies, TV shows, video games, comics, and other areas of pop culture. In addition to vinyl figures, Funko produces other types of merchandise like action figures, bobbleheads, plush toys, keychains, and apparel, all featuring popular and recognizable characters or franchises. Funko products are highly collectible and appeal to fans of all ages. //
With Election Day in the USA coming up a week from today, I encourage all my fellow Pillar readers, whatever your political persuasion or nationality, to pray for peace and reconciliation in the USA, for the continued renewal of Catholicism here, for safety for all voters, election administrators, and election judges on Election Day, for the peaceful transfer of power after Election Day, and that we won’t see any election-related violence before, during, or after the election.
There have already been two ballot boxes attacked by arsonists: one in Portland, OR and another in Vancouver, WA, and far too many people have forgotten that the people who disagree with them are their brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s appalling and it’s sad.
We Pillar readers need to work on bringing, as Bishop Barron states well, “the Lumen to the Gentes” and evangelize our brethren by both word and example.
Sadly, there has already been "election-related violence": two domestic attempts on Trump's life, plus an Iran-sponsored effort to eliminate him and several of his appointees.
What did the Iranians do? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Yes, the attempted assassinations were evil and abhorrent, and I’m grateful they were unsuccessful. I guess by “election-related violence” I meant violence at polling places or against election officials and/or violent attempts to overthrow the 2024 election results or block the transfer of power to the winners of the 2024 election, whoever the winners end up being on November 5, but I can see you can interpret that to include attempted assassinations of a candidate for public office.
Here's the first article that popped up when I googled it, but there are older as well as more recent ones: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/11/iran-trump-assassination-plans-00183488
Thank you kindly! I shall take a look.
Blue hair, though, man, blue hair.
Also, it strikes me she'd be fine as part of a "Little People" toyset, but if this is meant as an official thing to appeal to adults - I'm sorry, but get outta town. At any rate, I love what y'all do, despite the hilariously long justification of odd opinions from time to time.
not a fan of blue hair?
https://youtu.be/SsT7mKzAB7I?si=brjUBRz6KXnbS7uc
Let's just say this commercial hits home for me.
Hilarious! I love this series of ads, so true!
Honestly, Luce is an example of "evangelizing the culture" and I'm here for it. We need more of this. Good work as always Mr. Flynn.