Understanding the Catholic Themes at the Met Gala

The extent of my fashion knowledge comes from casual watching of Project Runway and questioning in bewilderment how someone would actually wear that, but this year’s Met Gala Theme – “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”- caught my attention for obvious reasons.

To be honest, I had completely mixed emotions about the event. But as I look through pictures of the events, though I still take issue with many aspects, I also believe that some good could come from this event. I sincerely believe that beauty can evangelize, and this could be an educational opportunity.

Concerns

Before I get into the good, I first want to address the problematic aspects of the theme and the attire. 

They wouldn’t do this for any other religion!

This was one of my first reactions. Like many other Catholics, I thought about the outrage that would occur if this event was based on any other religion. Imagine the absolute fury that would happen if instead of Catholicism, it was Islam.

And to a certain extent, I still feel this way. In early May, society went wild about a teenager wearing a Chinese dress while this week, people are praising people for wearing something sacred.

But I want to propose another line of thought: no other religion has the same level of beauty, of art, of cultural influence. Catholicism stands out for its unique contributions in this way.

No other religion has the same level of beauty, of art, of cultural influence. Click To Tweet

They’re being irreverent.

It’s aggravating to see people wearing crucifixes and rosaries just as an accessory, so seeing people wearing all sorts of Catholic imagery as a fashion statement rubbed me the wrong way. I am still unsettled by several of the ensembles I saw from the event.

However, I like to believe that many aren’t intended to be disrespectful. Fashion is a form of art, and designers must have spent countless hours looking to the Church for inspiration and developing these pieces. While they might not be showing the reverence our faith deserves, I do think there must have been a certain level of respect. While it still isn’t ideal, I think there is a significant difference between some of these designs and the “slutty,” pregnant nun costume you find at a Halloween store.

They’re dressed immodestly.

I don’t have a positive spin on this. The reality is that we live in a hyper-sexualized society. We view revealing clothing as power. Though I wish it was different, all I can say on this matter is that it does not impact their dignity as human beings in any way. Though modesty is a virtue, it isn’t the only component of holiness.

Beauty

David O. Taylor summarizes Hans Urs von Balthasar’s beliefs on beauty as

To contemplate beauty is precisely to contemplate divine love, but this is not any kind of love. This is the concrete love of God in the form of Christ, a kenotic love, which the Holy Spirit sheds abroad in the human heart. Unless theology begins here, von Balthasar repeatedly insists, we will get neither truth nor goodness right (18-19). Without beauty, goodness will turn hedonistic and utilitarian, while truth will turn cold. Without beauty, we will neither pray right nor know how to love.

Bishop Robert Barron proposes an evangelization process of “first the beautiful (how wonderful!), then the good (I want to participate!) and finally the true (now I understand!).”

And Cardinal Timothy Dolan said “But think about it just for a moment…It’s because the Church and the Catholic imagination—the theme of this exhibit—are all about three things: truth, goodness and beauty. That’s why we’re into things such as art, culture, music, literature and, yes, even fashion.’’

I don’t know the designers’ intent behind the pieces. I don’t know what the wearers were thinking or where they are in their spiritual lives. What I do know is that the Catholic faith is beautiful, and something positive can be gleaned from the pieces.

Maybe I’m making assumptions about the pieces, but I still think my flawed interpretations can still point out some of the amazing beauty of Catholicism.

In the next few sections, I’m going to summarize some information about Catholic beauty and how it relates to some of the pieces at the Met Gala. At the end of this post, I’m going to provide a list of resources where you can learn even more.

Elements

There were several elements that were very common at this event: crosses, gold, detailed embroidery, and red fabric.

Crosses

Crosses naturally are the first thing that comes to mind when someone brings up Christianity. The cross reminds us of the sacrifice Christ made for us. Crucifixion is an incredibly tortuous death; in addition to being an unimaginably painful death, it was also a form of publicly shaming the criminal.

Jesus was sinless; He was an innocent victim. Yet He willingly gave His life to save us all. The cross is a reminder of this ultimate act of love.

But the cross isn’t just a reminder of His death; the cross is also a reminder that Jesus overcame death.

Devotion to the cross has been connected to even some of the earliest Christians, and it plays a large role in worship (though, to be clear, Christians do not worship the cross itself).

Though the cross is sometimes just a symbol to others that the person wearing it is a Christian, it should really have a much deeper significance to the wearer’s life. It should call to mind the central belief of our Christian faith: Christ died in atonement for our sins so we have the opportunity to go to Heaven. His resurrection shows He conquered death and we can have hope for our own bodies to be resurrected.

Personally, I was not a fan of the cross motifs at the Met Gala because I felt like they were consistently being used as an accessory rather than art glorifying God.

Gold

I know the ornate nature of Catholic Churches can be appalling to some. People question why we spend so much on these beautiful items when that money could go to the poor. Most importantly, it is because we are glorifying God.

The church building is the house of God. God deserves all praise and glory, and beautifying His house is a small way of doing this. You’ll also notice that there are some key pieces in the average Catholic parish that are in precious metals: the tabernacle and the chalices.

This is because these items hold the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The King of Heaven deserves nothing less.

“Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste? It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor.” Since Jesus knew this, he said to them, “Why do you make trouble for the woman? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me.” (Matthew 26:6-11)

Furthermore, the Mass is Heaven on Earth. Beautiful buildings stir something within us to remind us of this reality. Even the tall height is a reference to our faith: they’re pointing towards Heaven. These beautiful Catholic churches are a visual reminder that we are in the True Presence of Christ.

Mass is Heaven on Earth. Beautiful buildings stir something within us to remind us of this reality Click To Tweet

Seeing so many beautiful women wearing gold was actually a powerful reminder to me: our bodies are sacred. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Though I don’t think we should over-adorn ourselves, it was very fitting to me that there was a reminder of our inherent dignity and beauty (beyond the physical aspect) portrayed through the golden outfits.

Favorite Look: Kerry Washington because it was beautiful, modest, and I love the little headpiece

Close Second: Issa Rae looked stunning with the gold pattern

Other looks (in no particular order): Irina Shayk, Kim Kardashian, Amanda Seyfried, Evan Rachel Wood, Ashley Graham, Joan Smalls, and Riley Keough

Embroidery

Embroidery is actually mentioned in Scripture, and there are stunning examples throughout history. Yet again, the beauty is used as a way to glorify God. The embroidered textiles are all used in a way that serves God from the altar cloth (where our Lord and Savior is offered) to the vestments (on a priest acting in persona Christi).

The simple reflection on embroidery is that it is another way of celebrating the beauty of faith, but as I was looking through the information about vestments, I was reminded that priests don’t just throw the vestments on. It is a prayerful process; I even found references to it being “putting on Christ.” Though obviously there is an enormous distinction between lay people wearing embroidered ensembles and priests preparing for Mass, I think it calls to mind two important questions. First, does the clothing I wear glorify Christ? Second, does the way I carry myself as I go about my day resemble Christ?

I don’t know the answer for the people wearing the pieces at the Gala because they are such personal questions, but there is no denying that there are some stunning pieces.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiiopP7AEt5/?hl=en&taken-by=blakelively

Favorite Look: Blake Lively; this was by far my favorite dress, and I love the heavenly headpiece, the red gown and the gold accents (all of which are other elements I dicuss in this post); even her clutch had meaning

Other Looks:Christian Combs , Donatella Versace, and Diane Kruger

Red

Color selection in the Catholic Church isn’t insignificant. Red calls to mind Christ’s sacrifice and martyrdom.

Aleteia explains that popes wear red for a particular reason. “Red symbolized both the worldly authority of the pope and the Passion of Christ. It also symbolized the Pope’s submission to Christ, the love of God for humanity, and the remembrance of all the martyrs who gave their lives for Christ.”

Cardinals may also wear red.

I thought many of the red pieces were stunning, but didn’t really take on the significance of the color.

Favorite Look:Katherine Langford ; I thought this dress was beautiful in its simplicity; I love the shoulder details of rays that remind me of the rays we see around Mary in sacred art

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiiPs0VDuf1/?hl=en&taken-by=katherinelangford

With Meaningful Headpieces:Amber Heard with a halo and Anne Hathaway with what I heard was supposed to represent the crown of thorns

Other Looks: Bee Shaffer, Andrew Garfield, and Cindy Crawford

Heavenly Images and Saints

With a theme like “Heavenly Bodies,” it’s no surprise that there were some ethereal themes and images of Our Lady. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many references to another bad-ass lady saint, though.

Angels

When we die, our souls go to Hell, Purgatory, or Heaven. When we go to Heaven our souls are there. When Jesus comes again, we will have resurrected bodies. WE DO NOT BECOME ANGELS. Heaven is a place of perfect happiness and infinite beauty because we are perfectly united with God. We have the Beatific Vision. Our souls deepest longing – the purpose for which we were created – is fulfilled. Beyond that, we don’t really know what it looks like.

The reason we picture so much white is because we associate it with purity. Only purified souls go to Heaven so the white makes sense. The lightweight fabric and looks also make sense because our resurrected bodies will not be limited like they are here on Earth.

As for angels, I hate to break it to you, but they won’t look like Katy Perry. In fact, most of the time, when an angel appears in the Bible, they preface it with something along the lines of “be not afraid”/ “don’t freak out” because they look terrifying.

Halos mean “divinity, power, and eternity.” Catholic art almost always depicts saints and angels with halos for this reason. I actually really liked the halo accessories not only because of their beauty but also because they nod at our purpose as human beings: to become saints.

What I loved about these heavenly looks is that it reminds us how limited our understanding of Heaven truly is. These are stunning dresses worn by beautiful women, but even though some of them are the most beautiful we’ve ever seen, they’ve got nothing on Heaven.

These are stunning dresses worn by beautiful women, but even though some of them are the most beautiful we’ve ever seen, they’ve got nothing on Heaven. Click To Tweet

It fills me with so much excitement to realize that even some of the most beautiful things we encounter are only tiny glimpses into the beauty that awaits us.

Favorite Heavenly Look: Yara Shahidi

Close Seconds: Winnie Harlow and Emilia Clarke

Other Looks: Alexa Chung, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Hailey Baldwin, Dakota Fanning, and Selena Gomez (some say it’s a Queen Esther dress)

Heavenly Headpieces: SZA, Rita Ora, and Janelle Monae

Mary

Catholics are definitely known for their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Though some people stuck to wearing rosaries as accessories, there were other diverse representations of her. Admittedly, some of them seemed irreverent, but I still want to explore the beauty of Marian devotion.

Mary is the most important woman to ever have walked the Earth. She is the theotokos (the Mother of God), the Queen of Heaven, and the model disciple. That’s right folks, a woman is the model disciple.

Some took a very literal approach with images of the Blessed Mother on their ensembles like Migos and Stella Maxwell.

I was delighted to see roses at the Met Gala represented in several different ways. There is a strong connection between many flowers and the Blessed Virgin Mary, but the one that always comes to mind first is a rose. The prayer in which we walk with Mary to meditate on Christ’s life is called a rosary.

To me, the roses were a gentle reminder of the woman we should all strive to resemble.

Check out Marjorie Elaine Harvey, Amal Clooney, and Liu Wen. Poppy Delevingne had gold roses and blue, a color often associated with the Blessed Mother. Another notable look was Jasmine Sanders. Initially, the gold caught my eye. Then, the roses in her hair struck me. My favorite take on the ensemble, however, was this tweet about it resembling the Shrine of the Virgin at the Met.

There were also a variety of different portrayals of the Blessed Mother.

Kate Bosworth wore a beautiful, ethereal, white gown with gold flecks. Some said her veil was inspired by Botticelli’s “Mary with the Child and Singing Angels.” Whatever the intent was, this is still one of my favorite looks from the evening.

I’m not sure if this was intentional, but I thought Mindy Kaling’s outfit called to mind the fact that Mary is the Queen of Heaven. Though there were some flaws with Cardi B’s dress, I loved that she highlighted her pregnancy with her gown. It is so beautiful to see a representation of the Queen of Heaven pregnant.

The most powerful portrayals, in my opinion, were those of Our Lady of (the Seven) Sorrows. The Seven Sorrows refer to the immense suffering Mary experienced during her life.

At a recent visit to The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, the priest commented that Mary is the only woman who can truly, justifiably say “I don’t deserve this” because she was sinless. Yet her acceptance of these unimaginable trials is one of the reasons she is a model Christian.

I thought it was beautiful that Lana Del Rey and Lily Collins represented these difficulties and the faith of Mary at an event that is meant to be festive.

St. Joan of Arc

I loved seeing all the nods towards Saint Joan of Arc.

This is one tough saint, and she is a beautiful reminder that there is no one way to be a holy Catholic woman. You can be a soldier and still be a model woman. I also think it’s pretty cool that she heard God’s call so early in life; it’s a reminder that age doesn’t inhibit holiness.

I really hope that people look at these depictions of this holy woman and are inspired to learn more about her.

Best Look: Zendaya had the best St. Joan of Arc look, no questions asked; I love that it put a tough edge to a beautiful dress

Other Looks: Michelle Williams, Jennifer Connelly, and Shailene Woodley

Headpieces

There were a lot of spectacular headpieces at the Met Gala.

I personally really liked the veils. Almost every depiction of Our Blessed Mother has her wearing a veil, but veiling is also a part of our Catholic history.

Women wore (and some still wear) veils when the Eucharist was (is) present. It is showing humility and reverence towards our Saviour. In Catholic churches, we veil sacred objects.

I felt that the veils called to mind Mary and also remind us that our bodies are sacred.

Favorite Look: Kate Upton

Other Looks: Juliette Binoche and Nicki Minaj

I also liked Olivia Munn’s headpiece which I read was inspired by the Crusades and Priyanka Chopra’s headpiece had a similar feel. Though the Crusades are a touchy subject and one I’m not going to undertake in this post (check out the resources at the end if you’re interested), I liked the allusion to soldiers.

In reality, we should all be soldiers for Christ. As Catholics, we are part of the Church Militant, and by our Confirmation, we are called to defend the faith. We are facing spiritual warfare.

I thought the headpieces were beautiful to begin with, but when analyzing them through a Catholic lens, I thought it was very powerful to present a reference to spiritual warfare in a secular setting.

Art, Architecture, Practices

One of my absolute favorite looks of the night was Ariana Grande’s gown that was essentially Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment.” This well-known fresco depicts the second coming of Jesus Christ where He will judge the living and the dead.

The original piece was controversial, and I think that the gown would’ve caused some controversy itself. It reminds us that we will be judged in the last days for our actions and that Hell is very real.

Salma Hayek’s gown showed an interpretation of the Garden of Eden. I thought this dress was particularly appropriate amidst the complaints about modesty because it reminds us of the time when man and woman were able to look at each other without lust.

In the beginning, man and woman were in perfect union with God and their relationship wasn’t disordered. After the fall, men and women started looking at each other as objects of use.

As Christians, we should desire that time in the Garden where we were in perfect union with God and there was true equality between the sexes.

I was initially a little startled by Cara Delevigne’s dress. Doing some digging, I found out that it was meant to be a confessional. Though I am still not a fan of how revealing it is, I do think it is an important statement.

In Scripture, Christ gave the apostles the ability to bind and loose sin, and that has carried on through apostolic succession. In the confessional, Catholics encounter the priest who is acting in persona Christi. It is there we can intimately encounter Christ’s tremendous mercy and receive healing for our sins.

Someone else pointed out that it is actually fitting that the dress was revealing because we reveal our souls to Christ in the confessional. I’m not a fan of the dress, but I love the meaning of it.

I’ve seen a lot of different interpretations for Scarlett Johansson’s dress, and I think they are all wonderful. We could just look at the elements: red (Christ’s passion, earthly Kingship), white (purity), the lightweight/ almost floaty look of the dress (ethereal), and flowers (a nod to the Blessed Mother).

In one of the discussion groups I’m in, a woman said it reminded her of the Divine Mercy. This is an image Christ revealed to Saint Faustina Kowalska. When I looked at it, it made me think of the blood and water that gushed forth from Christ’s side after a soldier pierced it after Christ’s death of the cross (John 19:34). This seemingly small detail has incredible significance; it fulfilled a prophecy, showed how much Christ suffered, symbolized atonement of sins, and more.  

This lovely dress is a reminder that art can speak to us in different ways and hold a different meaning for each person.

I really, really liked Keltie Knight’s dress, and I think it was one of the underrated looks. It has an embroidered Sacred Heart on it. Many Catholics have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus because it represents the central part of our religion: love.

The Catholic Gentleman puts it beautifully: “In the burning and wounded Sacred Heart, we see that God’s heart is consumed with love for us—so much so that he was willing to suffer and die for us in the most gruesome manner. The Sacred Heart teaches us that true love is always costly, but that it always gives life.”

Sarah Jessica Parker wore a Nativity scene on her head. Honestly, I hated this look, but the significance of the Nativity scene is important. Jesus Christ could’ve come to earth in glorious majesty, but he instead started in meager beginnings as a helpless infant.

It is a huge act of humility. It also highlights the importance of family. Christ had a mother and a father whom he loved and honored. The Blessed Virgin Mary and her husband, St. Joseph, model what a family should look like.

How fitting is it in an event dedicated to elegance we are reminded of Christ’s humble beginnings?

How fitting is it in an event dedicated to elegance we are reminded of Christ’s humble beginnings? Click To Tweet

Religious Life Attire

This was one of the aspects I was really dreading about the event. I have seen way too many sexy/slutty nun costumes, and the Met Gala seemed like a prime opportunity to create items like that under the guise of fashion.

As I looked at the different outfits that resembled religious life attire, I was pleasantly surprised by the creativity of some and dismayed by the insensitivity of others.

You see, some people reduce what those in religious life wear to uniforms, but they aren’t just some outfit. They are highly symbolic pieces that call to mind the sacred vows these men and women took. I think it is incredibly insensitive and ignorant to “sexify” or “glam” these pieces, but I admired the pieces that took elements but made it a completely unique piece.

I think it comes to an important distinction: was the piece made to look like the religious attire, or was it inspired by it?

Pope

The Pope is the leader of the Catholic Church on Earth. From the time that Jesus established Peter as the first pope to present day, the pope plays an incredibly important role in guiding the flock.

Though cardinals and bishops also wear mitres, people most often associate it with the pope. It is a reminder of the pope’s authority. Typically, a pope will only wear the mitre for big celebrations and stick to the zucchetto for daily wear.

 

The cassock is a common piece, and all the clergy wear it. Some priests wear a black version (although it isn’t all that common for priests to wear them anymore), but the pope wears white. Traditionally, cassocks have 33 buttons: one for each year of Christ’s life.

Stoles are long pieces of embroidered fabric (priests also wear them). It is a symbol of sacrifice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSJZBpLhs9p/?hl=en&tagged=prieststole

The mozzetta is a cape that again is a reminder of the pope’s earthly authority. A few other select people have the privilege of wearing a mozzetta.

https://www.instagram.com/p/bzaIkwOnbZ/?hl=en&tagged=mozetta

The mantum is a longer cape sometimes worn by popes.

Different popes choose to wear different items, but ultimately, the pieces reflect something about their position be it authority, sacrifice, a reminder of Christ’s passion, purity, etc.

Rihanna wore a mitre and what looked to be a mantum. For me, it was too literal and was insulting. While the pieces were beautiful, I think it was disrespectful. Helen Lasichanh is another example where I think the outfit was too literal.

Chadwick Boseman’s outfit also seemed to resemble a mantum or a humeral veil. We also see the white, red, and gold all represented. Though it is a stunning ensemble and he looks awesome, I still feel like it is too close.

I felt similarly about Naomi Watts’ dress and mozzetta-inspired cape. Again, this is another stunning outfit with beautiful elements, but it felt a little too close to the real thing. Anna Wintour’s dress appeared to be an interpretation of the cassock is yet another piece I felt was too close.

I’m torn about these three pieces because I don’t think they are immediately as recognizable as Rihanna’s, Taylor Hill’s, etc. (and the pieces are works of art), but they still walk that line.

I saw some dresses that seemed to be inspired by a mozetta. I enjoyed these because they were less literal. Rooney Mara had a blue (Marian-inspired?) gown. In addition to the bold, mozetta-inspired top, Bella Hadid wore a 10-pound veil.

Cardinal

The pope appoints cardinals who are then considered princes of the Church. Cardinals wear red to symbolize their willingness to die for the Catholic faith.

We often see cardinals wearing a black cassock and red fascia, but they also wear red cassocks which are considered part of their choir dress.

Taylor Hill and Ruby Rose wore outfits that showed these two different styles, but both the dresses were terrible. They are way too literal and felt like a variation on the sexy nun costumes. Jordan Roth also had a red-cassock-inspired look. It was slightly better, but still too similar. These were some of my least favorite looks of the night.

Priest

This section is only going to cover Diocesan priests as that is what is most familiar to people and what I saw represented at the Gala. Keep in mind priests in religious orders wear different clothing.

I mentioned vestments early on in this post, but outside of the Mass, priests are most often seen wearing black. Though cassocks used to be the norm, it is much more common to see a black shirt. Black was chosen both for practicality (black dye was cheap) and symbolism (humility and death).

https://www.instagram.com/p/nWzKv4Aq_4/?hl=en&tagged=romancollar

The Roman collar is also a distinctive feature for Catholic priests (though there are Protestant denominations that also wear a collar or some variation of it). Simply put, it is a symbol of his consecration to God.

I thought Greta Gerwig’s dress was a lovely interpretation. The black, white, and layered look were present, but it was a distinctly different piece.

I also appreciated the subtlety of Emma Stone’s dress. Unless someone knew what a cassock is, they likely would have overlooked the buttons. I really liked Cassie Ventura’s ensemble. I think it was a classy interpretation that drew elements without being literal.

Unfortunately, there some roman collars. I thought the bedazzled piece on Tessa Thompson was tacky, lazy and disrespectful.

I think Deborra-Lee Furness’ dress was better (though still a little concerning). Rather than a literal collar, the designer used a cut-out. There was also a nod to the mozzetta without being a literal cape. I thought this was a much more creative interpretation.

Statements

There were several celebrities who seemed to be going against the theme, but I actually think they showed some unique components of the Catholic faith.

Lena Waithe graced the red carpet with a pride cape. Initially, I was flustered. I felt like she was doing it as an FU to the Church without understanding what it actually taught.

When you read all the commentary about the cape, you would certainly be led to believe that this is the case. One of my fellow contributors to FemCatholic, however,  directed me to a different quote from Lena herself.

“You talk about church and Catholicism, it’s about-you were made in God’s image…The theme to me is be yourself.”

The Catholic Church is the only place where people in the LGBT community can truly be themselves because it reminds them of their only identity that truly matters: that they (if they are baptized) are children of God (if they aren’t baptized, they are still made in God’s image and likeness).

The Church teaches us that we are not our attractions. We are not our desires. We were made to be in an intimate relationship with God.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge wore a dress referred to as the “More Sex” dress. Warning: the dress has a NSFW depiction, but you can view it here. To some, it may seem that she is trying to imply the Church hates sex and is full of prudes. This could not be further from the truth.

The Church rightly recognizes that sex is incredible. It is a foretaste of Heaven. It is a gift. And because it is so special, it should be protected. The Church teaches that sex should be free, total, faithful, and fruitful. And I think most people, not just Christians, would tend to agree with all of these (or at least the first three).

But this isn’t just the Church saying this. We can look to natural law and recognize that sex has to purposes: to be procreative and unitive. Quick note on the procreative aspect: this does not mean that every time a couple has sex, they should be trying to make a baby. Instead, it is an openness to life by cooperating with a woman’s natural fertility.

Society tries to tell us that people who experience SSA are only themselves if they can act on their desires, but we are truly ourselves, we are truly free, when we are obedient to God. God doesn’t give us a bunch of rules because He’s a jerk; He gives us guidance so we can experience true, lasting joy rather than superficial, earthly happiness.

Non-Catholic Faiths

Letitia Wright opted for an Ethiopian-pastor-inspired look. I thought her look was beautiful, and I loved reading about her faith.

Lynda Carter had one of my favorite looks of the night. 

Though she isn’t Jewish (from what I’ve read), her husband and children are. I think there is a lot to be said about this beautiful look.

First, Christianity finds its roots in Judaism. Jesus was Jewish. Mary was Jewish. The disciples were Jewish.

Second, Catholics support religious freedom. Even though Catholicism is the only faith that possesses the fullness of the truth, we are not supposed to force people to convert (CCC 2104-2109).

Finally, I was really intrigued by her crown. I don’t want to make assumptions (and please call me out if I am totally wrong), but I wonder if her crown is referring to the Holocaust. My mind went to St. Maximilian Kolbe who is considered a martyr. When reading his story, some people question why he is considered a martyr when he was killed in a concentration camp as a punishment for some people escaping (he actually took the place of someone else). But he was killed for standing in defiance to evil.

There is no room for hatred directed towards other humans in Catholicism. Recognizing the inherent dignity of every human being is inseparable from Catholicism. Consequently, attacks on human rights and violations of human dignity are attacks on the Catholic faith.

Her stunning, regal attire with deep meaning reminds us that every person was made in the image and likeness of God. We should defend that dignity and celebrate it.

Her stunning, regal attire with deep meaning reminds us that every person was made in the image and likeness of God. Click To Tweet

***

Overall, I thought there were some beautiful looks at the Met Gala, and I loved that people found beauty in Catholicism. Though I could’ve done without the irreverence and disrespect, I hope that the positives inspire people to learn more and seek the truth.

I thought there were some beautiful looks at the Met Gala, and I loved that people found beauty in Catholicism. Click To Tweet