📙 Part 2: Describe an object that you think is beautiful

This episode's vocabulary

To wander (verb) - if your mind or your thoughts wander, you stop thinking about what you should be giving your attention to and start thinking about other matters.

Mosaic (noun) - a pattern or picture made using many small pieces of coloured stone or glass, or the activity or method of making these.

Predominantly (adverb) - mostly or mainly.

Depiction (noun) - the way that something is represented or shown.

To embrace (verb) - to accept something enthusiastically.

To flank (verb) - to be at the side of someone or something.

Transcendent (adj.) - greater, better, more important, or going past or above all others.

Divine (adj.) - connected with a god, or like a god.

Intervention (noun) - the action of becoming intentionally involved in a difficult situation, in order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse.

Divine intervention (noun) - direct and obvious intervention by a god in the affairs of humans.

To pay a visit (idiom) - to visit a person or place, usually for a short time.

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Questions and Answers

R: Whenever I think of beautiful things, my mind always wanders back to the mosaic and the interior of the Sacré Coeur Basilica. That's just a fancy way of saying a really nice church. And this particular place is an old church located in the centre of Paris at the top of Montmartre. I've only seen it twice in person. But it certainly made an impression on me that I'll never forget. Like I say, it's located on the interior of the building. And it's taken up predominantly by this huge depiction of Jesus Christ. I think it's called Christ in Majesty, actually. And he's got his arms outstretched like he's embracing the world and sky or offering himself up to them. On the other side, oh, sorry, on either side, he's flanked by the Virgin Mary, and an angel, I think it's the Archangel Gabriel. Joan of Arc also features in the piece, which I think was created in the early 1920s. It's a core part of French and Christian culture, as you would expect, but in my opinion, it's also a piece of world culture, rich in detail and transcendent and message. It's a powerful thing to behold for both believers and non-believers alike. This is, of course, its purpose and to be honest, it's the purpose of most art of a religious nature. But I think this does the job particularly well. Another reason it stands out so strongly in my mind is my own personal connection to it. The second time I was there, I went with a friend who was suffering from a very serious illness. And he didn't want to come inside. So while I was there, having a look around, I lit a candle and said a silent prayer asking God to watch over him, while I was looking at the whole display. I'm not sure it worked. But I thought if there was ever a time to ask for divine intervention, that would be it. Regardless, it was a beautiful moment, and I hope it will live on in my memory. If I hadn't gone there, I suppose the trip would still have been meaningful, but just not as much as it could have otherwise been. And I think that's true for a lot of people. So every time someone says they're going to Paris I always tell them to pay a visit to see this place and what's inside, whether they want to have a religious experience or not. It's definitely worth it.

M: And what about your friends? Do they enjoy this object?

R: I haven't been there with any other friends and the friend I was there with didn't see it.

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