Inspiration

WARWICK — Frederick Franck's drawings of the Second Vatican Council are currently on exhibit at Pacem in Terris, located at 96 Covered Bridge Road in Warwick.

The exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Vatican II, convened by Pope John XXIII in 1962, and will be on view through October.

Frederick Franck and John the XXIII

Franck was born in 1909 in Maastricht in Holland on the Belgian and German borders. At that time the region was largely Catholic; Frederick, however, was from an agnostic family. Nevertheless the symbol rich environment in which he grew up fed his young imagination and is the seedbed of many of the images seen here at Pacem in Terris.

From the time he was a very young man Franck studied D.T Suzuki’s writings on Zen. He also deeply admired Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s philosophy of “Reverence for Life” and worked at his African hospital during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

However, during the dark days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the hope and humanity contained in Pope John’s call for the renewal of the Catholic Church struck a chord in Franck and he and his wife Claske left for Rome immediately.

He became the only artist to draw both sessions of the Second Vatican Council. For this he received the Medal of John’s Pontificate.

Dedication Upon their return from Rome, Frederick and Claske were inspired to build Pacem in Terris. It is dedicated to John the XXIII, Schweitzer and Suzuki.

Pacem in Terris is an oasis of solitude, art, inspiration and natural beauty. Located along the Wawayanda River, Pacem offers a simple, quiet place to visit and find renewal for daily life.

Pacem in Terris is a not for profit organization. It is open week days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., May through October.

Admission is free; donations are always welcome. For more information, call 845-986-4329 or visit online at www.frederickfranck.org.