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Chuck1
Guest
hi i was wondering does every catholic church have statues and prayer candles and incense etc ?
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puzzleannie
Guest
no, some built in recent years have “modern” architecture and decoration absent statues and stained glass etc., others simply cannot afford it. There are Catholic churches of all descriptions throughout the world, from the humblest missionary chapel with a thatch roof to the grandest cathedrals of Europe, so no way to generalize. Yes incence is used when it is appropriate in worship. Do you have a problem of worshipping God with the finest of created things we can dedicate to that purpose?
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ATeutonicKnight
Guest
Not every Catholic Church, although every Catholic Church should have statues, prayer candles, and incense.
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philial
Guest
I’ve been in Catholic churches in the UK, France, Italy, Greece, Ireland and India - I never saw one that didnt have some statues. Plenty of stained glass in the Cathedral in Calcutta, too!
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FromTheAshes777
Guest
obviously I can only speak for the ones in my area and a few others I’ve traveled to, but most of the parishes in my area don’t use incense very often if at all. I know the parish that celebrates the EF Mass definitely has it for that purpose and they use it in the OF Masses as well pretty regularly. There is an Eastern Catholic parish that also uses incense I believe. Most of the others besides these do not use it very often, maybe a few times a year.
Every parish I’ve ever been in has had the vigil candles that a person can light for prayer intentions. About three fourths of them have had statues of some sort and stained glass.
Every parish I’ve ever been in has had the vigil candles that a person can light for prayer intentions. About three fourths of them have had statues of some sort and stained glass.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
No. Eastern Churches use Holy Icons as images. The reason is we want the divine not to be represented in 3-dimension. It gives us the symbolism that they are in another dimension, which is heaven. Holy Icons are also seen as windows to heaven.
We use incense, a lot. Although in my particular parish we are a bit sensitive to our parishioners who are allergic to the smoke of the incense, so we use very little. But we do incense many times throughout the Divine Liturgy, so one “grain” of incense is put in the censer so there won’t be a lot of smoke. Once a visiting deacon liberally put a good amount of incense, and almost instantly you hear people coughing from their pews. But its a hallmark of the Byzantine Rite to suffocate the people with Holy Smoke
We also have many candles. Some are lit by the servers/clergy for use in the services. Some are lit by the people at different times throughout the Divine Liturgy. I’ve seen kids walk up to the candles and light some just before the Anaphora.
I’ve heard a comment once that a Divine Liturgy is not a Divine Liturgy unless you have multiple fire hazards that can burn the church down
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Link0126
Guest
It is very common to have at least a crucifix, statues of Mary and Joseph and stained glass. Prayer candles are very common as well, yes.
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guanophore
Guest
Just the good ones.
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Irish_Pride
Guest
No,the church that I attend is pretty dull in architure design and appearance.No statues etc.I find it pretty dull ,so I am looking for a more traditional one.
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Cat
Guest
Hey! No fair! :tsktsk:Just the good ones.
Our church building was built in 1973, and so it is quite modern-looking, one of the “clamshells.”.
There is a massive (bigger than life) and very realistic-looking Crucifix right at the front of the nave–many of our guest priests or speakers comment on this crucifix. It is absolutely beautiful, but quite terrifying, also, as it is so realistic. The figure of Our Lord on the cross is so tragic and haunting and convicting.
Other than that, there are only three other statues, and they are our patron saints (the Holy Family). They are done in the same style as the crucifix, and are very beautiful and real-looking.
There is a votive candle prayer area, with an icon of the Blessed Mother and Her Son. This was installed only a few years ago.
We do not use incense at every Mass, but it is used in the weekly Benedictions, at funerals, and at some of the feast day Masses.
The gorgeous pipe organ dominates the front of the nave along with the Crucifix. It is difficult in a clam shell (with no balcony) to install a pipe organ, but this was done about ten years ago, and the pipes cover most of the front of the nave next to the Crucifix. It is a beautiful pipe organ and I am learning to play it.
We have the Stations of the Cross, and they are somewhat contemporary-looking, in keeping with the contemporary architecture.
I’ve learned that the priest who designed our church building intended for the architecture itself to be a “Gospel.” There are all kinds of “symbols” built into the simple modern architecture; e.g., all the “lines” in the architecture lead to the Tabernacle and Jesus. The windows in the structure apparently let the light shine onto Jesus in the tabernacle. Also, some people claim that at certain times and season, they can see an outline of Jesus in the wall in the pattern of the sunlight–I’ve never seen this myself.
One thing that many people notice in our church building is the bricks–thousands and thousands of them. I’ve heard some people criticize this as “ugly,” and they wish we had paintings or stained glass. But I like the bricks, because of their regularity and strength–to me, this symbolizes the strength of the Church, and the power that we have when we “stick together” instead of trying to be Christians on our own outside of the Church. I also like the way each brick is a little different from all the other bricks, but they are all bricks–that’s symbolic to me of the differences in all Christians and the different gifts that God has given us, but we are all One in Christ.
Anyway, it isn’t true that modern Catholic churches without statues, etc. are not “good.” Our parish is wonderful. I mentioned weekly Benedictions–this is just one example of some of the very traditional practices that our parish continues. We may not have stained glass or clouds of incense, but we are still a GOOD parish. You can’t necessarily judge a church by its outward appearance. Always remember that a church was built by people who came before those currently in the church, and that times and people do change. A beautiful traditional-looking church may be dead as one of its doornails, while a modern-looking monstrosity may be alive and vibrant in Christ.
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tbtcom1213
Guest
Statues - Check:thumbsup:
Prayer Candles - Check:thumbsup: they could be the altar candles, votive candles (wax, oil or electric) lit by the faithful that represent our prayers
Incense - Check:thumbsup: - Symbolizes our prayers rising to God; used during Mass, Vespers and other liturgical occasions which call for the use of incense.
Other common furnishings in Catholic Churches:
Holy Water
Parish Bulletin and assorted Holy Cards
Missalettes, Hymnals and Prayer Books
Kneelers and Altar Rails
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