During Mass Are Statues of Saints Distracting You?

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Thumblessprimat said:
Her words in case I alter any meaning by only revealing bits: “In fact, it’s better if they aren’t front and center—anything that would distract from the celebration of the Eucharist belongs in a different, reverent place.”

I feel uncomfortable putting up an entire Email as I don’t want this to be about her, and I want to be careful to avoid any unintentional backbiting.

While assuring me that the builders and designers paid careful attention to the guidelines for art and achitecture provided by the U.S. Biships, the reference she gave me was this, Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture and Worship (2000).

I’m sure they followed guidelines, but I think there is room for devotional things that help with actual participation in the Mass.
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Yes, that is the document I was thinking of. So she isn’t saying to statues at all, simply somewhere other than right by the altar. That is understandable, depending on the size and layout of the church. Hopefully your new church will have statues in other locations. 🙂
 
Mrs_Sally said:
Yes, that is the document I was thinking of. So she isn’t saying to statues at all, simply somewhere other than right by the altar. That is understandable, depending on the size and layout of the church. Hopefully your new church will have statues in other locations. 🙂
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We do have statues in other locations, but I feel that during Mass the statues of Mary and Joseph help me and others with the participation in the Mass. With the poll here at least I think I’m in the minority.
 
During Mass, I am focused on the Tabernacle, priest, lector, or cantor, as appropriate. I have never found statues to be distracting.
 
Woops. In the last reply I meant that I think I’m “*not * in the minority” :D.
 
Windmill said:
Hmmmmm. Let’s see. Where would you rather attend Mass:

Here (click to enlarge):

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Lazio_Roma_Gesu1_tango7174.jpg/250px-Lazio_Roma_Gesu1_tango7174.jpg

or here:

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/jubilee/jubileeint.jpg

Both are Catholic. Which draws you up in prayer? Which manifests God’s glory better?
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I prefer the bottom example. The clean, white color communicates peace, order, and purity. The lack of clutter is stunning and beautiful. It not only draws me up in prayer, it SWEEPS me up in prayer by it’s loftiness.

I also love the natural light in the bottom example. The top example looks gloomy.

And the gold gilding in the top example, to me, looks like one of the atmospheric theaters.
 
I can’t answer this poll because there is no “other” option.

I don’t find a statues of saints distracting. What I find distracting is all the “clutter” in some of the older and/or more traditional church buildings.

We have one the atmospheric theaters in our city, and these older churches remind me of this theater. Although I loved the theater when I was a child, at this point, I no longer find it so beautiful. Way too much “stuff,” and no relief for the eyes or mind.

I have enough “clutter” in my life.

I like starkness, cleanliness, lines, open spaces, natural light, colors.
 
Cat said:
I can’t answer this poll because there is no “other” option.

I don’t find a statues of saints distracting. What I find distracting is all the “clutter” in some of the older and/or more traditional church buildings.

We have one the atmospheric theaters in our city, and these older churches remind me of this theater. Although I loved the theater when I was a child, at this point, I no longer find it so beautiful. Way too much “stuff,” and no relief for the eyes or mind.

I have enough “clutter” in my life.

I like starkness, cleanliness, lines, open spaces, natural light, colors.
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There’s no “other” category, because poll specifically is about statues, but thank you for expressing your thoughts.
 
when i was able to go to mass, i loved the statues. they were company, family.
loved them.
 
Angel_Bradford said:
Jesus and his angels are fully present in both, so I am drawn into prayer in both.
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That is such a blessing to be able to be drawn into and focused in prayer in any situation. I imagine it being a level of spiritual maturity that one can reach. This is something that I am striving for.

In my present state, I need all the help that I can get. I beg the Holy Spirit for the graces, I look to the hidden Christ, I need beautiful music, and lastly I look to the sacred images of saints.

Slightly off topic: While I respect that some like a very simple church interior, I do believe you are missing out. I am reminded of this story from The Reader’s Digest here. The topic is music, but the concept can be applied to other forms of art.

Back on topic: The beautiful images stimulate my senses and thus guide the inner most part of my soul into adoration for the hidden Lord. Without the the sacred images my thoughts wander on to irrelevant things.
 
Thumblessprimat said:
That is such a blessing to be able to be drawn into and focused in prayer in any situation. I imagine it being a level of spiritual maturity that one can reach. This is something that I am striving for.

In my present state, I need all the help that I can get. I beg the Holy Spirit for the graces, I look to the hidden Christ, I need beautiful music, and lastly I look to the sacred images of saints.

Slightly off topic: While I respect that some like a very simple church interior, I do believe you are missing out. I am reminded of this story from The Reader’s Digest here. The topic is music, but the concept can be applied to other forms of art.

Back on topic: The beautiful images stimulate my senses and thus guide the inner most part of my soul into adoration for the hidden Lord. Without the the sacred images my thoughts wander on to irrelevant things.
Click to expand...
I have been to Mass all over the world; from St. Peter’s to a picnic table at a rest stop. It doesn’t matter how plain or extravagant the architecture or how bad the music or the preaching; what matters is that Jesus is present at each and every Mass throughout the world and that is ALL that matters. Trust me…I’m not missing out on anything because with the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith…I have it all!
 
Thumblessprimat said:
That is such a blessing to be able to be drawn into and focused in prayer in any situation. I imagine it being a level of spiritual maturity that one can reach. This is something that I am striving for.

In my present state, I need all the help that I can get. I beg the Holy Spirit for the graces, I look to the hidden Christ, I need beautiful music, and lastly I look to the sacred images of saints.

Slightly off topic: While I respect that some like a very simple church interior, I do believe you are missing out. I am reminded of this story from The Reader’s Digest here. The topic is music, but the concept can be applied to other forms of art.

Back on topic: The beautiful images stimulate my senses and thus guide the inner most part of my soul into adoration for the hidden Lord. Without the the sacred images my thoughts wander on to irrelevant things.
Click to expand...
I have been to Mass all over the world; from St. Peter’s to shrines in the Holy Land to a picnic table at a rest stop on Interstate 75. It doesn’t matter how plain or extravagant the architecture or how bad the music or the preaching; what matters is that Jesus is present at each and every Mass throughout the world and that is ALL that matters. Trust me…I’m not missing out on anything because with the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith…I have it all!
 
Angel_Bradford said:
I have been to Mass all over the world; from St. Peter’s to shrines in the Holy Land to a picnic table at a rest stop on Interstate 75. It doesn’t matter how plain or extravagant the architecture or how bad the music or the preaching; what matters is that Jesus is present at each and every Mass throughout the world and that is ALL that matters. Trust me…I’m not missing out on anything because with the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith…I have it all!
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I respect your experience and opinion. I believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of of our faith, but I am not completely convinced that it doesn’t matter that there is bad architecture, homily, music or statues.
 
I think a crucifix should be the focal point of the front of a church, and it usually is.

But I have been in a few older churches where that is not the case. I remember in the next diocese to the north there is a huge church in a small town named St. Josephs that has an enormous statue of St Josesph over the altar and a tiny crucifix on the altar it’self.

I really don’t like that, to me the church belongs to Jesus first, and only second to St Joeseph.
 
Windmill said:
Hmmmmm. Let’s see. Where would you rather attend Mass:

Here (click to enlarge):

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Lazio_Roma_Gesu1_tango7174.jpg/250px-Lazio_Roma_Gesu1_tango7174.jpg

or here:

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/jubilee/jubileeint.jpg

Both are Catholic. Which draws you up in prayer? Which manifests God’s glory better?
Click to expand...
They both have good points, but the more modern church has an easily seen crucifix.

I could not even find the crucifix in the first more ornate church.
 
Thumblessprimat said:
I respect your experience and opinion. I believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of of our faith, but I am not completely convinced that it doesn’t matter that there is bad architecture, homily, music or statues.
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And it’s totally ok that you need those things to help you. I don’t, therefore it doesn’t matter to me.
 
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