Iconography

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Where does Iconography fit into the Roman Catholic church? In study, I see that the last of the Ecumenical councils confirmed the icon. It seems icons should be venerated with the same respect as sacred Scripture and the cross. I have yet to attend a church that even displays an icon. Why do we ignore them? Why don’t I hear more about Iconography?
Thank you.
 
I have icons in my home. I have seen icons in many Roman Catholic Churches including my own parish.

-Tim-
 
In virtually every single Eastern Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox parish there will be icons (and I mean TONS especially if they have an iconostasis, which is standard). It just so happens it’s not used often within the Western liturgical life of the church.
 
In the Western Church, you will usually see statues instead. Same purpose and principle. As has been noted, in the Eastern Church, rather than statues, you will see the type of icons you expect.
 
I see a growing interest in icons in our Catholic Church. I know of many Catholics who have gone on retreats where they “write” an icon, and under the direction of an iconographer produce a beautiful icon.
It is a prayerful experience!

A Catholic friend of mine, who has been going on icon writing retreats for over twelve years, gave an excellent talk about them and showed us the symbols in the icons and what they meant. It was very inspiring to say the least. After hearing about icons from her, a woman I know began to go on such retreats and produced beautiful icons.

Hopefully this interest will continue and we will begin to see icons in our churches. They truly are windows to heaven!

The Redemptorists are famous for the icon of “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”. The meaning was explained to me and it is inspiring.

Now I would like to do more research about it!
 
Statues do not hold the same weight as icons. An icon is not merely a visual aid. It is the product of an encounter btwn God and human. Anyway i have a new appreciation of Icons and will continue my studies. Most of what is available to read is from Orthodox writers.
 
I never appreciated icons until I had to read Cardinal Schonborn’s God’s Human Face: The Christ Icon for a Theology of Christ course. I was lost for quite a bit of the book, wondering what was the underlying assumption that I was missing. Why are icons different from other religious art?

Researching on line, I found an excellent presentation from an Orthodox seminary -

mospat.ru/en/2011/02/06/news35783/

In it, Metropolitan Alfeyev says, "The Byzantine icon is not merely an image of the man Jesus but precisely God become man. This is what distinguishes the Orthodox icon from Renaissance religious art which represents Christ ‘humanized’”.

And he quotes iconographer Leonid Ouspensky saying, “The icon is an image of a human being truly filled with the passion- searing and all-sanctifiying grace of the Holy Spirit. Therefore his flesh is depicted as essentially different from the ordinary corruptible flesh of a human being.”

This was so eye opening for me! Now I appreciate icons and have them in my office.
 
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Oh I love that explanation. Thank you KCT.
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You are most welcome.

It was truly an ‘ah ha!’ moment for me. I actually raced into the den to share it with my husband. 🙂

I don’t think it answers your question about the place of icons in the Catholic Church, but it sure is interesting.

And some Catholic churches do have icons… a church near me has icon stations of the cross!
 
Threads said:
Where does Iconography fit into the Roman Catholic church? In study, I see that the last of the Ecumenical councils confirmed the icon. It seems icons should be venerated with the same respect as sacred Scripture and the cross. I have yet to attend a church that even displays an icon. Why do we ignore them? Why don’t I hear more about Iconography?
Thank you.
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You mean, you haven’t visited a parish on a Wednesday or Saturday, or one run by the Redemptorists? 😉

The most common icon you will see in the Roman Catholic Church is the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
 
Threads said:
Where does Iconography fit into the Roman Catholic church? In study, I see that the last of the Ecumenical councils confirmed the icon. It seems icons should be venerated with the same respect as sacred Scripture and the cross. I have yet to attend a church that even displays an icon. Why do we ignore them? Why don’t I hear more about Iconography?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Iconography is defended by the 7th–but not the last–Ecumenical council: Nicaea II (787 A.D.). Vatican II was the last (that is, the most recent) Ecumenical council.

Recall that statues and crosses fall under the category of icons. Whether they are 2-D or 3-D is not of relevance for Catholic teaching. I think under this lens you’ll recognize that Icons are everywhere in most Catholic parishes, but I can’t specifically understand what you mean having not seen the parishes you’re referring to.

Hope this helps!

Peace.
 
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