Praying Before An Image

[RedDuke50]

I have heard of saints that prayed before crucifixes and I have seen people pray before images of Mary and things like that. I was wondering what the reason of doing this was. I know that they are not praying to the image itself because that would be idolatry, right?

Thanks

 

[StarFireKK]

For me it is simple: focus.

It helps focus the prayer plus for me it gives that “other” part of my mind something to do. When I am saying the prayer and focusing on either my intentions or thanksgiving the “other” part of my brain that never can sit still thinks about the image. For example, if I am looking at a crucifix I might think about everything that Christ suffered for our sins. If I am looking a Mary, I will think about her life and her role.

I know praying in public places or the Stations of the Cross has certain indulgences attached to them and that’s why some pray before them.

 

[Sherry_G]

Praying before a crucifix centers my mind and helps me focus when my subconcious tends to wander. Sometimes, I can close my eyes and be centered in prayer, but sometimes, the worries of the day are still running around in the recesses and may pop into my conscious mind as a distraction. Of course, this isnt idolatry! Just as a person may hold or look at a photo of a loved one as they think about that person, I sometimes look at Jesus, on the cross or in my sacred heart picture as I think about Him Likewise for the Blessed Virgin Mary, my hero among all women. I think about her closeness with Our Lord, her private years of his upbringing and how truly blessed she is.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

I’m the kind of person who simply can NOT pray with my eyes closed. When I do that, I start getting majorly distracted and usually sleepy!! I keep my eyes open at all times when I pray because even if I am focused and well-rested, I just feel weird. I don’t know why, I just always have.

Praying before an image helps me focus. It gives me something to look at and meditate on in my mind while I pray.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I agree with the above: they serve as focus and inspiration. Plus I somehow find it easier to pray in a beautiful setting, rather than empty space. (provided that the statues and paintings in question are beautiful of course )

 

[nelson_quijano]

for me the image of Christ or of the blessed virgin Mary is a purpose of strong focus and it goes along to have a good meditation. Veneration of images for the purpose of salvation is not an idolatry in fact it is commanded by God as you view many verses in the old testament.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I was wondering what the reason of doing this was. I know that they are not praying to the image itself because that would be idolatry, right?

I agree that it could be a form of idolatry, and I used to wonder why people do it. My wife likes to pray in front of the statues placed around the church, but I really had no desire to do so. I asked her why she liked to do it, and she told me that it gives her a sense of connection, and that it makes her feel more like they are really there with her. So I tried it myself. Since I play music at the church, I have a key so I did this all alone so it would be quiet and I’d have no distractions – plus I didn’t want to feel like a hypocrite. Finally, one time when I knelt before the statue of the Virgin Mary, I swore she came alive. She moved ever so slightly, and seemed like she was breathing. I even thought I saw her wink at me.

Of course, since I’m an unrepentant engineer, I sought a worldly explanation for how that happened. After some time I realized that while I was gazing upward, focused on her face, the stones in the background made a bit of a pattern. When I made even the slightest move, I could detect an apparent change in the position of the statue in relation to the stones in the background. Then I realized the movements were actually my own and they were slight enough that I didn’t feel them but saw their effects. Therefore, due to parallax, it appeared the statue had actually moved. It was kind of like looking up at a tall building with clouds above, giving the illusion that the building was falling over on me.

As far as the breathing, I realized that when I breathe, I make movements ever so slightly and bingo. It looks like she is breathing exactly in sync with me. So not only did she seem to be alive, it felt like she was empathizing with my very breathing, and it honestly was a comforting image. As for the wink, I finally noticed that it usually took a minute or two of gazing for that to happen. My theory is that it is like anything you stare at for a long time. If you fix your eyes in one place, things will seem to fade and “flicker” a bit. I hold to this theory as of today.

Ever since then, whenever I feel particularly troubled or once in a while when I don’t, I go into the church (my favorite way is to go alone and when it is dark out, when the church is lit only by light coming in the windows and by the candles) and pray before the statues, giving me a sense of connection to a real, live Mary – or Jesus, or St. Jude, etc. :console:

Alan

 

[TrueLight]

I agree that it could be a form of idolatry, and I used to wonder why people do it. My wife likes to pray in front of the statues placed around the church, but I really had no desire to do so. I asked her why she liked to do it, and she told me that it gives her a sense of connection, and that it makes her feel more like they are really there with her. So I tried it myself. Since I play music at the church, I have a key so I did this all alone so it would be quiet and I’d have no distractions – plus I didn’t want to feel like a hypocrite. Finally, one time when I knelt before the statue of the Virgin Mary, I swore she came alive. She moved ever so slightly, and seemed like she was breathing. I even thought I saw her wink at me.

Of course, since I’m an unrepentant engineer, I sought a worldly explanation for how that happened. After some time I realized that while I was gazing upward, focused on her face, the stones in the background made a bit of a pattern. When I made even the slightest move, I could detect an apparent change in the position of the statue in relation to the stones in the background. Then I realized the movements were actually my own and they were slight enough that I didn’t feel them but saw their effects. Therefore, due to parallax, it appeared the statue had actually moved. It was kind of like looking up at a tall building with clouds above, giving the illusion that the building was falling over on me.

As far as the breathing, I realized that when I breathe, I make movements ever so slightly and bingo. It looks like she is breathing exactly in sync with me. So not only did she seem to be alive, it felt like she was empathizing with my very breathing, and it honestly was a comforting image. As for the wink, I finally noticed that it usually took a minute or two of gazing for that to happen. My theory is that it is like anything you stare at for a long time. If you fix your eyes in one place, things will seem to fade and “flicker” a bit. I hold to this theory as of today.

Ever since then, whenever I feel particularly troubled or once in a while when I don’t, I go into the church (my favorite was is to go alone and when it is dark out, and the church is lit only by light coming in the windows and the candles) and pray before the statues, giving me the sense of connection to a real, live Mary – or Jesus, or St. Jude, etc. :console:

Alan

This is a perfect example of marrying science with faith. Very enjoyable post.

 

[RedDuke50]

Thanks for the answers. I always wondered why some people prayed before the statues and other things. Maybe I will try it sometime to see what it’s like.

 

[Celticnovice]

Orthodox/Eastern Catholics venerate Icons…The Icon depicts Jesus or a Saint in their glorified body to call the viewer to holiness and raise their spirits.

 

[PattiDay]

Thanks for the answers. I always wondered why some people prayed before the statues and other things. Maybe I will try it sometime to see what it’s like.

It’s like keeping a picture of someone you love on your night table. When you look at the picture, you don’t expect it to come alive before you, or to have the picture speak, but you might feel that person is nearer, and wouldn’t even think yourself strange if you whispered some private thoughts or feelings.