Praying in front of pictures

[23masterlamp]

I’m sorry if I’m in the wrong forum but i wasn’t sure where to go

Does the Church have to approve specific images of holy people to pray in front of?
Also, is it okay to pray in front of images of holy people found on the internet?

 

[captainrick]

I’m sorry if I’m in the wrong forum but i wasn’t sure where to go

Does the Church have to approve specific images of holy people to pray in front of?
Also, is it okay to pray in front of images of holy people found on the internet?

Why wouldn’t it be okay? “Pray constantly.”

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I’m sorry if I’m in the wrong forum but i wasn’t sure where to go

Does the Church have to approve specific images of holy people to pray in front of?
Also, is it okay to pray in front of images of holy people found on the internet?

Well, prayers to a person who is a saint is approved by the Church when they’re venerated.

Using a photo of the saint to think about the saint you’re praying to is OK.

Keep in mind that prayer in this sense is asking the saint for prayers and intercessions, bot worshiping them.

Just as we ask our friends to pray for us, we ask Saints and who better, for they’re in heaven with God and can ask directly on your behalf.

Jim

 

[mdgspencer]

I have never heard a rule about this.
There are very many pictures of Padre Pio, for example, on prayer cards, in houses and churches, and the Church does not get involved in approving or disapproving of specific ones.

 

[esieffe]

Think of it this way, we often pray before a crucifix. We are not worshiping the crucifix, it is a visual reminder of Christ and what he did for us. It is easier IMO when asking for the intercession of a Saint to have a visual there in front of me. These objects also bring me peace, for WHO they depict, not what they are. I love Christian art and iconography. My house is full of it, yet these are not sacred objects unless they have been blessed, and even then, they are reminders, but they carry the good intentions of the Church.

 

[petra22]

I have lots, but two favorite right now. While I’m praying the 15 prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden (the Passion of Jesus) I look at Jesus on the cross with the city of Jerusalem in the background and a picture of the Pieta. It helps me stay focused… I hope it’s ok to pray this way…

 

[olive456]

I’m sorry if I’m in the wrong forum but i wasn’t sure where to go

Does the Church have to approve specific images of holy people to pray in front of?
Also, is it okay to pray in front of images of holy people found on the internet?

The Church approves of that.

 

[Sarcelle]

I am prone to anxiety attacks, so I keep a picture of the Divine Mercy in my wallet. Whenever I feel afraid or worried, I pull it out and say “Jesus I trust in you.”.

It helps.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I’m sorry if I’m in the wrong forum but i wasn’t sure where to go

Does the Church have to approve specific images of holy people to pray in front of?
Also, is it okay to pray in front of images of holy people found on the internet?

Are there any you have in mind, or ideas you want to pursue that you might be looking for suggestions?

Like for links to videos, images, articles? I am inspired by a lot of things even a good nature scene can make me feel gratitude for our Creator without Catholic-specific content.

So I’m curious what you either have in mind, or maybe if you’re looking for some ideas on maybe even specific issues they may have written about? A lot of people on CAF have good references if you are looking for suggestions.

As far as Internet, I think it’s great we can pull up resources on any saint we can think of, in seconds, and that can inspire all manner of prayer either right away or even later when we’re thinking about it.

To me, any time I think about or read about – or my favorite is watch videos by or about even if partial-fiction sometimes – it gives me more ideas about how to be closer to God myself. I like many different ideas so each saint is like “opening a new reality dimension” by the way that saint looks at themselves, the Church, and by their behavior etc.

MS

 

[23masterlamp]

Are there any you have in mind, or ideas you want to pursue that you might be looking for suggestions?

Like for links to videos, images, articles? I am inspired by a lot of things even a good nature scene can make me feel gratitude for our Creator without Catholic-specific content.

So I’m curious what you either have in mind, or maybe if you’re looking for some ideas on maybe even specific issues they may have written about? A lot of people on CAF have good references if you are looking for suggestions.

As far as Internet, I think it’s great we can pull up resources on any saint we can think of, in seconds, and that can inspire all manner of prayer either right away or even later when we’re thinking about it.

To me, any time I think about or read about – or my favorite is watch videos by or about even if partial-fiction sometimes – it gives me more ideas about how to be closer to God myself. I like many different ideas so each saint is like “opening a new reality dimension” by the way that saint looks at themselves, the Church, and by their behavior etc.

MS

This is the picture of the Holy Family I was looking at while praying the Joyful Mysteries

campus.udayton.edu/mary/images2/whitefam.jpg

I thought it was very nice so I wanted to make sure I was able to use it

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

This is the picture of the Holy Family I was looking at while praying the Joyful Mysteries

campus.udayton.edu/mary/images2/whitefam.jpg

I thought it was very nice so I wanted to make sure I was able to use it

I like it. Even the best artwork by the most famous of “sacred” artists, are only giving their rendition of what they may have looked like. They could have looked like this family, or various other nationalities or whatever; what we do have is the written word and Church teachings; artistic renditions are just things we see that get our attention and get us thinking about certain sacred truths. We make them look like something that we can relate to, that portrays a deep level of caring, to some consumers of this artwork. Maybe somebody in a different culture would not be interested like you are. But that’s why there are so many options. The image isn’t sacred; that which it “points to” is.

Like when you see a cross, even if on a protestant or a person you suspect doesn’t believe in the cross, even though it may not have the figure of Jesus, does it not bring the Crucifix of our Lord to your mind? So we can think “what does that person think about that cross he or she is wearing,” or we can think “but you know that reminds me of the love of Jesus and His mercy when He said forgive them, and then ‘it is finished.’”

So really the artistic rendition’s purpose is to get you thinking about the holy truths, and since this one works for you, I’ll tell you what I’ll say what my wife likes to do with a few minutes – I’ll look at it now and say two each Our Fathers, Hail Mary’s, and Glory Be’s, to join you in praying to be open to anything the Holy Spirit might be trying to speak to you through your reaction to this image, and now I open myself in agreement.