Statue of Mary in a new church

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Fr_Ambrose

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I wonder if somebody can point me in the right direction for an answer to a present problem which involves friends of mine.

There was a new church consecrated two weeks ago and built at great expense to the local community.

The parish priest will not allow a statue of Mary in the church, nor in the separate room where the tabernacle is kept, saying that it detracts from the emphasis on the Mass as eucharist and gathering. It seems that he has the support of higher authorities in this matter.

Those who have attended this church (in its old building) for decades are feeling rejected and saddened that something which is an integral part of their devotional life is being withdrawn from them.

Question: Are there any liturgical instructions which would cover this matter? Does the priest have the right to decide to have no statue of Mary?

Has this sort of thing been covered already in another thread?

Any help and references appreciated.
 
Evidently this Parish is not named Our Lady of…😉

I would guess, as is often the case, that this priest may have been motivated by an erroneous interpretation of liturgical law arising from the Council’s Constitution on the Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium)

The concept of “noblis pulchritudo - noble beauty” article 124 of SC has often been translated as noble simplicity rather than noble beauty. Unfortunately in the name of “simplicity” altars have been smashed, statures trashed, paintings whitewashed, etc.

As to the authority issues, you say he has support of “higher offices” which must mean the Bishop - and right or wrong, the Bishop does have that authority.

Any time I am visiting in a city and see the words “Worship Space” listed rather than Church - I don’t go there.
 
Fr Ambrose:
I wonder if somebody can point me in the right direction for an answer to a present problem which involves friends of mine.

There was a new church consecrated two weeks ago and built at great expense to the local community.

The parish priest will not allow a statue of Mary in the church, nor in the separate room where the tabernacle is kept, saying that it detracts from the emphasis on the Mass as eucharist and gathering. It seems that he has the support of higher authorities in this matter.

Those who have attended this church (in its old building) for decades are feeling rejected and saddened that something which is an integral part of their devotional life is being withdrawn from them.

Question: Are there any liturgical instructions which would cover this matter? Does the priest have the right to decide to have no statue of Mary?

Has this sort of thing been covered already in another thread?

Any help and references appreciated.
No instructions from the Church forbid such a statue. Quite the contrary.

I would write a nice letter to you pastor asking for permission to place a tasteful statue of the Holy Mother in the new building. Offer to raise funds for the statue and have other parishioners sign a petition.

If you efforts fall on dear ears, take your letter and petition with a new (and brief) cover letter and send it to your bishop…
 
I can understand why some in the congregation would be upset.

I think I can agree that since there is a separate room for the tabernacle there need not be a statue of Mary in there, especially if it does not have the Lord in her arms, but I cannot understand the reluctance to have one in the nave.

I don’t think that there are any regulations requiring a statue of Mary, or any specific saint, in those places. I have never heard of one.

It sounds to me like this is an extreme position, but I do not doubt the right of the pastor or bishop to make such a decision. I suppose that when the pastor gets reassigned that will change.

Perhaps he would consent to one in the narthex?
 
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Crusader:
If you efforts fall on dear ears, take your letter and petition with a new (and brief) cover letter and send it to your bishop…
Wow, a lot of stuff on these threads make me so grateful for my priest, a cranky, high-handed, but extremely orthodox man. He’d have a stroke at the idea of a church without a statue of the Blessed Mother. He adores her! If the bishop won’t do anything, one might write to one’s metropolitan archbishop. He can’t make the bishop consent, but it might be uncomfortable enough that it was mentioned at the metropolitan level that he will then consent. If he still didn’t, one could write him again and let him know that the next letter goes to the Holy See. They could just keep asking, ala Our Lord’s parable of the corrupt judge and the persistent widow. She finally got what she wanted not because the judge’s heart was changed, but because he thought she was a pain! Though really, we are supposed to submit to our pastors legitimate authority. But sheesh, the Blessed Mother! Hello, we ARE Catholic.
 
Would this be evidence that statues cannot be excluded from a Catholic church?

**GIRM 318 - concerning statues and images in churches. The text says:

“Thus, images of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints, in accordance with the Church’s most ancient tradition, should be displayed for veneration by the faithful in sacred buildings and should be arranged so as to usher the faithful toward the mysteries of faith celebrated there. For this reason, care should be taken that their number not be increased indiscriminately, and that they be arranged in proper order so as not to distract the faithful’s attention from the celebration itself. There should usually be only one image of any given Saint. Generally speaking, in the ornamentation and arrangement of a church as far as images are concerned, provision should be made for the devotion of the entire community as well as for the beauty and dignity of the images.” **
 
If I were engaged to be married and brought the guy home to meet my mother, and he had a real problem with her, was jealous of her, did not want me to spend any time with her, I would be very suspicious of his love for me. Of course when married I would not place her above him, but she would still be my mother, still be part of my life. If he couldn’t handle that, I would have to ask myself why.

So I would have to ask myself, meeting a priest with an attitude you describe, what is his hang-up about Mary? How sincere is his devotion to Jesus if he somehow sees Jesus in competition with His mother? If Bishop Sheen didn’t say it he should have: if a priest rejects Mary he has an agenda that somewhere along the line will reject other aspects of Jesus’ life and teaching.
 
Fr Ambrose:
Would this be evidence that statues cannot be excluded from a Catholic church?

**GIRM 318 - concerning statues and images in churches. The text says: **

**“Thus, images of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints, in accordance with the Church’s most ancient tradition, should be displayed for veneration by the faithful in sacred buildings and should be arranged so as to usher the faithful toward the mysteries of faith celebrated there. For this reason, care should be taken that their number not be increased indiscriminately, and that they be arranged in proper order so as not to distract the faithful’s attention from the celebration itself. There should usually be only one image of any given Saint. Generally speaking, in the ornamentation and arrangement of a church as far as images are concerned, provision should be made for the devotion of the entire community as well as for the beauty and dignity of the images.” **
In my opinion, yes. The GIRM seems to be saying that there should be images (statues, paintings, mosaics, stained-glass windows would all be included here, I’m sure), just not too many, and arranged so as not to intrude on the Mass.

I would not be able to understand a church that has no statues of Mary and at least the patron saint of the church.
 
In regard to statues. Also interested in opinion of Father Ambrose concerning statues in Orthodox Churches. Many ikonostas after highest rang have carved raspjatije of our God and Savior Jesus Christ at Crucifixion with statues of Mother of God and John the Theologian. This is common in churches in Ukraine and also Russia. Also the temple of Christ the Saviour in Moskva reconstructed after bombed by stalinists is truly covered with sculpture. Some Orthodox people opposed to statues, but I believe that already they are in Orthodox Churches and should be venerated like painted ikons.
 
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