Statue of Mary - Is it allowed?

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THurifer2 said:
EWTN has never stated "their way " is the only way. THis is a contrived notion by anti-Trads when referring traditional Catholics…

No, I don’t believe EWTN has ever stated their way is the only way. I do believe that other people have done that on their behalf though. EWTN is quite useful and I have watched their liturgies on several occasions. But when we have people coming on these boards or into our parishes and saying “This isn’t right, because I saw the mass on EWTN and they did …” that is the problem.

There are thousands of Churches around the world that you would not like then including the apostolic chapel in vatican which has a HUGE MOASAIC of Mary as a backdrop to the altar click here to see Do you think John Paul executed Poor wisdom by taking our focus away from Christ when he commissioned the chapel?

A moasaic behind the altar is a bit different. I have been in churches where they have literally placed a huge statue in front of the altar. Now that’s distracting. A moasaic as a backdrop? Not so much.

One can contmeplate Mary and the Sacrifice of the Mass at the same time since they are interconnected… Of course you must assume that…right??? certainly you can agree that to discourage including mary in the focus of the Holy Sacrifice of The Mass is ONE WAY but not THE “only” WAY.
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Yes, on can - and in fact the Church asks us to at masses for her feasts and solemnities. To simply infuse Marian devotion into a regular Sunday mass, however, is not appropriate.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Yes, on can - and in fact the Church asks us to at masses for her feasts and solemnities. To simply infuse Marian devotion into a regular Sunday mass, however, is not appropriate.
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You have yet to demonstrate in any way whatsoever how a statue of the Blessed Mother can be distracting in the context of the Mass. In fact, I really don’t think you can. I must infer then that you are a minimalist at heart, one who believes that any extravagance in the Mass is to be avoided and who would also probably object to candlesticks, flowers or even :bigyikes: a crucifix on the altar as they could also be construed as distracting.

I do hope that I am wrong, but it does seem to be where you are headed.
 
Frankly, for me, the question of the Blessed Mother has been sort of the mystery of the past forty years. Liberals don’t mention her at all, lest they appear too “reactionary” “unecumenical” or “anti-feminist.” Those on the right-end of the spectrum also have, perhaps not to their own choosing, de-emphasized her by placing so much centrality on the Mass itself and how it is celebrated as opposed to recognizing old acts of piety within the parish. (Our Lady has never been as pronounced in the Latin Church’s Divine Liturgy say vis-a-vis the Byzantine Catholics or the Orthodox).
I think a true Marian piety needs to be reintroduced. Sure, Holy Mass is central and it’s Christ Who we need to be focused on. But I think we’ve lost some of the true Marian and other Saint-focused piety by worrying so much about the Liturgy to the point of ignoring paraliturgical elements. I’m not talking about home devotions, but actual paraliturgical elements such as processions, novenas within the church walls, etc.
 
palmas85 said:
You have yet to demonstrate in any way whatsoever how a statue of the Blessed Mother can be distracting in the context of the Mass. In fact, I really don’t think you can. For the same reason that the bishops have recommended not placing the nativity in front of the altar at Christmas - We should not be gazing upon and contemplating the nativity while the priest is changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Neither should we be chiefly contemplating and practicing devotion to Mary or any other saint at that time. I must infer then that you are a minimalist at heart, one who believes that any extravagance in the Mass is to be avoided and who would also probably object to candlesticks, flowers or even :bigyikes: a crucifix on the altar as they could also be construed as distracting. Not at all. I support the use of candles, flowers, incense and all these things at mass. As for a crucifix, if there is not already one in the sanctuary, than it makes sense for it to be on the altar. If there already is one, I’d lean against it. But I’m definately not a minimalist as you say.

I do hope that I am wrong, but it does seem to be where you are headed.
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This is from our mass this morning. We meet in a high school cafeteria awaiting a building.
Last week’s statue was replaced by a picture. Is it distracting? Can you find it in the picture? Note: The children are only at the front for the homily; they are in their seats for the rest of the mass.
 
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PaixGioiaAmor:
A nativity scene is not quite the same as a statue of the Blessed Mother and I’m not surprised that you would also be against a crucifix on the altar if there was one already in the Sanctuary. I guess that would also include the processional cross correct?
 
palmas85 said:
A nativity scene is not quite the same as a statue of the Blessed Mother and I’m not surprised that you would also be against a crucifix on the altar if there was one already in the Sanctuary. I guess that would also include the processional cross correct?
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At what point might you think there were too many Crucifixes?

One crucifix signifies the one Sacrifice at Calvary that is being re-presented at the Mass in an unbloody manner.

But why have two? What do two Crucifixes signify? 🤷

(That we didn’t know what the Crucifix stood for - that we didn’t know that there was a meaning behind its presence in the Sanctuary - that we thought it was just a decoration, and we thought the Sanctuary looked a little bare with only one?)
 
VAC said:
This is from our mass this morning. We meet in a high school cafeteria awaiting a building.
Last week’s statue was replaced by a picture. Is it distracting? Can you find it in the picture? Note: The children are only at the front for the homily; they are in their seats for the rest of the mass.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/bjcvac/FatherMarkatchildrensmass10-14-073r.jpg
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Boy I’m surprised you haven’t been given flack about this pic. All sorts of abuses, that have been defined by some folks in this forum. Just to name a couple, children sitting in the sanctuary area. Parishioners wearing bluejeans,(heaven forbid). 😃

BTW, I’m joking, should anyone(and I’m sure some will) take offense.

Jim
 
JIm not to be nit picky but I don’t see any parishoners wearing blue jeans…There are two young boys that “might” be wearing blue jeans but To me kids in blue jeans is more acceptable than adults.
 
THurifer2 said:
JIm not to be nit picky but I don’t see any parishoners wearing blue jeans…There are two young boys that “might” be wearing blue jeans but To me kids in blue jeans is more acceptable than adults.
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You’re not being picky enough! The boy sitting on the floor up front is wearing bluejeans and the woman sitting close to us, it looks like Lee Jeans she’s wearing. I can see the Lee patch. You need to do a better job policing the participants in this forum about the abuses they’re committing. 😃

Jim
 
I don’t see here blue jeans but the guy in the exteme right forground may be wearing jeans…I am not going to get too nit pickey with this photo CHECK OUT WHERE THE TABERNACLE IS whoohoooooo! front and center YIpeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
 
jmcrae said:
At what point might you think there were too many Crucifixes?

One crucifix signifies the one Sacrifice at Calvary that is being re-presented at the Mass in an unbloody manner.

But why have two? What do two Crucifixes signify? 🤷

(That we didn’t know what the Crucifix stood for - that we didn’t know that there was a meaning behind its presence in the Sanctuary - that we thought it was just a decoration, and we thought the Sanctuary looked a little bare with only one?)
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I’m saying only that those who object to statues etc, often, though not always, also object to crucifixes on the altar. As was pointed out on this very forum a while back a poster noted that he felt cheated out of seeing the consecration due to a crucifix being in the way. :eek:

And to be perfectly blunt, I see nothing wrong with having a crucifix on the altar and one in the sanctuary, especially when the one in the sanctuary is the processional cross. I see nothing at all wrong in having a permanent crucifix in the Sanctuary. Do you?

Of course Protestant sensibilities are often offended by crucifixes preferring instead a bare wooden cross, which is one reason I believe that we have seen such a decrease in them in Catholic Churches as a whole. I am pleased though that recently there seems to be an upsurge in such things. 👍
 
Walking_Home said:
I was responding in general to Thurifer2 statement. You made my pt with your statement which I bolded above. In many places the bishops are not following Rome and allow the innovation/manipulation of the Mass and the people to whose advantage this is—will view EWTN Mass as a threat.

As you stated above the key is—a Bishop who is following Rome.
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yes all those innovations and manipulations around every corner. :rolleyes: I seriously doubt the EWTN Mass is threat to anyone LOL! That’s an interesting conclusion!

The key for many on here is really more about what Bishop they personally feel is following Rome. Way too much assumptions going on around here, my goodness!
 
So would a second statue of Mary be permitted in addition to the Marian altar, or is the OP discussing a Marian statue for a couple months and none the rest of the year?
 
anamchara said:
yes all those innovations and manipulations around every corner. :rolleyes: I seriously doubt the EWTN Mass is threat to anyone LOL! That’s an interesting conclusion!

The key for many on here is really more about what Bishop they personally feel is following Rome. Way too much assumptions going on around here, my goodness!
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Cross your eyes if it makes you feel better —but you have been part of these forums long enough to know better. And yes–the EWTN Mass is a threat to the innovators and manipulators—for in it they see what they have worked hard to destroy. By way of the information and documentation which Rome has provided–the majority of the time we don’t have to make “assumptions” for it is clear to see who is and who is not following Rome.
 
Walking_Home said:
Cross your eyes if it makes you feel better —but you have been part of these forums long enough to know better. And yes–the EWTN Mass is a threat to the innovators and manipulators—for in it they see what they have worked hard to destroy. By way of the information and documentation which Rome has provided–the majority of the time we don’t have to make “assumptions” for it is clear to see who is and who is not following Rome.
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I do know better your right. I know better than to fall into this ridiculous paranoid rhetoric.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Because EWTN is not the liturgical authority in the Catholic Church, nor the authority in any dioceses.
What happens at EWTN is approved by the Bishop of that Dioceses, and also because it is a televised Mass, there may be slight differences that you won’t see elsewhere.

However, only the Bishop of your diocese, and the pastors who serve under them, can determine the placement of statues in your church.

Jim
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Amen! and Thank you!
 
THurifer2 said:
I don’t see here blue jeans but the guy in the exteme right forground may be wearing jeans…I am not going to get too nit pickey with this photo CHECK OUT WHERE THE TABERNACLE IS whoohoooooo! front and center YIpeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Boy I’m surprised you haven’t been given flack about this pic. All sorts of abuses, that have been defined by some folks in this forum. Just to name a couple, children sitting in the sanctuary area. Parishioners wearing bluejeans,(heaven forbid).
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BTW, I’m joking, should anyone(and I’m sure some will) take offense.
Jim
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Truthfully, those are much kinder comments than I expected… I was testing you folks:D 😃
Actually, the 3 boys closest to the altar on the side are altar servers.
I looked at the uncropped picture, and those adults you mentioned were not wearing jeans. The little boy in the green shirt was actually wearing denim shorts:eek: although we had a cooler week and it was 85 outside instead of 95:D and AC not working well the week before. The comment about the tabernacle is appreciated:)

Edited to add another angle:
 
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