Statues and Images

[DiscipulusLucis]

I’m sure this question has been asked a million times, but why does the Church condone the worship of statues of Saints, Mary, and Jesus on the cross when the bible says not to worship any statues or images?

In fact, it says not to make any likeness to anything on heaven and earth, which would put most artists out of a job, but I suppose if you read it within the context of the surrounding lines you could side step the literal interpretation of that singular line, and take it to mean don’t worship.

 

[CaptCrunch73]

catholic.com/library/Do_Catholics_Worship_Statues.asp

 

[Ron_Obvious]

The Catholic Church does not, and never has, condoned “the worship of statues”. That would be idolatry.

 

[OscarsMama]

We only worship God. We HONOR saints, Mary, etc. We honor them in sorta the same way that you would honor your grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, special uncle or aunt, or a special friend of the family. We look to the the saints to help to teach us to be closer to God. Kind of like you would look to a special member of your family to teach you wisdom. Many people say that they learned “how to live” from their grandmother or grandfather, etc.

We don’t pray to the saints and Mary to WORSHIP them. We pray to them to ASK THEM TO PRAY FOR US. Look at many of the prayers that we say to them. There is something in there like “St–whoever—, pray for us…” And the Hail Mary there is “pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” Those are prayers asking for help and asking them to pray for us. Just like I would ask you (and many people as each other) to “please pray for me…”

As for the statues and pictures… I know that it can seem like we are “worshiping them” because sometimes people bow or kiss the statue or picture, BUT it is not worship. It is honor. Kind of like how people put pictures of their beloved family or friends on the walls in their house. And I am sure that I am not the only one who has stared at a picture and smiled or cried when I thought of the person.

Saints are in our spiritual family. We ask them for help and guidance in getting through life and how to be closer to God. But… Saints and Mary, too, ALWAYS point to God. Our face is ALWAYS looking for God.

Hope this helps…

 

[The_Old_Medic]

I’m sure this question has been asked a million times, but why does the Church condone the worship of statues of Saints, Mary, and Jesus on the cross when the bible says not to worship any statues or images?

In fact, it says not to make any likeness to anything on heaven and earth, which would put most artists out of a job, but I suppose if you read it within the context of the surrounding lines you could side step the literal interpretation of that singular line, and take it to mean don’t worship.

This is something that many Protestants believe that Catholics do. I was taught that Catholic worshiped idols (and a lot of other false things about the Catholic church) in my Grandfathers church (he was the Minister).

Catholics do not worship any statue, painting or any representation of anything or anyone. They do NOT worship Mary, Joseph, or any Saint or person other than God. They do worship God in his 3 person, The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit (formerly called The Holy Ghost).

We ask Saints to pray for us, just as we may ask people in our congregation to pray for us. But, just as we do not worship our friends and family by asking that they intercede and pray for us; we do not worship any Saints or any people.

This is a hard thing for many, especially those from an evangelical background to understand. They hear about things like the prayer “Hail Mary” and they assume that this is a form of worship. But, I wonder, how many of them have ever actually read the words of that prayer?

It opens with a quote directly from the Bible, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, after being told that she will become the mother of the Messiah. Elizabeth said, "Hail, full of grace. We start that prayer, “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you”, it then continues with an affirmation: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus”. Once again, this is taken from the Bible.

The second half of that prayer is a direct request. “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.” Amen

In no manner is there any form of worship of Mary involved with that prayer.

As a Protestant, I did not understand this. I was told, and I believed, that Catholics worshiped statues. I was also told things like: The Pope was the Devil Incarnate on Earth; the Nuns wore habits to hide their horns and tails, because they were all ‘Brides of the Devil’; and a lot of other nonsense.

My grandfather did not teach these things out of meanness. It was out of ignorance, out of centuries of hatred from people that had no real idea of what the Catholic Church actually stood for, and about its beliefs and practices.

Sadly, as your question shows, those forms of belief are still all too rampant in this world.

 

[Church_Militant]

Yeah…you’re right it has been asked a lot (you’d think that the word would get around…), that’s one reason guys like me have an article on it on our Catholic blogs. Iconoclasm: Or: Catholics Worship Graven Images NOT

And so does Catholic Answers.

• Praying to the Saints
• Saint Worship?
• Do Catholics Worship Statues?
• Relics

 

[Michael1978]

Are you truly a disciple of Lucifer, as your name suggests?

 

[Waiting]

I’m sure this question has been asked a million times, but why does the Church condone the worship of statues of Saints, Mary, and Jesus on the cross when the bible says not to worship any statues or images?

In fact, it says not to make any likeness to anything on heaven and earth, which would put most artists out of a job, but I suppose if you read it within the context of the surrounding lines you could side step the literal interpretation of that singular line, and take it to mean don’t worship.

I think that you’re posting this question in jest. There surely can’t be anyone in this day and age who believes that Catholics, or anyone, would worship a statue, an inanimate object that just sits there. The idea is ludicrous. Or are you just attempting to ruffle some feathers? Pictures, or statues, or any man-made image is, of course, simply created in some fashion to remind us of who and what God has created, and to evoke emotions.

 

[DiscipulusLucis]

Are you truly a disciple of Lucifer, as your name suggests?

In Latin, Discipuls Luciferi would be the student of Lucifer, where as Discipulus Lucis is the student of light. Lucifer is formed from the morpheme for light luc plus the morpheme for the verb ‘to bear’ fer, meaning the bearer of light.

So no

 

[DiscipulusLucis]

I think that you’re posting this question in jest. There surely can’t be anyone in this day and age who believes that Catholics, or anyone, would worship a statue, an inanimate object that just sits there. The idea is ludicrous. Or are you just attempting to ruffle some feathers? Pictures, or statues, or any man-made image is, of course, simply created in some fashion to remind us of who and what God has created, and to evoke emotions.

There are many evangelists at my workplace, and this is something they love to criticize catholics for, so no, I’m not trying to be a jerk, I’m trying to have something to reply.

 

[Waiting]

There are many evangelists at my workplace, and this is something they love to criticize catholics for, so no, I’m not trying to be a jerk, I’m trying to have something to reply.

Tell them that they can’t be serious. Let them feel foolish for accusing you of being so ignorant.

 

[DiscipulusLucis]

Tell them that they can’t be serious. Let them feel foolish for accusing you of being so ignorant.

I don’t there there is any reason to make them feel foolish; we are all ignorant of some things, and I am happy to spread knowledge to those who don’t yet grasp a concept, just as I appreciate those who do the same for me.

 

[sojo]

Welcome Lucis! As everyone has said, no we don’t worship statues or pictures. We use them as holy reminders. My home is filled with icons, pictures and statues of saints, and a crucifix in every room. It reminds me to pray constantly.

Sometimes when I pray, I use a holy picture or statue to refocus when my mind wanders or I’m distracted. I also have pictures of my loved ones both alive and dead - they, too, give me pleasure and remind me to pray for their intentions.

I know of some old people who tenderly kiss a picture of their dearly departed spouse on occasion. They KNOW the photo is not their spouse. They aren’t worshiping the picture. They are moved to express their loving memory.

I was an agnostic/atheist for many, many years (also a non-practicing Jew by culture and ethnicity). Yet, I found myself strangely pulled toward sacred art from Byzantine, to Renaissance, from primitive sacred art to fine art. I studied sacred art in college and my apartment was filled with the stuff. I visited Catholic churches like they were art galleries.

Come to find out in my mid-30’s that the Lord was using this to pull me to Himself. When I persisted in my dumb hardheadedness, he finally resorted to more dynamic conversion experiences. I like to say he stopped whispering to me and banged me on the head with His message on a billboard.

So I have a particular soft spot for sacred art - icons, pictures and statues. They can be a powerful form of evangelization, of conversion and reconversion. But never, ever worship. We reserve that for God alone (Father, Son and Holy Spirit/Ghost).

 

[FCEGM]

There are many evangelists at my workplace, and this is something they love to criticize catholics for, so no, I’m not trying to be a jerk, I’m trying to have something to reply.

The reason we Catholics truly have honor for things we can see and feel, etc., has to do with the Incarnation; Catholicism understands and appreciates the reality of the Incarnation, whereas Protestantism merely pays it lip service without truly appreciating what it means for God to have become Man; as St. Paul says of Christ: “He is the visible image of the invisible God; and so in seeing Him we are caught up in love for the God we cannot see.”

This situation (the Incarnation) changes everything. It shows that the New Covenant in Christ is different from God’s Covenant with Israel. In the Christian Covenant, we have Emmanuel (“God-with-us”), and, therefore, not only Christ’s Incarnation reflects the glory of the Father, but also the Church - the extension of Christ’s Incarnation (i.e., the Body of Christ) - reflects God’s glory. Thus Mary and the other Saints who reflect Christ, thereby reflect the Father’s glory. And so, images of Christ and the Saints are at the service of this incarnational glory of God; and the law against “graven images” is turned against itself in Christ.

Under the Old Law the Israelites were not to make graven images because no earthly creation could reflect the glory of God. Yet, after the Incarnation, this is possible, but only in Christ and in His Saints - those who are part of His Body.

So, the key to understanding Catholic iconography is to appreciate the reality of Christ’s Incarnation. In rejecting the legitimacy of icons and other religious images, the Protestant world comes very close to rejecting the Incarnation Itself. Indeed, Christ became FLESH in order to save FLESH (us). If everything is merely spiritual, why did Jesus need to come in the flesh at all?? This must be addressed and recognized.

 

[vsedriver]

There are many evangelists at my workplace, and this is something they love to criticize catholics for, so no, I’m not trying to be a jerk, I’m trying to have something to reply.

Then ask them why did God command Moses to make the image of a snake and put it on a pole? or to put the image of angels on the ark?

Catholics use art as illustration not as idols for worship. A picture is worth a thousand words. In a religion that began before literacy and encompassed many cultures and languages, it isn’t surprising that the people were taught through pictures and sculptures. A picture of Christ on the cross doesn’t need 8 translations.

 

[justtryin]

I remember the old saying that images and icons in the Catholic Church are the catechism for the illiterate.

 

[babylonsfalling]

I’m sure this question has been asked a million times, but why does the Church condone the worship of statues of Saints, Mary, and Jesus on the cross when the bible says not to worship any statues or images?

In fact, it says not to make any likeness to anything on heaven and earth, which would put most artists out of a job, but I suppose if you read it within the context of the surrounding lines you could side step the literal interpretation of that singular line, and take it to mean don’t worship.

That’s a ridiculous, age-old, worn out anti Catholic accusation. I grew up Catholic and never even heard of worshiping images, saints or Mary until AFTER I left the Church and got mixed up with a bunch anti Catholics who were quoting Jack Chick comic books.

 

[sojo]

The reason we Catholics truly have honor for things we can see and feel, etc., has to do with the Incarnation; Catholicism understands and appreciates the reality of the Incarnation, whereas Protestantism merely pays it lip service without truly appreciating what it means for God to have become Man; as St. Paul says of Christ: “He is the visible image of the invisible God; and so in seeing Him we are caught up in love for the God we cannot see.”

This situation (the Incarnation) changes everything. It shows that the New Covenant in Christ is different from God’s Covenant with Israel. In the Christian Covenant, we have Emmanuel (“God-with-us”), and, therefore, not only Christ’s Incarnation reflects the glory of the Father, but also the Church - the extension of Christ’s Incarnation (i.e., the Body of Christ) - reflects God’s glory. Thus Mary and the other Saints who reflect Christ, thereby reflect the Father’s glory. And so, images of Christ and the Saints are at the service of this incarnational glory of God; and the law against “graven images” is turned against itself in Christ.

Under the Old Law the Israelites were not to make graven images because no earthly creation could reflect the glory of God. Yet, after the Incarnation, this is possible, but only in Christ and in His Saints - those who are part of His Body.

So, the key to understanding Catholic iconography is to appreciate the reality of Christ’s Incarnation. In rejecting the legitimacy of icons and other religious images, the Protestant world comes very close to rejecting the Incarnation Itself. Indeed, Christ became FLESH in order to save FLESH (us). If everything is merely spiritual, why did Jesus need to come in the flesh at all?? This must be addressed and recognized.

This is an interesting point, Frances! Thank you for this insight.

 

[USNCorpsman]

Protestants ask their friends to pray for them, we ask friends that are a little farther away

Lol that’s how I explained it to my Protestant friends.

 

[ProspectCard]

I’m sure this question has been asked a million times, but why does the Church condone the worship of statues of Saints, Mary, and Jesus on the cross when the bible says not to worship any statues or images?

In fact, it says not to make any likeness to anything on heaven and earth, which would put most artists out of a job, but I suppose if you read it within the context of the surrounding lines you could side step the literal interpretation of that singular line, and take it to mean don’t worship.

You also asked this question in the “Ask an Apologist” forum and they have answered it. The “Search” feature is your friend and you will find a lot of the answers to your questions if you do a quick search to see the many threads on this topic and others. Hope this helps.