The Divine Mercy Image

[ekim61]

FCEGM:

Mike, as a Catholic have you ever worshipped an image? (I didn’t think so - and neither have I.)

The reason we Catholics truly have honor for things we can see and feel, etc., has to do with the Incarnation in that Catholicism understands and appreciates the reality of the God becoming Man, 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.

Here is an excellent article on the subject of sacred images:

kensmen.com/catholic/images.html

Excellent answer. I only wish that I could articulate words this well when people slam my beleifs and our church.
Thanks.

 

[Church_Militant]

ekim61:

Here ya go
ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/image.htm

catholic-forum.com/churches/cathteach/divinemercy.htm
Thanks Mike,
I looked both sites over and I sure can’t find anything there that even remotely hints that we are supposed to worship the image of Divine Mercy. They must have no understanding of what it means to venerate someone, yet I bet they venerate the founding fathers of this country and the heroes in the current war or in the disasters…

It’s actually kind of funny that they’d take one of the most Christ centered devotions in Catholicism and use it to allege this.

As an aside, I have a small correspondence ministry to Catholic prisoners and one of the guys decided to send me a book mark that he got in his chaplain’s office. They tell me this chaplain is a pretty anti-Catholic guy, but he gives out these bookmarks like candy.

The thing is, it’s the image of the Divine Mercy, complete with “Jesus I trust in You” at the bottom of the picture. The Catholic guys won’t tell him about it and they think it’s hilarious.

They avoided the question. That is what they do. If you prove them wrong or back them into a corner they do not respond. They will reply with some other anti-catholic rhetoric.

Then what you have there is not honest discussion, but rhetorical anti-Catholic evangelism. In the past I have just had to blow them off and refuse to get into it with them. The only thing worth pointing out is that they venerate their pastor…and dead loved ones and heroes…in the same way that we venerate that image.

Articulation comes with knowlege and with calmness (Boy, that sounds downright Zen doesn’t it? ). One way to accomplish that in any apologetic discourse is to consciously take the time to maintain a prayerful heart and to breathe slowly and deeply as you make your replies. This keeps your mind from racing and your emotions under control, and allows you to better communicate.

Remember that Jesus promised us " for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute." (Luke 21:15)
Pax tecum,

 

[Madia]

Ask the person when they look at the picture of their loved ones they keep in their wallet whether they are thinking about the photograph or the people photographed.

 

[Genesis315]

ekim61:

So maybe I should have posted the quote because it is kinda buried in the link. Can anyone please explain what this means. What does venerate mean?

In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me, Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.I also promise victory over enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour if death. I myself will defend it as My own glory. (47-8)

The underlined sentence is what they used to say we worship images. Here is the link to where this came from:
catholic-forum.com/churches/cathteach/divinemercy_image.htm

Venerate does not equal worship as God:

Venerate is to regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference. We venerate the saints for example. We worship/adore God.

 

[LSK]

ekim61:

I was told by some protestants thjat Catholics worship images and they used the divine mercy image as an example. I had never heard of this before. I looked it up on the web and it sure looks to me like we are worshiping images.

Can anyone explain this to me?

I tell them that, as a human being, I do not believe that the picture I have in my living room of my beloved Grandparents actually ARE my beloved Grandparents. But I have been known to stop before it on my way out the door in the morning, pause and say, “Nonni and Nonno, I need your help today. Pray for me!”

Ask them if they ever show off any pictures of their beloved grandchildren or their special pets? Ask them if, while they are doing that, if they ever talk about how much they love them…

quite frankly, this is one of the dumbest arguments Protestants ever make about Catholics.
But that is just my opinion.

 

[puzzleannie]

ekim61:

I was told by some protestants thjat Catholics worship images and they used the divine mercy image as an example. I had never heard of this before. I looked it up on the web and it sure looks to me like we are worshiping images.

Can anyone explain this to me?

you, anyone who posts on an anti-Catholic website, any anti-Catholic preacher on the radio or in a church has absolutely no knowledge of what goes on in my mind and heart when I am at prayer, so please tell them from me not to make assumptions about the state of my soul and the quality of my worship.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

Lisa4Catholics:

Also ask them why God told the people who got bit byt snakes to gaze upon the bronze serpent? Was He telling them to worship it???

It was symbolic of the comming of Christ. The bronze serpent didn’t actually bite anyone, byt came to become what those that were biting people were. Just as Chist, not being a sinner, took our sin upon himself. Jesus makes mention of the bronze serpent in John 3.

Some misguided Catholics do worship statues. Not all Catholics, mind you. But a few misguided ones. I’ve known a few.