Grace Thompson
There is a common misconception that Catholics worship statues, but this is not true. The Catholic Church has consistently condemned the worship of any person or thing other than God and has clarified that statues are not idols but physical likenesses of saints and holy figures that Catholics want to honour and remember. The use of statues and other forms of religious art is a means of expressing devotion and reverence towards God and the saints. Catholics believe that the use of images and symbols can be a powerful aid in prayer and worship, but always subordinate to the worship of God. Bowing or genuflecting before a statue or image is a sign of respect for the person depicted, not for the image itself.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholics worshipping statues | Catholics do not worship statues. They are a means of expressing devotion and reverence towards God and the saints. |
| Idolatry | The Catholic Church has consistently condemned the sin of idolatry. |
| Bowing down to statues | Bowing down to statues is a sign of respect for the person depicted, not for the image. |
| Statues as a form of art | Statues are one of the most distinctive forms of Catholic art. |
| Statues as a form of remembrance | Statues honor and preserve the memory of important men and women recognized as holy by the Church. |
| Statues as a form of inspiration | Statues inspire and evoke emotions, feelings, and meanings not easily captured in words. |
| Statues as a form of meditation | Statues help Catholics meditate on and contemplate the mysteries of God more easily. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics do not worship statues
The Catholic Church does not worship statues or images as gods, nor do they believe that statues or images have any inherent power or divine attributes. The Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566) defines idolatry as "worshipping idols and images as God, or believing that they possess any divinity or virtue entitling them to our worship, by praying to, or reposing confidence in them". The Catholic Church has consistently condemned idolatry since the days of the apostles.
Catholics use statues and images as a means of expressing their love and devotion towards God and the saints. They are physical representations of spiritual realities and are used to deepen their knowledge and love of God. Statues and images are not worshipped but are seen as symbols that help direct their thoughts to the person(s) depicted. For example, a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus is a representation of Mary's role as the Mother of God, not a divine being to be worshipped.
Catholics argue that God does not prohibit the making of statues or images of various creatures for religious purposes. In the Old Testament, God permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation, such as the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant, and the cherubim. Statues and other forms of religious art serve as reminders of the presence of God and the saints, helping Catholics to focus their attention and lift their hearts to God.
When a Catholic kneels before a statue, their intention is not to worship the statue but to honour and venerate the saint depicted. They are building a relationship with the saint and asking for their intercession. This is especially true of the Virgin Mary, who Catholics give a higher level of honour to due to her status as Theotokos (God-bearer).
In summary, Catholics do not worship statues or images as gods. They use them as visual reminders of God and the saints, and as a means of expressing their devotion and love towards them. The use of statues and images is always subordinate to the worship of God and never replaces it.
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Statues are a form of Catholic art
The use of statues and images in Catholic worship has been a source of controversy and misunderstanding, with some non-Catholics accusing Catholics of idolatry. However, Catholics argue that they do not worship the statues themselves but use them as tools to aid in their devotion to God and other holy figures. The Second Council of Nicaea in 787 AD formally confirmed the use of statues and art as a means of veneration, clarifying that honouring a statue is not the same as worshipping it as an idol.
Catholics use statues in their homes and churches as a form of sacred art that adds a powerful dimension to their prayer and meditation practices. The physical presence of a statue can help believers focus their thoughts on the person or scene depicted, evoking emotions and feelings that enhance their spiritual connection. Statues can also serve as a bridge between the human and the divine, making abstract concepts more tangible and relatable.
The subject matter of Catholic statues typically revolves around the life of Jesus Christ, including scenes such as "The Shepherd Jesus" and "The Pieta," which depict specific moments in Christ's life, such as his crucifixion and bearing the cross. Statues of the Virgin Mary, as the Mother of God, are also common, and Catholics give her a higher level of honour, known as hyperdulia.
In addition to their spiritual significance, Catholic statues are also artistic expressions that have influenced the development of Western art. The legalisation of Christianity in the 4th century with the Edict of Milan led to the adoption of richer art forms in Catholic art, such as mosaics and illuminated manuscripts. The Romanesque and Gothic periods saw a move towards naturalism in painting and sculpture, while the Baroque and Rococo styles emphasised beauty as transcendental in response to the iconoclasm of the Protestant Reformation.
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Statues are a means of expressing devotion
Statues are a distinctive and commonly misunderstood form of Catholic art. The use of statues and other forms of religious art is not a form of worship, but rather a means of expressing devotion and reverence towards God and the saints. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that "the honor paid to sacred images is a 'respectful veneration', not the adoration due to God alone" (CCC 2132). Catholics believe that the use of images and symbols can be a powerful aid in prayer and worship, but always subordinate to the worship of God.
The Catholic Church has a rich tradition of iconography, which has been used throughout the centuries to convey important theological truths. The images and symbols used in Catholic art are not meant to be taken literally, but rather as representations of spiritual realities. For example, a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus is not meant to be worshipped as a divine being, but rather as a representation of Mary’s role as the mother of God.
Catholics do not worship statues, and the Church condemns the worship of any person or thing other than God. Statues are used to honour and preserve the memory of important men and women recognized by the Church as holy. The saints are notable people who should be honoured and remembered for their incredible lives on earth and their part in shaping history. Nearly all Christians love nativity scenes at Christmas, which lift hearts to the heavenly reality of God and call to mind the great mystery and gift of the Incarnation.
Bowing or genuflecting before a statue or image is a sign of respect for the person depicted, not for the image itself. In the case of a divine Person, this respect should be understood as adoration, while for mere human persons, it is ordinary respect, or dulia, or hyperdulia, depending on the person. For instance, Catholics give a higher level of honour to Mary, the mother of Jesus, due to her status as Theotokos (literally God-bearer). The veneration given to Mary is categorized as hyperdulia, whereas the veneration given to other saints is termed dulia. Neither of these is adoration or worship.
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Statues are not idols
Catholics do not worship statues, but rather use them as visual aids to worship and deepen their knowledge and love of God. Statues are used to help Catholics recall the person or thing depicted, and to visually remember Christ and the saints in heaven. Just as a photograph of a loved one helps us to remember them, a statue of a saint can help Catholics to remember the example of the saints. Statues are also used as teaching tools, especially for the instruction of the illiterate.
Catholics do not believe they are committing idolatry, and the Catholic Church has consistently condemned the sin of idolatry. Catholics honour saints and living people, but this is not the same kind of worship that is reserved for God. The honour given to saints is categorised as 'dulia' or 'hyperdulia', while the worship given to God alone is called 'latria'.
Catholics group the commandments differently from most Protestants, which has led to the misconception that they are hiding the second commandment, which prohibits idolatry. However, this is not an attempt to hide the prohibition of idolatry, but rather a different way of grouping the commandments.
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Bowing to statues is a sign of respect
Catholics argue that their use of statues is not idolatry, as they are not worshipping the statues themselves but rather the figures they represent. Idolatry, they argue, is about intention, and their intention is to honour a saint or other religious figure, not to worship the statue as a god. This is in line with the Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566), which defines idolatry as "worshipping idols and images as God, or believing that they possess any divinity or virtue entitling them to our worship, by praying to, or reposing confidence in them".
There are different types of bows used by Catholics, including a simple bow of the head at the name of Jesus, Mary, or the Holy Father, and a medium bow of the head and shoulders to greet another monk or honour the presence of Christ in their brothers. Bowing is also used to salute the altar, which always represents Christ.
The use of statues and other forms of religious art is a long-standing tradition in the Catholic Church, used to express devotion and reverence towards God and the saints. It is not unique to Catholicism, as other religions such as Judaism and Lutheranism also use religious art and statues.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics are not required to honor statues, but they are allowed to. Statues are used as a means of expressing devotion and reverence towards God and the saints.
No, Catholics do not worship statues. Statues are used as a way to visually remember Christ and the saints in heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the use of images and symbols can be a powerful aid in prayer and worship, but always subordinate to the worship of God.
Idolatry is about the intention behind an activity. When a Catholic kneels before a statue, their intention is to build a relationship with a saint, not to worship the statue itself. The Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566) defines idolatry as "worshipping idols and images as God, or believing that they possess any divinity or virtue entitling them to our worship, by praying to, or reposing confidence in them."
Catholic statues are used to honor and preserve the memory of important men and women recognized as holy by the Church. They are also used as a form of art to convey important theological truths. Statues can evoke emotions, feelings, and meanings that are not easily captured in words, adding a powerful dimension to prayer.
