Ethan Walker
The concept of sacredness is central to religion, and for Catholics, there are many things considered sacred. The Eucharist, for instance, is considered the holiest of all things on Earth. The church is also filled with sacred objects, statues, and pictures of saints, Stations of the Cross, and candles. Sacredness is often ascribed to objects, people, and places, and in Catholicism, there are many examples of each. The Virgin Mary is considered sacred, as are nuns, priests, and popes. The seven sacraments are sacred, as are the rosary and the Marian Dogmas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Objects | Crucifix, religious pictures, icons of the Holy Family, statues of the Virgin Mary, rosary beads, holy water, candles, baptismal fonts, statues of Jesus, Mary, or a Saint |
| People | Virgin Mary, saints, popes, nuns, priests, bishops |
| Places | St. Peter's in Rome, Medieval Gothic cathedrals, ordinary parish churches |
| Ceremonies | Mass, Confession, burial of the dead, fasting in Lent, meatless Fridays, fasting from midnight before receiving Communion, reciting the rosary, genuflecting |
| Sacred Tradition | The Word of God that the prophets and the Apostles received through the Holy Spirit |
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The Eucharist
During the celebration of the Eucharist, the priest, acting in the person of Christ, re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross under the sacramental forms of bread and wine. Catholics believe that during the Holy Eucharist, they receive not just symbols but the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. This change in substance from bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is called "transubstantiation".
The Mass refers to the act by which the sacrament of the Eucharist comes into being, while Holy Communion refers to the act of receiving the Eucharist. The consecrated hosts, or sacramental bread, are kept in a tabernacle after Mass, enabling the devotional practice of Eucharistic adoration.
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Statues and pictures of saints
These statues and pictures are not merely decorative but are imbued with spiritual significance. They serve as visual reminders of the saints' lives and virtues, inspiring Catholics to emulate their faith and devotion to God. The saints are seen as holy individuals who have attained a state of grace and closeness to God, and their statues and images are treated with reverence and respect.
Catholics may have a particular devotion to a specific saint, perhaps due to a shared name, a connection to their cultural heritage, or a resonance with the saint's life story or area of patronage. For example, St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music, St. Christopher is the patron saint of travellers, and St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost things. Statues and pictures of these saints may be especially meaningful to those with an affinity for the arts, those who travel frequently, or those seeking guidance in locating lost objects, respectively.
The physical act of creating and displaying these statues and pictures is also a form of devotion for some Catholics. Artists and sculptors may feel a sense of spiritual connection and fulfilment by contributing their talents to the visual representation of the saints. Additionally, the availability of statues and pictures of saints for purchase through Catholic stores or catalogues allows individuals to bring these sacred items into their homes, creating personal shrines or devotional spaces.
While the use of statues and pictures of saints is a longstanding tradition within Catholicism, it has not been without controversy. Some critics, including Puritans, have argued that the visual emphasis on saints and other sacred figures within Catholic churches borders on idolatry and detracts from the primacy of God as the ultimate object of worship. However, defenders of this practice assert that these visual representations serve as reminders of God's holiness and facilitate a more tangible connection to the divine, enhancing the spiritual experience for many Catholics.
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The Virgin Mary
Mary's life and role in the history of salvation are foreshadowed in the Old Testament, while the events of her life are recorded in the New Testament. She is believed to have been born in Jerusalem and presented in the Temple, where she took a vow of virginity. Living in Nazareth, Mary was visited by the archangel Gabriel, who announced to her that she would become the Mother of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. She became betrothed to St. Joseph and went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was bearing St. John the Baptist. Acknowledged by Elizabeth as the Mother of God, Mary intoned the Magnificat.
Marian prayers and hymns, which usually begin with veneration of Mary, are a common form of devotion. The number of Marian titles grew significantly over the centuries, especially during the Middle Ages. Devotion to Mary has been a central focus of Catholic piety, as evidenced by the numerous shrines dedicated to her, such as the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City, which is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world. The images of the Virgin Mary have become central icons of Roman Catholicism, where she remains a significant artistic topic.
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Rosary beads
The Rosary is also known as the Dominican Rosary, to distinguish it from other forms such as the Franciscan Crown and Bridgettine Rosary. According to Catholic tradition, the rosary was instituted by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself. In the 13th century, she is said to have appeared to St. Dominic, given him a rosary, and asked that Christians pray the Hail Mary, Our Father, and Glory Be prayers instead of the Psalms. The original rosary of St. Dominic had 15 decades, but in the 16th century, Pope Pius V established a standard of 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, based on long-standing custom. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added a new set of five, termed the Luminous Mysteries, bringing the total number of mysteries to 20.
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Holy water
> Exorcizo te, creatura aqua, in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine Jesu Christi, Filii ejus Domini nostri, et in virtute Spiritus Sancti: ut fias aqua exorcizata ad effugandam omnem potestatem inimici, et ipsum inimicum eradicare et explantare valeas cum angelis suis apostaticis, per virtutem ejusdem Domini nostri Jesu Christi: qui venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos et saeculum per ignem. Deus, qui ad salutem humani generis maxima quaedam sacramenta in aquarum substantia condidisti: adesto propitius invocationibus nostris, et elemento huic, multimodis purificationibus praparato, virtutem tue benedictionis infunde; ut creatura tua, mysteriis tuis serviens, ad abigendos daemones morbosque pellendos dignetur adimi.
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Frequently asked questions
Objects that are considered sacred in Catholicism include statues and pictures of saints, Stations of the Cross, candles, baptismal fonts, holy water, and rosary beads.
St. Peter's in Rome is considered the most sacred place in Catholicism. Medieval Gothic cathedrals, especially those in Paris and Chartres, are also sacred, as are ordinary parish churches.
Sacred traditions or ceremonies in Catholicism include the seven sacraments, the Mass, Confession, burial of the dead, fasting in Lent, meatless Fridays, fasting from midnight before receiving Communion, reciting the rosary, and genuflecting.
