Statues

[Guest why?]

I know that it is said that Catholics do not worship idols/statues. And the comparison has been made to kneeling before their bed and whether or not they are praying to that bed.

But if you go into any catholic church and you see a few people who are in there. Some of them perform acts which would equate to idolizing those statues. Such as throwing money, adorning the statutes with jewels, flowers, sometimes some touch statutes in a way that seems like they think these statues are God.

There is a huge difference between a protestant kneeling beside their bed when they pray and someone who is kneeling in front of an image that is supposed to represent a holy figure.

Please help me out. I need a concret answer to help me understand. Saying that Catholics don't worship the statues just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I need to know why and how is it justifiable. And how is it beneficial. and more importantly...why.

[cappie]

The universal church has a rich history of using statues, icons and other artistic images. Homage to Mary and the saints was begun among the very earliest followers of Jesus. Eventually church members created paintings, statues and mosaics in their honour. The Seventh Ecumenical Council, which met at Nicea in the year 787, taught that veneration of Mary and the saints is different from worship of God and that veneration of them through statues or icons, is not worship of a picture or idol. It represents instead a very deep respect and reverence for the Christian faith and Christian life witness of the person(s) depicted.

The fact that you see some people apparently using statues incorrectly doesn't change the understanding of the church.

As a priest I see people of all faiths and none laying wreaths at the foot of statues of soldiers during Remembrance Day services or in Australia,where I come from, ANZAC Day when people pay homage to the ex-service men and women's witness and the fight for freedom.

I have seen people burning candles before pictures of loved ones, laying flowers on gravestones and touching plaques in an effort to "come close to or honour" the person.

All of the above can still be construed as idolatory to someone who is convinced of this and sees no need for it. I remember speaking to a member of the Methodist Church who, when his mother was sick came into the church and asked me how to light a candle because he needed to pray for his mother and felt a need to give it concrete expression. Now, someone else may see no need to do this at all, but at that time he felt the need and our local church provided for this need.

I think statues are an important way to "picture" or remind me of Mary the mother of Jesus, St Joseph his foster father, or great people like St Francis of Assisi and his gospel centered life.

I don't think statues are absolutely necessary for living a Christian life but in some cases they are tangible reminders of the great company of witnesses gone before us, marked with the sign of faith, that urges us on to victory.