Catechism Corner | Catholic Statues, Images, and Their Meanings

Catholics have a long tradition of using statues in the churches, because thousands of years ago, people were not able to read and write. The average person could not read and understand the stories in the bible for themselves. Therefore, the church used statues, paintings and stained-glass windows to visually portray the stories in the bible and show what people from that time period may have looked like. The stained-glass windows in a church often depicted the stories from Jesus' life visually, so that everyone, including little children, could understand who Jesus was. Visual art and depictions are generally more accessible and more easily understood compared to written texts hence these became effective mediums of instructions.

Catholics use statues, paintings and other artistic creations and artifacts to bring to mind the person or thing that is being represented in them. Some of us like looking at photographs of our mothers to remember her and the different memories we have together. In the same way, it helps us bring to mind the image of Jesus Christ and the saints and their deeds when we look at images that depict them. Jesus, Mary and the saints are no different than any other important public figures in our world today. Catholics have statues of Jesus, Mary and the saints in our churches, to honor them and preserve their memory, just like our nation does with statues of presidents and war heroes.

Statues of Jesus, Mary and the saints are ways that Catholics honor and preserve their memory, through visual means in our everyday life. Remember the expression, "out of sight, out of mind?" As Catholics, we never want Jesus, and Mary, and the example of the saints to be out of sight or out of mind, but be forever enduring in our hearts, and in our everyday lives.

A statue, or any image, can evoke emotions, feelings, and meaning not easily captured in words. This is another way in which sacred art adds a powerful dimension to prayer. Looking at a statue can bring your mind back to your prayer and meditation if your attention wanders. It can keep you engaged and nurture your prayer life, especially if you have a hard time quieting your mind to settle into prayer.

The Catechism provides clear instruction on what we believe when we display and venerate holy statues:

In the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate Word: so it was with the bronze serpent, the ark of the covenant, and the cherubim. (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2130)

Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, "the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype," and "whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it." The honor paid to sacred images is a "respectful veneration," not the adoration due to God alone. (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2132)

We are physical beings with five senses given to us by God, and we worship with our whole person. Many elements of our Catholic faith reflect that understanding. Ours is a faith in which visible and tangible realities reflect the Divine.

The physical reality of a statue reminds us of the very real mystery it represents. A statue itself is merely a point of reference—one that allows us to meditate on and contemplate the mysteries of God more easily. It is a representation of a heavenly reality, reminding us of the eternal destiny to which we are called.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.