The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns
Why do Catholics have Statues and Sacred Images
Why Do Catholics Have Statues and Sacred Images? “Doesn’t the Bible forbid statues?” It’s a question Catholics hear often—and the answer reveals something beautiful about our faith. In this episode of The Catholic Journey, we continue our series The Hidden Meanings Behind Catholic Traditions by exploring why Catholic churches contain crucifixes, statues of Mary and Joseph, images of the saints, stained glass, and sacred art. Catholics do not worship statues. Worship belongs to God alone. Sacred images are meant to do something entirely different: they point beyond themselves toward God. Just as a photograph of someone we love helps us remember that person, sacred images remind us of Jesus, Mary, the saints, and the great story of salvation. We'll also discover something that sometimes surprises people: while Scripture clearly condemns idolatry, God Himself instructed His people to create sacred images—including the golden cherubim placed upon the Ark of the Covenant. And perhaps most importantly, the saints depicted in our churches remind us that holiness isn't impossible. They were ordinary human beings who allowed God's grace to do extraordinary things in their lives. Sacred images aren't gods. They're signposts—and every good signpost points beyond itself. Join me for this episode of The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns as we uncover another beautiful meaning hidden within our Catholic traditions. #TheCatholicJourney #CatholicFaith #CatholicTraditions #CatholicChurch #DeaconPatKearns
