By Thomas J. Craughwell

Veneration of statues does not equal idol worshipping

Like family photos, they serve as representations of those we love

There are statues, and then there are idols.

In the traditional understanding of the word, an idol is an image made of any kind of material that people set up and worship as a god. The most notorious example in sacred history is the golden idol of a calf the Israelites worshipped just as God was presenting Moses with the Ten Commandments.

Such an act is the sin of idolatry, and as we can see throughout the Old Testament, it is hateful to God. For that matter, giving the first place in our hearts, the place that rightfully belongs to almighty God, to money, power, career, pleasure or any other earthly thing is also the sin of idolatry.

Signs of reverence

But what about the crucifix and the statues of Our Lord, Our Lady and the saints that we see in our churches and keep in our homes? Are they idols? The answer is, "No," and the reason is based on the purpose those statues serve. Like the photographs of our family and friends that we display on a desk or a mantlepiece, holy statues are representations of those we love. It is a simple concept that even small children can grasp. My 3-year-old nephew knows that the photo of his big sister is just a picture, not the real thing. The same is true of the crucifix over the altar -- it's a three-dimensional "picture," and definitely not the Real Thing.

But what about kneeling before a holy statue, and lighting candles before it, placing flowers before it, crowning it or dressing it in elaborate robes -- aren't these signs of idolatry. Again, the answer is, "No." Crowning or dressing a statue may not be to your taste, but it is no different than placing your baby's picture in a sterling silver frame. As for the candles and the flowers, they are also signs of esteem and reverence.

Business does not take me to Washington, D.C., often, but when it does I try to visit the Lincoln Memorial after dark, when the statue inside is bathed in golden light. It is beautiful, and moving, and a tribute to the man who laid down his life for the principles that the Union ought to be preserved and that all men are created equal. And although the statue is huge, and Lincoln is enthroned like a god, and the memorial itself is designed to look like a temple, no one thinks it idolatrous to visit this place, or denounces the light that shines on the statue as an affront to God.

Deepening our love

The same is true of flowers at Catholic shrines. On the village green in my town in Connecticut is a bronze sculpture of a World War I soldier. Flowers grow around the pedestal in summer, and on Memorial Day and Veterans Day various organizations in town place wreaths at the statue's foot. Trust me, in spite of these tokens of respect, none of my neighbors believes the doughboy is a god.

But what about kneeling before a holy statue or kissing it? Again, these tokens of veneration, like the candles and the flowers, are for the person the statue represents.

Holy statues serve other purposes as well: They add beauty to our churches, and they serve as a visual focal point that makes it easier to concentrate when we pray. Properly understood, holy statues can only do good by deepening our love for the holy individuals they represent.

Thomas J. Craughwell, the founder of www.antiqueholycards.com, is the author of Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Cardlinks series.