Why do Catholics use images?

Answer 1

Catholic Answer

.

In the Pentateuch, (the first five books of The Bible) God commanded images several times, like when He described how the Temple was to be built: The tabernacle and temple along with their articles contained many representations of cherubim (Exodus 25:17-22; 26:1, 31; 36:8; 1 Kings 6:23-35; 7:29-36; 8:6-7; 1 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 3:7-14; 2 Chronicles 3:10-13; 5:7-8; Hebrews 9:5). Then, of course, there was the serpent in Numbers 21:9 that Moses made for the people to look at. God only says in the Ten Commandments that you should not make images to bow down to and worship. But He definitely commanded us to make images.

.

fromThe Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

1159 The sacred image, the liturgical icon, principally represents Christ. It cannot represent the invisible and incomprehensible God, but the incarnation of the Son of God has ushered in a new "economy" of images:

Previously, God, who has neither a body nor a face, absolutely could not be represented by an image. But now that He has made himself visible in the flesh and has lived with men, I can make an image of what I have seen of God . . . and contemplate the glory of the Lord, His face unveiled. (St. John Damascene, De image. 1, 16: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 96:1245-1248.)

.

1162 "The beauty of the images moves me to contemplation, as a meadow delights the eyes and subtly infuses the soul with the glory of God." (St. John Damascene, De image. 1, 27: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Graeca {Paris, 1857-1866} 94:1268A, B.) Similarly, the contemplation of sacred icons, united with meditation on the Word of God and the singing of liturgical hymns, enters into the harmony of the signs of celebration so that the mystery celebrated is imprinted in the heart's memory and is then expressed in the new life of the faithful.

.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Images, Veneration of. Honor paid to representations of Christ and the saints. Their purpose is to adorn, instruct, and excite to piety those who behold, wear, or carry images on their persons. According to the Council of Trent, images of Christ, of the Mother of God, and other canonized saints are to be kept in churches and due honor paid to them not because there is any divinity or power inherent in them as images, but because the honor shown to them is referred to the prototypes they represent. Through the worship and reverence so shown, the faithful really worship Christ and honor the saints whose likenesses they display. In other words, the veneration is relative, always being referred back to the original, never absolute as though the material object is being venerated in and for itself.

Answer 2

Because God, in choosing to become incarnate as a human being, made Himself an "image" of God, we call Him Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ. However, Catholics do not use images per se

in the sacraments, although there are often images in statues, windows, etc. These are not part of the worship services themselves.

Images, Veneration of. Honor paid to representations of Christ and the saints. Their purpose is to adorn, instruct, and excite to piety those who behold, wear, or carry images on their persons. According to the Council of Trent, images of Christ, of the Mother of God, and other canonized saints are to be kept in churches and due honor paid to them not because there is any divinity or power inherent in them as images, but because the honor shown to them is referred to the prototypes they represent. Through the worship and reverence so shown, the faithful really worship Christ and honor the saints whose likenesses they display. In other words, the veneration is relative, always being referred back to the original, never absolute as though the material object is being venerated in and for itself.