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Catholics use images to honor and remember the saints, but worship is reserved for God.
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As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, from the Old Testament, God ordered or allowed the creation of images that symbolically pointed to the salvation brought about by the Incarnate Word. Examples include the bronze serpent, the Ark of the Covenant, and the cherubim. These images served as preparation for the full revelation of Christ and were not objects of worship.
One of the most common questions among those observing Catholic practice is: do Catholics worship images? The answer lies in understanding what image veneration means. The veneration of images in the Catholic Church involves honoring (dulia) religious representations, such as those of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. This veneration is a gesture of respect and honor, not worship. The concept of worship (latria) is reserved exclusively for God.
According to paragraph 2132 of the Catechism of the Church, Christian worship of images does not violate the first commandment, which prohibits the worship of idols or false gods. In fact, the honor given to an image is not directed at the object itself but at the person or sacred reality it represents. Thus, venerating an image is to venerate the reality it depicts.
Therefore, saying that Catholics worship images is a common misunderstanding. The Catholic Church teaches that worship is due only to God and that images serve as a means to remind us of the examples of faith from the saints and Christ, leading us into a deeper relationship with God. The veneration of images is a form of respect and visual connection with spiritual truths, but never of worship.
In conclusion, when asking if Catholics worship images, it is essential to understand this theological distinction. Images are not worshiped but respected as representations that help us contemplate divine realities. Catholic practice follows the Catechism's teaching, guiding the faithful to use images as aids to devotion and meditation, while always reserving worship exclusively for God.
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Catechism of the Catholic Church p. 2132
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Cf. Nm 21:4-9
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Ws 16:5-14
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Jn 3:14-15
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Cf. Ex 25:10-22
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1 Kings 6:23-28; 7:23-26
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CCC 2131, 2132
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