NEWS & VIEWS

   For those who have been advocating taking statues out of the churches because that’s what Vatican II decided, they are sorely wrong and Pope John Paul II confirmed that along with a strong recommendation toward Marian devotion in his most recent Wednesday public audience at Pope Paul VI Hall. He reminded the gathering that council fathers of Vatican II encourage devotion to the saints and the Mother of God, particularly within the Liturgy. He sited not only Vatican II but other past Church councils all the way back to the Second Council of Nicea which have upheld the "legitimacy and validity of sacred images, in the face of certain tendencies that intended to eliminate them from churches and shrines, with the aim of concentrating all attention on Christ."

   He went on to say that statues, images of the saints and especially Our Lady "in houses, in public places and in numerous chapels and churches, help the faithful to invoke her constant presence and her merciful patronage in life’s different circumstances. Making concrete and nearly visible the Virgin Mary’s motherly tenderness, images invite one to address her, to implore her with confidence and to imitate her in generously welcoming Divine Will." He also assured all that in adoring the Image of Jesus, worshippers are not committing idolatry and cautioned to focus on Christ for all devotion is centered on Mary’s Divine Son. He added what all Marian devotees know, and that is that "everything in Mary derives from Christ and is ordered to Him. Thus true Marian devotion "moves one to filial affection for her and stirs up a firm proposal to imitate her virtues."

Information for this article gathered from the Catholic World News Service

November 3, 1997 volume 8, no. 22         DAILY CATHOLIC - NEWS & VIEWS