DOCTRINE CORNER
Last week’s question - Catholics worship idols. Do you agree? Explain your position.
Answer: Catholics do not worship idols. Images and statues signify something beyond themselves so we honour what the objects signify not the object itself.
Difference between *worship and veneration*
-Latria ( worship) is due to God alone and Him alone
-Dulia (veneration) honour given to Saints
-Hyperdulia (special veneration) due to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Exodus 20:3-5 Prohibits idolatry not images. Matthew 4:10, You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
-God himself commanded the use of sacred images, so if images were sinful, God would be contradicting Himself - but He explicitly commands the usage of images
- Exodus 25:18-20 images of Cherubims on the ark of the covenant
- Numbers 21:8-9 images of a serpent in bronze
- 1Kings 6:29 temple decorations
Finally in the incarnation, God became man. And Jesus said "To have seen me is to have seen the Father" No one can come to the Father except through me(Jesus, the Son) John 14: 6-9
The crucifix, and images of Jesus are not against divine command but fulfilment of his will.
Next question: Mary gave birth to Jesus, and still remained a virgin. Why?