"They are More Like Us Than They Realize"  continued

     A large number of Protestant denominations object to the idea of having holy pictures and statues in a church building and even more are scandalized by the veneration given them by Catholics.  But upon close examination, the Protestants venerate certain objects more than Catholics do.  For example, I have never been to a Protestants house with a Bible that has dust on it.  Even if a particular family did not read the Holy Book regularly, it was always enthroned in a prominent place and well kept.  Protestants (as should Catholics) are scandalized when the Book is treated like a normal book.  After all it is the Word of God.  This is a form of veneration.  Although the Bible is an object containing the revelation of our religion and should be treated with respect, it is still an object.  The same can be said of pictures and mementos of family and friends in the house.  One would find no objection to someone thinking about a dear friend, looking at a picture of that person and even saying some words to comfort themselves (e.g.  “I miss you...”, “I love you...”, “Those were good times...”, etc.).  Everyone knows that the picture is not listening and will not reply to any words, but we do it anyway.  This is a very human form of expression, it is also a very high form of venerating objects.  With this example of their own veneration of objects, a Catholic can help another Christian to understand the veneration of objects and holy images as being a form of expression that can not to be equated with idolatry.

     The Catholic Church is an institution which views itself as a family of God with Christ at its head.  The sacraments are a means in which Christ gives graces to its members.  The sacramentals (objects which are often venerated) are a means in which the faithful express their devotion to the Lord in a very human way.  All religious practices should not be observed and evaluated based upon superficial observations, there has to be dialogue and an open mind.  As members of the Church, we must do all that we can to inform other Christians about the nature of our practices.  This can only be done if we first understand and grow in the knowledge of our own faith.  This is a point where we as a Church are weak and this is one of the reasons why there are so many misconstrued notions that certain Protestants and Fundamentalists are spreading about Catholic practices.
 
 

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