In fact, in the Old Testament, many passages make us understand how God not only did not frown upon the creation of images and symbols that aroused in those who contemplated them an even greater faith and religious enthusiasm. In reality, Christians answered this question early, and without departing from the Holy Scriptures. Statues made of plaster by an Italian craftsman, finely worked and hand painted. How much could the veneration of a statue representing Jesus or the Virgin or a saint lead to idolatry? Here is the issue that has divided the church in two for a long time. I am the Lord your God ” (Leviticus 19:4). In Leviticus, we read: “ Do not turn to idols and do not become gods of molten metal. The reason is simple, even if this is not the place to immerse ourselves in theological dissertations. Yet still today there is no lack of fierce controversy regarding the adoration reserved for statues of saints and blessed. Who does not keep in their hearts the childhood memory of a particular statue to which they loved to go to pray, or where they felt compelled to light a candle? Why? Although it is evident that the plaster madonnas, rather than the plaster statues representing the Savior, assist prayer in an extremely effective way. Religious statues made of plaster, resin, fibreglass, and even before that of wood and stone, have been the subject of heated discussions and even controversies within the same church for a long time. In this scenario of religious suggestion, also sacred statues are placed, which nevertheless deserve a more in-depth discussion. If in ancient times the most common way to demonstrate to Christians the importance and sacred dimension of the place of worship was to flaunt wealth and opulence, with the use of precious materials and precious decorations, today there are other approaches, whose minor aim is to arouse amazement, and reverential fear, and above all to a dimension that stimulates spiritual dialogue with the individual and with the reunited community.Ĭhurch furniture, Thuribles and boats, cruets, altar bells, candelabras, candle holders, Vigil Lights and more. This solemnity is transmitted to the faithful who gather there, in ways that have evolved, over the centuries. This is because the church is the place destined to be the setting for the Liturgy, and, as such, it must be an expression of solemnity and sacredness. The issue is even broader and involves every single architectural and decorative element, from the distribution of space to the number of columns, even the size of the entrance door. It is not just about furnishing elements, such as altars, pulpits, kneelers, baptismal fonts, tabernacles, altar crosses, holy water fonts, each of which however also has a definite practical and religious use. In a previous article dedicated to sacred furnishings, we explained how everything that is part of the appearance of a church, outside and especially inside, is an essential element of the scenography necessary to best host the rites that are celebrated there. We are used to seeing numerous sacred plaster statues in our churches depicting Jesus, the Madonna, saints and angels. Why aren’t the sacred plaster statues that we find in the church considered as objects of idolatry, but as an integral part of every Christian’s profession of faith?
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