www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology The veneration of icons in the Catholic Church

Dear friends,

In 1987, Pope John Paul the Great (blessed be his memory) called in his apostolic letter "DUODECIMUM SAECULUM" for the veneration of icons - a tradition well-known in the Eastern Rites but theretofore remote in the Roman Rite. As a youth in the Roman Rite, I do not recall seeing icons in any great number, although there were certainly plenty of statues in the churches I attended... which led to any amount of tongue-clucking from my Protestant relatives about "idolatry", etc., but that's another story.

Anyway, in the almost 20 years after this exhortation, there seems to be an increasing number of Catholic laity and religious creating, and Catholic vendors selling, icons of Catholic saints and other holy figures. Indeed, my new avatar is a particularly striking icon of John Paul the Great which I located at a religious book site.

Here's my question. As Catholics, what role do icons play in your religious lives? I am particularly interested in hearing from my friends in the Roman Rite, because this is all fairly new to me, although certainly not new to the Eastern Rites.

Do you seek out, as I have been doing, icons of the Catholic Saints or other Catholic religious figures who have not heretofore been venerated in icon form? Do you find a greater spiritual satisfaction in venerating unique or specific saints than more "generic" forms like the Pantocrator or the Theotokos?

Theophane:

You wrote: Regarding icons:
<<I am particularly interested in hearing from my friends in the Roman Rite, because this is all fairly new to me, although certainly not new to the Eastern Rites.>>

Actually, genuine eastern icons are also new to many "native" Byzantine Catholics. Some parishes still have statuary and westernized iconography. Although I personally like some of these westernized icons, they are not in keeping with the more authentic theological-spiritual-artistic tradition. This is true of some Russian and Greek Orthodox parishes as well.

We all need a better acquaintance with the tradition of icons.

THe JP II icon is great. When I first saw it hit me.. it was like looking at John Paul, like he was there...

I am a Byzantine Catholic iconographer who was raised Roman Catholic. The one icon common to the West is Our Lady of Perpetual Help, promoted traditionally by the Redemptorists. There was one of those in my parish as a kid.
I paint icons of Western saints as well as the more traditional ones. I have done St Francis of Assisi, St Therese, St Joseph the Worker, and St Mary Euphrasia [founder of the Good Shepherd sisters, a commission].
-Daniel

Do you seek out, as I have been doing, icons of the Catholic Saints or other Catholic religious figures who have not heretofore been venerated in icon form? Do you find a greater spiritual satisfaction in venerating unique or specific saints than more "generic" forms like the Pantocrator or the Theotokos? Generic? I think it would behove you to study the theology of an icon before appling the word 'generic.' When you have a icon before you, gazing upon it, heaven is gazing back at you. How could one say anything about an icon is 'generic.' It doesn't mattered how many times it has been copied or painted the theology is always teaching.

Icons were used paritialy in the early centuries because people could not read. The icons were painted to telll a story, so everything about them says something to you about God. An Icon of the Nativity tells one totally about the birth of Christ and they mystery therein. Icons surround us, and we become very aware of the great cloud of witnesses that form the Church Triumphant, and are always present with us at every Eucharistic Celebration.

To seek new ones is fine. However, I would make sure that the person writing the icon has actually gone through or understands why and what they are doing. There are a lot of people who can sit and paint, but are they truly writing? The main difference between a statue and an icon is the prayer and fasting that took place during it's creation.

I am sorry my brother, and I do hope I do not offend you, but there is nothing 'generic' about an icon no matter how many times you see them or it has been reproduced because the love of God presented by the writer is still present in it. The battle with the Iconoclasts was long and hard. So the beauty in the writing, especially the ancient ones, is even more wonderful because it was fought for.

The following article says it much better than I can. Pani Rose
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Theology, the study of God in words, and iconography, the study of God in images, are two major expressions of one single faith, or we might say that an icon is a visible gospel. Eastern Christians do not emphasize the "word" as much as Western Christians do, but experience God as BEAUTY which reveals divine order. In making icons, therefore, the artist attempts to show this beauty and glory of God in relation to the human person, and human life immersed in God transfigured by his presence.

The theology of the icon is based on the Incarnation, the revelation of the Image of God in the human form of Jesus Christ. This first icon was one made without human hands and revealed in the temple of Christ's body. By imitating the divine artist, the iconographer not only participates in sacred creation, but theologically asserts the reality of Jesus' humanity.

The icon of God likewise exists in each of us, for we, too, are made in God's image. This gives man the ability to communicate with God, to be transformed by his presence, and become like God, participating in his divine character. As a bridge of prayer between God and the human person, an icon gives the viewer the occasion to commune with the divine.

Icons of the sacred not only set an atmosphere for prayer, but by contemplating the holiness of the person represented in the icon, one can experience the presence of God which is "contagious." One becomes aware of praying and worshipping in the presence of angels and saints. Icons are used to enhance the beauty of the church, but also to teach us about our faith initially and then to remind us of this teaching. By bringing us in contact with holy persons, we are enthused to imitate them, helping to transform and sanctify us. Ultimately the icon is a means of worshipping God and venerating his saints.

The painted wood or wall has no value in itself if the believer is not put in a relationship with God. The icon is not just a symbol or reminder of a holy person, but has the character of an epiphany, manifesting the presence of God through the transfigured subject of the icon who is shown as redeemed and participating in God's light. These people revealed the image of God in their lives in an eminent way. Now they invite the viewer into a communion with them and through them with God. Bringing us into living encounter with the person represented, an icon becomes a door to sacred time and space.

An iconographer by definition is Christian, for he attempts to portray the dogmas of his faith. Because the artist does not reproduce what he sees but what he understands about the essence of life, he has to be a person transformed by prayer in order to perceive a universe that has been transfigured through Christ. God is asked to inspire the artist and guide his hand. Because God is the true artist, icons are not signed by the iconographer.

While the icon is being created, the artist repeats the Jesus Prayer so that he remains concentrated on his holy task. The discipline of painting and prayer deepens one's inner silence, so that the actual process of "writing" an icon contributes to one's personal transformation.

http://www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/icon.html

I would start off by saying that the west DOES have icons. An "icon" is NOT a two dimensional relgious painting in Byzantine style. An icon (most broadly stated) is any sacred image that communicates the Gospel message (this is a summary of CCC 1159-62). Thus, statues ARE a form of western icon. And yes I have indeed seen people venerate statues and take them on processions, as they should*.

I think this is an important point. The west does have icons, not only in the form of statues but also in the form of all kinds of sacred art, from the works of the rennaissance painters to medieval sacred art to the hispano-american sacred art you find in traditional Latin America. This is a critical part of Western Christianity (ref: Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict's The Spirit of the Liturgy ).

Of course, the relative freedom that's inherent in western religious art also allows a lot of bad (in terms of artistic value) works to be produced. Since sacred art has liturgical/spiritual implications, I would generally keep the sacred art I'd use in a prayer corner or church to one general style, consistent with the spiritual approach I wish to take.

But nevertheless quality works are everywhere and no western Christian should feel artistically impoverished, unless of course your prayer corner/church doesn't have these icons. Thus, I don't see a compelling need for Byzantine-type iconography of western saints, though I am by no means opposed to them.

The West cannot be said to have an icongraphic tradition that is remotely like the East. According to the Council of Trent, religious imagery serves to remind the worshiper of holy things. In the East, the icon is sacramental. In the West images are not venerated during the liturgy, [except the Cross on Good Friday], in the East icons are incensed three times [in the Byzantine Liturgy] and are kissed by the worshipers when they enter the church.
I usually am the one defending Western art around here, pointing out the obvious fact that it can rise to the sacred, but one must not lose all distinctions in discussing these things. The East has a much more well-developed theology and spirituality of the image than the West. To say statues are "icons", in any but the etymological sense is simply not true.
-Daniel

When I was about 8 or 9 my uncle and Godfather (who is a priest) brought me two icons from Rome. I hung them beside my bed and always enjoyed them. Since then, whenever I had the chance I would buy one, of course, living in a country with next to zero eastern presence or traditions, these chances came by pretty seldom.
A few years ago, as my interest in different rites and churches grew, I began to fall deeply in love with eastern art, be it in the form of byzantine or coptic iconography, for example. I now have many icons in my room, and have even managed to "infiltrate" some into my girlfriends life. She is called Ana, so all I had to do was find some beautiful icons of Saint Anne and Saint Phillip (my name) and present them to her...
I personally find icons much more revealing and spiritual than western art, specially modern western art. Don't ask me to elaborate, it's just the feeling they convey to me.
Recently I found the icon that I use as an avatar, it's of Our Lady of Fatima, written, I believe, by a member of the Ukrainian or Russian Catholic Church. It's wonderful to see eastern renditions of images that I am used to seeing only as western art.
I have also asked some lebanese friends who I will be with next week, to bring me some icons of the Lebanese Maronite saints.
I will never forget walking into chapels in Belgrade last year, with the walls completely painted in Byzantine art. Absolutely breathtaking!
God Bless!

Well, Roman Catholics, upon entering the church, proceed to light votive candles in front of the shrine of numerous saints, but most commonly the Blessed Virgin or some image of Christ.

Personally, I do like icons, but I can't honestly say I prefer them over statues. In fact, I've never seen an icon that touches me as much as some Western statues such as the Pieta.

Logos Teen

Daniel, We had the devotions every Wednesday evening..."Our Lady of Perpetual Help" with the icon up in front in our parish when I was a kid too. Our Latin Catholic (Liturgy was Latin then) parish was St. Patricks and our pastor was Pennsylvania Dutch...and all loved this devotion. It was my first exposure to icons...and it remains special in my memories and heart to this day. In Christ, Mary Jo

My home parish is also Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Roman Catholic), and the icon hangs by the right side of the altar. An icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is on the left of the altar.

A couple weeks ago Father Paul's homily consisted of describing and detailing our parish icon for the education of the faithful. It was very insightful.

Logos Teen

I guess in my wanderings during the last 3 years, I have become very attached to Eastern style Icons,how can I say it...I find a warmth in them, like sunlight coming thru the window on a chilly day. I find it difficult to connect with statues nowadays.

james

James

I know what you mean

To Teen and others - find a Redemptorist Church and there you will find Our Lady of Perpetual Succour , you will undoubtedy find the Novena to Her there as well.

The Redemptorists have a wonderful devotion to Her