Catholic Beliefs

Why do we have statues of saints?

Does your home display photos of deceased family members? Do you sometimes visit the grave of a loved one on special occasions of remembrance? Sometimes painful, sometimes comforting, gestures like these allow families to continue to include their ancestors in the fabric of daily life. The Catholic community, too, has ways of acknowledging its ancestors, the communion of saints, with whom we are bonded through faith even beyond the grave. Statues, art and various devotional practices that abound in Catholic churches are concrete expressions of our enduring relationship with those who have gone before us in faith.

Why do Catholics 'pray' to saints?

It is a common and beautiful practice for Christians to turn to one another for support and encouragement as they journey through life. The Catholic way of 'praying' to the saints is simply an extension of this practice of drawing support from our faith family. Far from undermining adoration of God, devotion to the saints strengthens our love of God. Awareness of the saints raises our sights, empowers us to aspire to gospel qualities and helps us to see our earthly lives from the perspective of the promise of eternal life.

Why do Catholics hold Our Lady 

in such high esteem?

Every community has its heroes and heroines; people whose lives embody an ideal and inspire us to greater heights. The Church, too, looks up to men and women who are outstanding witnesses to the gospel. Of all the saints, prophets and holy people who have gone before us in faith, Catholics honour Mary in a special way because of her unique role in the story of Christianity. As the mother of Jesus, she was the first to bear the Good News of salvation to the world. Mary's life is the most perfect example we have of a life lived under the grace of the Holy Spirit. Her feminine presence opens us to essential dimensions of the Gospel and draws us closer to the heart of Christ.

Bells and smells

Why is the Catholic Church so full of 'things': bells, incense, candles, holy water...? Catholicism is a very 'earthy' religion. In becoming human through the person of Jesus Christ, God has shown us that material realities are not to be scorned but embraced as part of our loving response to our Creator. While we know that no image or 'thing' can capture the presence of God who is Mystery beyond all comprehension, we also recognise that human persons need to express themselves in a human way. When we portray the mysteries of our faith through human realities we are not 'confining' God but simply making a statement about the truths we hold dear.

Why do we hold palms on Palm Sunday?

On Palm Sunday, the Sunday leading into Holy Week, we commemorate the Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Gospels that describe this event speak of large crowds laying palm branches on the road before Jesus and proclaiming him as king. Here is a man with charisma, with a stirring message! And yet, before the week is out, he has been betrayed into the hands of his enemies and crucified. Palm Sunday (also called Passion Sunday) highlights the paradox of Christ's kingship. Our palms represent his victory, but a victory that comes only through suffering and self-sacrifice.

Why ashes?

The ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday remind us of our mortality and symbolise the spirit of penance that marks the Lenten season. Ashes were commonly used in ancient religions (including Judaism) as an expression of sorrow and humiliation. In the early Church, Jewish converts introduced a similar practice into the Christian liturgy. By being marked with ashes, a Catholic today is recognised by the community gathered as one who has chosen to repent of sin and believe in the Good News. A sign to be worn with conviction!

The cross

Is the cross you wear around your neck just an attractive piece of jewelry to you? Have you ever pondered the startling paradox of this symbol? After all, in Jesus' day the cross was an instrument of execution. Translated into modern terms, it's a bit like wearing a miniature electric chair around your neck! The repugnance of such an idea highlights the radical edge of the Gospel. Jesus' life led to suffering, loss, failure and even death. Yet it was precisely through such self-sacrifice that the resurrection was possible. As Christians we are called to life by walking the way of the cross. Not a religion for the faint-hearted!

Penance

'Penance' is not a terribly popular word these days. Yet the 'offering up' or denying ourselves of a simple desire (e.g. a favourite TV program, an extra dinner serving) is still a rich and fruitful practice embedded in our Catholic tradition. Far from being a negative thing, regular acts of penance strengthen our will-power, develop perseverance and free us from self-centredness. Just as an athlete prepares for a race with months of regular training, so does the practice of penance prepare a Christian for the 'tough' side of Gospel living; those days that require you to 'give your all' when you thought you had already.

Why do we pray the Rosary?

One might look upon the Rosary as a precious heirloom passed down through generations of our faith family. Essentially, it is a simple, repetitive prayer by which we reflect on the life, death and glorification of Christ through the eyes and heart of his mother. According to a tradition that dates back to the 15th century, St Dominic founded the devotion to the Rosary. Other evidence, however, suggests that it developed gradually, especially under the influence of the Cistercian and Dominican religious orders. The Rosary is one way we can prayerfully contemplate the mysteries of our faith.

Why do we have Stations of the Cross?

Have you ever made a journey retracing the steps of an ancestor? In the early Church a tradition developed whereby Christians would make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, retracing the journey that Jesus took to Calvary. Visual representations depicting the Passion of Jesus were erected along the way. In memory of this sacred path, the stations were popularised in art and as a devotional practice, encouraged especially by the Franciscans. There are fourteen stations in our modern day devotion whereby people move from station to station, reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

Why do we bless ourselves with holy water?

From the earliest days of Christianity (and, even earlier, in Judaism and other ancient religions), water was used in baptismal rituals as a symbol of life and cleansing. Today, when Catholics sprinkle themselves from that little bowl of holy water at the church door and make the sign of the cross, they do so as a reminder of their baptism. The holy water itself is simply water that has been blessed by a priest.

https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/life/teachings-of-the-catholic-church/#the-church