Catholics DO NOT serve or worship images of Jesus or Mary or the Saints. They are MERE REPRESENTATIONS that are honoured in love and respect of those they represent.

Bowing before images is not an indication of worship, rather honour to those whom the images represent. This can be likened to statues of some kind of Heroes that are honoured. It does not mean that such statues are worshipped or are believed to be same persons or heroes they represent.

They are also like pictures of loved ones we place on our walls in the bedroom. These remind us of our loved ones dead or alive; some even kiss or hug these pictures out of love for those whom they represent. We do not love, kiss or hug those photos for them being photos rather those whom they represent.

The CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) N0. 2132 states “The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols; indeed, the honour rendered to an image passes to its prototype and whoever venerates an image, venerates the person portrayed in it”. The honour paid to sacred images is a ‘respectful veneration’.

And in the words of St. Thomas Aquinas “Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate”.