MARY, OUR MOTHER

CHAPTER XVIII:

TWO HEARTS OF WIT & WISDOM

Why do Catholics have Statues & Pictures?

In the book of Exodus, the second book in the Old Testament, in the

25. Chapter--18. Verse, God is speaking to Moses: "Make two Cheribims (Angels) of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitatory." (Statues of Angels.)

26. Chapter--1. Verse, God is again speaking to Moses: "The Dwelling itself you shall make out of sheets woven of fine linen twined and of violet, purple and scarlet yarn, with CHERUBIM EMBROIDERED ON THEM." (Pictures of Angels.)

26. Chapter--31. Verse, God is again speaking to Moses: "You shall have a veil of woven violet, purple and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen twined, with Cherubim embroidered on it."

It is interesting to read in detail the building of the Temple of God, as Solomon, in all his glory, is carrying out the construction of it: King III. (2 Chronicles Protestant Bible).

"The wings of these Cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits and the stood on their feet, and their faces were inward . . . and he made the veil of blue . . . and fine linen, and wrought Cherubim thereon . . . And all the walls of the Temple round about he carved with divers figures and carvings . . ."

So, it may be surprising to one and all just how many statues and pictures there are in the first celestial structure, the Temple of God!

21. Chapter--8. Verse, Book of Numbers, God is speaking once again to Moses: "Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and anyone who has been bitten (by a snake) looks at it, he will recover." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent (bronze stature) and mounted it on a pole . . . (This very symbol to this day is a Doctor's emblem, called the 'CADUCEUS').

When the chosen people of God made a golden calf and adored it. this then was out of order. Also, when they would adore the images of Baal, the god of the heathens, this was forbidden.

As it was told in the last chapter, God gave us the 10 Commandments telling us in the 20. Chapter 4. & 5. Verses:

". . . You shall not bow down before them or worship them."

To summarize: In other words, if we were to ADORE statues--this then would be out of order. Certainly we are not going to ADORE a piece of clay or wood or whatever a statue is made of.

We have Fatima statues, etc., reminding us how Our Blessed Mother looked, when she visited the three children of Fatima. Almighty God honored Mary first--this is why we honor her--and likewise honor the Saints.

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You may wish to check these quotations in your Bible.

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