Are statues of Mary allowed to be the focus in churches?
Are statues of Mary allowed to be the focus in churches?
Question: I visited a church not long ago that featured a 4-foot-tall statue of Our Lady of Grace positioned prominently at the altar, adorned with flowers at her base. Is this permitted in the Catholic Church? I believed that the crucifix and tabernacle were meant to be a top priority. During Mass, my attention continually shifted to the Virgin Mary instead of Jesus.
— Debbie Wurdeman, via email
Answer: This appears to be a dedication for the month of May. Numerous parishes possess May crownings and prominently showcase the Blessed Mother throughout May, a month devoted to her. Though this devotion has a global presence, in the United States, May additionally highlights Mother’s Day. In this time, statues of Mary are adorned with flowers and frequently placed in visible areas within churches and residences.
Regarding Church traditions, it is accurate that contemporary parishes frequently display the crucifix prominently and position the tabernacle on the main axis, whereas older churches typically showcased a patron saint above or adjacent to the altar. The tabernacle was indeed central in historic churches, but the crucifix might have been smaller and placed below a statue or artwork of the patron saint. Additionally, some churches featured representations of a biblical or spiritual motif.
The existing custom of placing a significant crucifix on the central wall at the back is prevalent today and is undoubtedly supported by guidelines. The bishops’ document, “Built of Living Stones,” states: “The crucifix depicting Christ on the cross serves as a symbol of Christ’s paschal mystery. It invites us to contemplate the enigma of suffering and makes our conviction that enduring suffering, when connected to the passion and death of Christ, results in salvation, evident. A crucifix should be ‘placed either on the altar or in its vicinity, and … easily visible to the congregation present.’”
Therefore, it is appropriate that in many contemporary churches, the main axis displays a crucifix clearly visible to the congregation. Statues of saints are typically found along the sides or in different areas of the church. Nevertheless, this does not exclude the possibility of having additional statues or sacred items in the sanctuary, provided it is done tastefully and does not create a mess or divert attention. It appears that this was not the situation in the scenario you mentioned. To clarify, we generally do not refer to the Blessed Mother as a distraction vying with Jesus for attention. She perpetually guides us to Him. One final note of caution is that this guideline does not mandate the removal or destruction of older altars in churches that prominently display saints. Many of these altars are invaluable works of art that we should preserve, even if the cross may be less visible.
