Catholic Veneration of Saints and Mary as Idolatry
The Catholic veneration of saints and Mary has been a point of contention among Christian traditions, with some viewing it as a form of idolatry. Idolatry, as defined by the Heidelberg Catechism, is "having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in the Word" [6]. Critics argue that the veneration of saints and Mary constitutes idolatry because it attributes divine qualities and honors to creatures rather than the Creator.
Charles Hodge, one theologian, contends that the Catholic practice of venerating saints and Mary assumes they possess divine attributes, such as omnipresence and the ability to know thoughts and desires. This, he argues, effectively makes them objects of worship, akin to the "gods many and lords many" of heathen Rome [1]. Hodge also notes that Catholic liturgical practices, such as parodying the Te Deum as an address to the Virgin, further blur the line between worshiping God and venerating saints [3].
In response, Catholic theologians like Thomas Aquinas distinguish between the worship due to God alone (latria) and the veneration accorded to saints and Mary (dulia). Aquinas argues that veneration of saints is not idolatry because it is not the same as the divine honor due to God. He cites the Platonic error of thinking that divine honor should be paid to every superior nature, emphasizing that reverence is not uniform across all beings [4].
The early Church Fathers also addressed idolatry, emphasizing the folly of worshiping idols and the importance of distinguishing between the Creator and creatures. For instance, the author of the Epistle of Barnabas warns against idolatry, stating that worshiping images is futile because they are soulless and dead, lacking the form of God [7]. Similarly, John Chrysostom, an Eastern Orthodox Father, condemns idolatry in his homilies, linking it to covetousness and unrighteousness [5].
The Protestant Reformation sharpened the critique against Catholic veneration practices. Reformers like John Calvin emphasized the biblical warnings against idolatry, arguing that the veneration of saints and Mary detracts from the honor due to Christ alone. Calvin also underscored the importance of Christ's true humanity, born of a woman, as a crucial aspect of His redemptive work, without necessitating the veneration of Mary [8].
The issue of idolatry is deeply rooted in biblical teachings. The Psalmist warns that idolatry defiles God's people, likening it to adultery (Psalms 106:39) [9]. The Apostle John exhorts believers to "keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21), a warning that has been interpreted as relevant to both pagan idolatry and the potential for idolatrous practices within the Church [2].
The distinction between veneration and worship is crucial in understanding the Catholic position. While Catholics argue that their veneration of saints and Mary is a form of honor and respect rather than worship, critics contend that the practices often blur this distinction, effectively leading to idolatry.
The historical development of the veneration of saints and Mary within Catholicism has been influenced by various factors, including the need to honor the martyrs and the growing emphasis on the role of Mary in the life of the Church. Understanding this historical context is essential to grasping why certain practices have evolved and how they are perceived by different Christian traditions.
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 43: from all parts of the earth at the same time; that they know our thoughts and unexpressed desires. This is to assume that they possess divine attributes. In fact. therefore, the saints are the gods whom the people worship, whom they trust, and who are the objects of the religious affections. The polytheism of the Church of Rome is in many respects analogous to that of heathen Rome. In both cases we find gods 285 many and lords many. In both cases either imaginary beings are the objects of worship, or imaginary powers and attributes are as”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 5:21: Little children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen. From Heathen idols and idolatry, into which the saints in those times might be liable to be drawn, by reason of their dwelling among Heathen idolaters, and being related to them, and by the too great freedom used in eating things sacrificed to idols in their temples; and from all other idols that might be introduced by some who went by the name of Christians, as the Gnostics, who worshipped the images of Simon and Helena; and the passage may be an antidote against the worshipping of images, afterwards introduced by th”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 43: Devoto Doctore Sancto Bonaventura compilatum. It is given at length by Chemnitz in his Examen Concilii Tridentini, edit. Frankfort, 1574, part iii. pp. 166-179. Chemnitz does not refer its authorship to Bonaventura; but gives it as a document sanctioned and used in the Church of Rome. In like manner the most holy offices of the Church are parodied. The Te Deum, For example, is turned into an address to the Virgin. “We praise thee, Mother of God; we acknowledge thee to be a virgin. All the earth doth worship thee, the spouse of the eternal”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Idolatry, Art. 2: Article: Whether idolatry is a sin? I answer that, There has been a twofold error in this matter. For some [*The School of Plato] have thought that to offer sacrifices and other things pertaining to latria, not only to God but also to the others aforesaid, is due and good in itself, since they held that divine honor should be paid to every superior nature, as being nearer to God. But this is unreasonable. For though we ought to revere all superiors, yet the same reverence is not due to them all:”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily VIII. Colossians iii. 5–7 “Mortify your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things’ sake, cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience; in the which ye also walked aforetime, when ye lived in these things.” I know that many are offended by the foregoing discourse, but what can I do? ye heard what the Master enjoined. Am I to blame? what shall I do? See ye not the creditors, when debtors are obstinate, how they wear 832 832”
- Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed) “Heidelberg Catechism (Reformed, 1563), Q. What is idolatry?: Q. What is idolatry? A. Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in the Word.1 1 1 Chron. 16:26; Gal. 4:8-9; Eph. 5:5; Phil. 3:19 Lord’s Day 35 Q & A 96”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. IX.--FOLLY OF IDOL, WORSHIP.: And neither do we honour with many sacrifices and garlands of flowers such deities as men have formed and set in shrines and called gods; since we see that these are soulless and dead, and have not the form of God (for we do not consider that God has such a form as some say that they imitate to His honour), but have the names and forms of those wicked demons which have appeared. For why need we tell you who already know, into what forms the craftsmen,(5) carving and cutting, ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 49: declaring him to be “God blessed for ever,” he mentions separately, that, “as concerning the flesh, he was descended from the Jews.” Again if he had not been truly begotten of the seed of David, what is the meaning of the expression, that he is the “fruit of his loins;” or what the meaning of the promise, “Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne?” ( Ps. 132:11 ). Moreover their mode of dealing with the genealogy of Christ, as given by Matthew, is mere sophistry; for though he reckons up the progenitors not of Mary, but ”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 106:39: 106:39 Idolatry, like adultery, defiles God’s people (see Lev 18:24; Hos 5:3).”