Veneration of the cross/Mary and sin

Q At the Good Friday services we venerated the cross.  Isn’t that idol worship?

A Let me answer this question by quoting a short article on Catholic Answers – Q&A entitled “Why Veneration Isn’t Idol Worship” by Karlo Broussard.

“The underlying assumption here is that the act of veneration is an act of worship. But this is not necessarily true. The word veneration simply means to give great respect or reverence. The respect and reverence that Catholics give to sacred objects is not of the same kind of respect or reverence given to God.

“So now the question becomes, ‘Is it idol worship to show respect or reverence to a crucifix?’ Such piety is no more idol worship than showing respect to a picture of a loved one by kissing it or putting it up on your mantle in a prominent place.

“Reverence shown to a material object is not foreign to the Bible. God instructed Moses to erect a bronze serpent so that whoever looked upon it would be healed from their snake bites (Num. 21:8-9). Such reverence was appropriate. But when the Israelites started showing the bronze serpent a reverence that belonged to God alone – namely, worship – King Hezekiah destroyed it with divine sanction (2 Kgs. 18:4).

The reverence that Catholics show a crucifix on Good Friday, or any other time, is a physical expression of the gratitude that we have to our blessed Lord for his death on the cross that won for us the reward of salvation.”

Q The church believes that Our Blessed Virgin Mary remained sinless throughout her entire life.  Isn’t this refuted by Romans 3:23 which states “all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God?”

A The passage above does not prove that Mary ever sinned.  It is always important to study Bible passages within their context.  Taking verses out of context can lead to errors and misunderstanding.  

Jimmy Akin, in his book “A Daily Defense, 365 Days (Plus One) To Become a Better Apologist,” states:

“Romans 3:23 occurs in a section where St. Paul is arguing that both Jews and Gentiles need salvation through Jesus Christ and that this is not achieved through the law of Moses.  This is the major thrust of Romans 1-4.  Thus he writes, ‘For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … is God the God of Jews only?  Is he not the God of Gentiles also?

“When St. Paul says ‘there is no distinction,’ he means there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles.  When he explains this statement by saying ‘for all have sinned,’ he means sin characterizes both Jews and Gentiles ... his use of the term ‘all’ is hyperbole (an exaggeration, not to be taken literally) for Paul does not believe that this is and exceptionless norm [without exception) … Paul would certainly have acknowledged the sinlessness in adult life of at least one man – Jesus! … If Jesus, as the ‘Second Adam’ is an exception to what St. Paul says in Romans 3:23, there may also be an exception for Mary as the ‘Second Eve.’ ”

Additionally, in many cases in the New Testament, the Greek word for “all” (pas), denotes a great number, not necessarily “no exceptions.”  We should not take the word “all” to mean every single person that ever lived.   

The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes on to say “Mary benefited first of all and uniquely from Christ’s victory over sin; she was preserved from all stain of original sin and by a special grace of God committed no sin of any kind during her whole earthly life”  (CCC 411).

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at [email protected].