By Brenda Hopf
Connecting Liturgy and Life
Editor’s note: For 2026, the weekly “Connecting Faith and Life” column has been renamed “Connecting Liturgy and Life.” The column consists of reflections on Part Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), which focuses on the Liturgy and the Sacraments.
cf. CCC 1158-1167
Have you ever read a book to a young child who could not yet read? If you have, you know that typically these books not only contain the words of the story, but likewise include illustrations that bring the words to life. The words and the images work hand in hand to help us better remember the story. Even if a child can’t yet read, they will likely be able to recall the story when they see the images.
The holy images in our churches, homes and public areas offer us something very similar. Scripture tells the story. Holy images bring scripture to life. Saints depicted in sacred art and sculpted into statues also remind us of the stories of their lives and the example of holiness they have set for us. Through these sacred and holy images, the words of scripture and the stories of the saints come to life right before our eyes.
For me, this holy imagery is one of the true treasures of Catholic tradition. I love to take pilgrimages to Catholic churches when we go on vacation. The holy images in each church are so unique. Scripture and the stories of the lives of the saints come to life with a simple church tour. Inevitably, I end up seeing something that I am not familiar with, which leads to research and a newly found treasure of faith. I truly enjoy digging deeper and learning new things, and it is also good to be reminded of the things I have heard before but have all but forgotten.
Our homes should also be filled with sacred art to constantly surround us with the stories of our faith. Those reminders can go a long way in keeping us connected to Jesus throughout our day. I was reminded of this while I had my snowman collection on display throughout our home this winter. The collection has gotten rather large and my sacred art got lost in the shuffle. I have vowed to do better next year, because having holy images displayed throughout one’s home truly does make a difference.
Sacred art can also be a valuable form of prayer. Through an online retreat a couple of years ago, I learned how to use the visio divina method to pray with holy images. This is similar to the lectio divina method of praying with scripture, which calls for silent meditation and prayer. If you are looking for something new to try in your prayer life, this might be something worth looking into.
Right now, in the midst of Lent, there is a very obvious example of holy images bringing words of scripture to life right before our eyes and that is the Stations of the Cross. Just imagine for a moment, praying the stations without the images. Yes, it can be done. But give that some thought. How much more “real” is it when we gaze upon each image as we pray.
Throughout the history of Catholicism, holy images have been an integral part of passing on the faith. There were time periods that held much illiteracy. Holy images were a genuine method of communication when most people couldn’t write their own name. Sacred art was used during these periods to pass on the Gospel message to those who could not read, a true testament to the resilience of the Catholic Church.
Our churches are the sacred spaces where we are fed by God, where we are transformed to be more like Christ, and where we experience a foretaste of heaven during the celebration of the liturgy. The holy images that surround us in those sacred spaces are meant to help inspire authentic worship and to help the words we hear come to life right before our eyes. CCC 1161 states, “Sacred images truly signify Christ who is glorified in them. They make manifest the cloud of witnesses … to whom we are united, above all in sacramental celebrations.”
Brenda Hopf is a member of Divine Mercy Parish.