The Catholic statues represent an essential element in the church. Since ancient times they have been used in places of worship for their symbolic value, becoming a reference point for faith. Their perfect shapes represent a link between earthly and spiritual life, transmitting a deep sense of protection.
It is precise to the Catholic statutes that we turn to when we seek comfort and intercession from the Lord Jesus.
The sacred Catholic statues that cannot be missing
Among the most representative Catholic statues, we find the statue of Jesus and the statue of Madonna. These are carried out by referring to the various religious events: Death, Resurrection, Pietà, and so on. Next to this typology, we find the statues of the angels and the saints. Among the most requested are the statues of Padre Pio and the Catholic statues of Sant’Antonio. And the statues of San Francesco are certainly not the only ones. Each church must have the statue of the saint to which it is dedicated and other models based on the devotion of the community in which it is located.
The finishes
A distinctive feature of the statues concerns the finish. They can be made of bronze, porcelain or marble powder, wood, fiberglass, or resin. Each company specializes in processing particular materials, thus offering an excellent result.
Usually, the bronze statues are of small or medium size and can represent very different subjects. Bronze is an ideal material when you want to enhance shapes and achieve a realistic effect. So, thanks to its brilliance, it allows you to play with the light-shadow impact thanks to the small carvings. Therefore, Catholic statues can achieve a highly accurate level of detail. This material is used in numerous craft sectors thanks to its versatility. Indeed, these are real works of art, unique pieces, and the result of careful manual work.
Fiberglass is a material with a thousand properties, suitable for making large sculptures. The fiberglass Catholic statues are particularly resistant thanks to a high thickness that absorbs shocks. Indeed, wood is a material characterized by imperfections, knots, and roots that can constrain its processing. Depending on the size of the wooden statue, it will be necessary to choose a different type of wood to ensure the quality and strength of the statue. We find European walnut, boxwood, chestnut, linden, and Swiss pine among the most used woods.
Representation of the best Catholic statues
Source: marianland.com
Catholic statues under attack in the United States
Also, over the past year, several Catholic churches in the United States reported vandalizing and damaging Catholic statues. These are the most recent episodes of a series that has been running for weeks.
At the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Bloomingburg, New York, a monument to unborn children was torn down on the weekend of July 18. The work consisted of the image of a baby lying on a pair of hands. Verses from Isaiah 49,16 accompanied us.
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According to aleteia.org, from Italy to Florida and the Philippines, the oceans are home to some of the most extraordinary Catholic statues in the world.
For centuries, Catholics have used statues and art, in general, to share their faith and pay homage to the Holy Family of God. While most of us are used to seeing Catholic statues in churches or shrines, few know. That some monuments in honor of Christ or the Virgin are found underwater. From the Christ of the Abyss of Florida to the Italian namesake, here are four extraordinary Catholic statues:
1. Christ of the Abyss, Italy
This bronze statue, almost two and a half meters high, was placed in the sea in San Fruttuoso in 1954. Guido Galletti sculpted it to honor the memory of Dario Gonzatti, a Catholic diver who died there in 1947. It shows Christ with his arms outstretched towards heaven while offering a blessing of peace.
2. Christ of the Abyss, Florida, United States
A copy of the Italian Christ of the Abyss was placed underwater in 1965 in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. In Key Largo, as a gift to the Underwater Society of America from diving equipment manufacturer Egidio Cressi. Diving enthusiasts can easily admire the top of the statue, located 3 meters below the surface.
3. Virgin Mary of Duka Bay, Philippines
In January 2017, a statue of the Virgin Mary was placed 15 meters below the water level in Duka Bay (Medina, Misamis Orientale, Philippines). The local archdiocese supported the operations. Here is a video of the location of the statue.
4. Underground Catholic statues of Mary and Jesus, Bohol, Philippines
Also, visitors to Bohol Island in the Philippines will find Catholic Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus statues of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus in the coral reef. Both are 4 meters high and were placed there in 2010. Ask for God’s protection against illegal fishing, which helps kill the fish and precious coral. On which the entire local marine ecosystem depends. Here is a video of the underground shrine:
Conclusion
According to the destination of the statue, it is essential to choose a suitable material. You can opt for stone or resin Catholic statues, which are highly resistant thanks to the peculiarities of the material. Once, the most popular materials were marble and stone. This type of statue is still among the most chosen today, but we also see models with more modern materials such as marble dust, wood, concrete, or even fiberglass.
As you can easily guess, when choosing Catholic statues to furnish outdoor environments, it is necessary to identify those more resistant materials. It is best to avoid wooden statues that would spoil in a short time underwater and sun and opt for resin or stone.
When choosing a statue for the interior, we can range from the numerous models available and leave free space for attention to detail. Are you looking for a sacred Catholic statue for your parish? On Amazon, you will find many models made of different materials and handmade by other companies.
