Q: Father, I have a question on the use of sacred art in a church setting. We are assisting in the design of a small oratory at a Catholic school. In discussing what sacred art to install, we were advised that only one image of a saint can be used in that space. I then found #318 of the GIRM to support that: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-5.
I am writing you to understand the history and intention behind this section more clearly. Does the sentence that the holy space should contain only one image of a saint apply to the Holy Family as well as any and all other saints (and angels)? I know there are plenty of depictions of Jesus, Mary and angels in churches in various different art forms….but I am trying to understand this section better. Thank you!
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A: That paragraph has been in the missal ever since the reforms in 1969. The third edition included the phrases that explain the principle: “so arranged so as to lead the faithful toward the mysteries of faith celebrated there.” It also added the final words that provision should be made “for the beauty and dignity of the images.”
Prior to the conciliar reforms, the proliferation of statues and other images made some churches resemble spaces for private devotion rather than common worship around the altar for the celebration of Mass.
Just to be clear, GIRM 318 requests one image per saint—not one image per oratory. However, you decorate it, if Mass is to be celebrated there, then people’s attention should go immediately to the altar, not to images.