sculpture, statues + Michelangelo's pieta

Question 1

why do catholics have statues of Jesus?

Answer 1

to honour and preserve his memory

Question 2

preserve

Answer 2

protect

Question 3

what is the statue something to focus on?

Answer 3

when praying so that the mind can truly connect to god

Question 4

what does the statue do as catholics do not pray to the statue?

Answer 4

helps to focus the mind and the prayer on Jesus

Question 5

what do the statues of Jesus remind catholics of?

Answer 5

the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus when they pray in church

Question 6

how does the statues of Jesus help catholics?

Answer 6

to connect with and appreciate the great sacrifice that Jesus made for the world

Question 7

what can the statues of Jesus act as?

Answer 7

inspiration and strength for catholics during hard times so that when they pray, they can draw strength and comfort knowing that they are in the presence of Jesus

Question 8

what are the statues of the Virgin Mary and the saints used to remind?

Answer 8

of lives those people lived

Question 9

how does the statues of the Virgin Mary and the saints help catholics?

Answer 9

to feel close to the saints
or to give strength when they are suffering

Question 10

why do catholics believe that the saints prayers are particularly effective?

Answer 10

since saints led holy lives and are close to god in heaven
this means that often, we ask particular saints to pray for us if we feel they have particular interest in our problem

Question 11

why do many people ask saint Monica to pray for them?

Answer 11

when they have trouble with unanswered prayers
prayed for 20 years for her son to be comforted and her prayers were finally answered in a way she never dreamed of - her son, Augustine became a saint and a doctor of the church

Question 12

who is saint Monica?

Answer 12

the mother of st Augustine

Question 13

why do many catholics use statues of the Virgin Mary?

Answer 13

to make them feel less alone if they are suffering

Question 14

what is Mary a perfect example of?

Answer 14

a mother who suffered as she had to watch the death of her own son

Question 15

why is Mary a role model for catholics?

Answer 15

she was a willing and obedient servant of god
she was willing to put the needs of others ahead of her own
so statues of Mary can inspire people to follow her example

Question 16

why do catholics use sculpture and statues?

Answer 16

to express what they believe about god’s goodness

Question 17

what do the sculptures and statues give a glimpse of?

Answer 17

god reaching out to his creation in order to try and hep or save

Question 18

what does the statues of Jesus on the cross highlight?

Answer 18

the incarnation where god became man in Jesus
was willing to sacrifice his life for others

Question 19

why do Orthodox Jews reject catholic beliefs regarding statues?

Answer 19

the torah makes it clear that jews should not create or worship idols

Question 20

what would Orthodox Jews class statues as?

Answer 20

being examples of idols as the 2nd commandment that was given to Moses on mount sinai states “do not worship idols”

Question 21

what belief does statues challenge jews?

Answer 21

monotheism that was introduced to Abraham

Question 22

who was Abraham?

Answer 22

the patriarch or founding father of judaism

Question 23

where is the monotheism belief reinforced?

Answer 23

in their daily prayer, the shema

Question 24

what is the difference between catholic churches and synagogues?

Answer 24

synagogues have no statues on show
only symbols in the synagogue are the ark of the covenant and the eternal light

Question 25

what is the jewish term of the ark of the covenant

Answer 25

Aron Kodesh

Question 26

what is the jewish term for eternal light?

Answer 26

Ner Tamid

Question 27

what will protestant churches ensure that their buildings are?

Answer 27

plain and simple

Question 28

why do protestant church only have a simple cross?

Answer 28

argue that statues breaks the 2nd commandment an that they are too distracting
concerned that ppl will start to worship and idolise the statue rather than focusing their attention on god

Question 29

what are the protestant churches concerned?

Answer 29

concerned that ppl will start to worship and idolise the statue rather than focusing their attention on god

Question 30

what can statues be used to help catholics?

Answer 30

reflect on the meaning of suffering

Question 31

what is one of the most famous sculptures to show catholic beliefs?

Answer 31

Michelangelo’s Pieta

Question 32

what does the word ‘pieta’ mean?

Answer 32

in latin, for holiness

Question 33

what does the sculpture represent?

Answer 33

sculpture represents the suffering of both Jesus and Mary

Question 34

what can the statue help?

Answer 34

focus on their prayers on god when they too are suffering

Question 35

how old was Michelangelo when he created his sculpture?

Answer 35

24

Question 36

how did he carved the pieta?

Answer 36

from one large block of marble

Question 37

how did he describe the object to carve the pieta?

Answer 37

“the most perfect block of marble he had ever used”

Question 38

what does the pieta represent?

Answer 38

the important catholic beliefs

Question 39

pieta
1. what does Mary not directly touch?
2. what is Mary’s right arm doing?
3. what does that symbolise?

Answer 39

1. does not directly touch the body of her son, Jesus
2. her right arm gently caresses his flesh through a cloth
3. the sacredness of his suffering and the sacredness of his body

Question 40

pieta
1. what was the shadow created by?
2. what does the wound reveal?

Answer 40

1. the fold in her garment and is said to present a wound
2. the pain and suffering that Mary is feeling

Question 41

pieta
1. what does Mary’s hand which is open symbolise?
2. what does this show about her?

Answer 41

1. that she accepts the suffering that Jesus has went through
2. that Mary who is although sad is aware of god’s plan for Jesus

Question 42

pieta
1. what does Jesus in Mary;s arm symbolise?
2. what emphasise on this?
3. why can catholics use this aspect to focus on?

Answer 42

1. a mother holding her child
2. Mary is much larger than Jesus
3. focus their prayers when they are suffering