The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-06-20
Sacred Pictures and Engravings.

~.
| Oar attention has been called to great
abuse existing to q considerable extent In
this city in the character of engrayings and
pictures palmed off upon pious people as
genuine. 1t is true that representations
and images can be very proiitably used as
a medium of information and as an incen-
tive to piety, but it is equally true that
they can be made to subserve the ends OF
error and perversion.
picture is book. 1t may embody
history or sermon. How touching the
sanctity of sorrow thrown by the masters
into the expression of Mater Doiorosa!
What humiliation of our pride in the
painted whips, rags, stripes ard bruises of
the Cruciixion The history of that awful
day may be better learned by studying the
little engravings that form the fourteen
stations of the cross, hung on any of our
church walls, than by hearing the most elo-
quent description or reading the most elab-
crate detail of those direful events.
But all these lessons taught ought to be
good, and all these histories impaired
ought to be truthful just as much SO as
though it were all written in book. AS
all religious books must receive the appro-
baton of the spiritual authorities, SO all
images intended to illustrate the same sub
ieets ought to have ecclesiastical endorse
ment, at least by implication. They ought
to come from Il locality where there are no
spurious articles of that kind, or, if pub
lished in this country, issue from an estab.
lishment. which is in good standing with
the authorities, or is at least under Catholic
control.
The articles to which our attention has
been called, besides being miserable col
ored prints, have no sanction of any kind,
but on the contrary are issued, as We are
told. by Protestant houses for mere pur-
poses of speculation. You find saint
with features and complexion indicating a
very free use of wine and other good
things, in the net of performing some fabu-
lous miracle which no authentic account
ascribes to him. You find the Blessed Vir-
gin herself carried away in II fainting fit
from the foot of the crosby Il lot of rough
men. Ths~may be a,/standard Protestant
notion of true sentiment in her case, but
does not comport either with history or
with propriety.% You find our Blessed Sa-
viour and his Holy Mother represented
with COARSE, repulsive features, calculated
to arouse in the spectator any other emo
ton than one of sympathy.
1t can hardly be believed to what extent
these miserable daubs are circulated in
this city by imposing on the simple piety
of the uniettered. We are told that there
are regular depots for them in every Dis
trict, and an active gang of drummers busy
soliciting purchasers. The prices some
times paid even by very poor persons, are
exhorbitant.
J 1t certainly shoyva mosf -'e''''--~-'7"'-'~
disposition on the part of the faithful to
sanctify their homes with representations
of sacred persons and events; but they
ought to be sure of their genuineness. AS
| they would not, in buying Bible, take the
garbled edition of King James, or have re-
course to the works of Calvin or Luther for
| spiritual reading, so let them be equally on
their guard against Protestant publications
in the shape of pictures, where the principles
of art are sacrificed equally with the truth
of history and the precepts of morality.