ABSTRACT
I believed for years that Catholics either omitted altogether, or garbled, or altered, the Second Commandment, which was a standing protest against the “worship of images.” The simple fact is, that Catholics regard the second commandment as an extension of the first, and print it as such; and divide the tenth. But as to this very “worship” of images, as the Protestants call it, it is no more “worship” than my feeling towards my husband is worship. I have his picture in my room; I wear it on my breast; I love to keep up the remembrance of his presence in every way. And in the same manner, and with the same feeling, I wear a crucifix, hidden from all eyes like his picture. I love to have one in my room to help me to realize the wonderful mystery of His suffering and His love; to have before me the representation and image of Him “who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows,” [Isaiah 5:4] and who has been ever since my widowhood the only one who could fill up the aching void in my heart.
