Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com		 What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration		 Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
back
The Sacraments
Relationships and Marriage situations
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
Specific Practices
Church Internals
Church History

John Frost wrote:

Hi, guys —

First, I would like to tell all of you how helpful your website has been in my conversion!

I have a stumbling block. I have gotten over any deep intellectual concerns (salvation, the papacy, the Eucharist, etc.) however, I have a pretty major concern that is less "intellectual":

The statue in the Pope Pius the VI Hall in Rome at the Vatican.

My friend showed me a photo, outlining that in the statue under Christ it looks "just" like that demon (that starts with a "B? Bapho" something).

In the past, I have always overlooked these types of arguments but in this one the Hall looks like a serpent, mostly due to the camera angle but I’m having trouble with this one.  

  • Can you guys help me out?

Best regards,

John Frost
  { Can you help me understand the statue in the Pope Pius the VI Hall, in Rome, at the Vatican? }

Paul replied:

Dear John,

The first thing to consider is that demons have no bodies and are not made of matter. They are fallen angels that:

  1. are pure spirit
  2. take up no space, and
  3. are completely invisible.

Therefore, any claim that something looks like a demon is really an assertion that an object looks like some artist's imaginative rendition of a demon. 

Secondly, modern art, which has even found its way into the Church (for better or worse), is often intended to be interpreted in many ways. I wouldn't take seriously any claim that something looks like a demon or a serpent. These declarations are often made by people looking for these kinds of things because of an internal bias with which they begin. In this case, it may be an irrational anti-Catholic bias.

Jesus is infinitely more powerful than all demons and demonic activity. Stay close to Him and His Church and you will be protected.

Peace,

Paul
[Related posting]
Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.