The Word of God and images

Abstract

The early Christians showed indifference and underestimated arts in general, and particularly of the holy images. In spite of this, the early Christians communities dealt with plastic arts according to an essential catechetical intention. The principal scope was the essence of the kérygma and Christian initiation according to the Lent and Easter liturgy. However the lack of a solid formation of the people, because they confused the new evaluation of the image with the traditional cult to the idols, all things slowly changed with the Edict of Milan and the enthronement of Christianity as the official religion, although some groups did not leave its intransigent position. Thus from the feeling of rejection of the early times you come to see in the plastic arts a precious help for the mission. The second Vatican Council when addressing the artists call them valuable allies of the Church from its beginnings.