The temptation to worship so-called idols

Along my spiritual journey, I also learned to differentiate between idols and religious objects that I can kiss, and before which I can bow and kneel in prayer. A first temptation I had in this regard was when I started turning all the icons in the house face down. This temptation was very strong at first, and generally came about because of watching several videos of some sects, which considered icons and holy objects to be idols. It took me some time to realize that no, the icon is not an idol, but like a photograph, it is a tool with which you can get closer to the person who is painted in it, such as the Savior, the Mother of God, and the saints.

Then, having escaped this first temptation, and having begun to put the icons back in their place around the house, I was tempted by another temptation, namely that of not kissing or worshiping the people in the icons (especially the Mother of God and the saints), the relics of saints, or other holy objects, such as the Holy Cross or the Holy Gospel.

How did the Lord help me escape this temptation?

One day, while in my hometown, I decided to go and worship in one of the churches in the city. Arriving there and finding myself alone in the church, I decided, after long internal struggles, to approach the icons in front of the Holy Altar and kiss one of them. As soon as I kissed the icon, I felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit, which is characterized by shivers running down my entire back and which comes with great joy and spiritual pleasure.

Since then I have understood that it is not a sin to pray before icons, relics or other holy objects, or to kiss them, as long as you relate to the person who is painted there, and not to the object itself, or to the material from which it is made. At the same time, going through these temptations I have learned that it is completely okay to pray to the Mother of God and all the saints, for they are nothing but intercessors sanctified by God, who intercede ceaselessly for us before the throne of God.

May God help us!

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