What is the difference between worship and veneration?

4 min

Awaiting theological review

The simple answer

Worship — also called adoration — belongs to God alone: it recognises him as Creator and Lord of everything. Veneration is honour given to someone because of what God did in them, the way you honour a parent or a hero. Catholics adore God, and venerate Mary, the saints, relics and sacred images.

In the Bible

Scripture

God forbids his people to have other gods or to adore idols.

Exodus 20:2–5

Scripture

Jesus answers the tempter: the Lord your God you shall adore, and him only shall you serve.

Matthew 4:10

Scripture

When John falls down before an angel, the angel stops him: worship God.

Revelation 22:8–9

Scripture

Yet God himself commands images of cherubim for the Ark — images are not forbidden as such.

Exodus 25:18–20

Where it comes from

Church teaching

The Second Council of Nicaea (787), against those who destroyed icons, distinguished true adoration, owed to God alone, from the honour given to sacred images.

Second Council of Nicaea (on sacred images)

Tradition

Theologians later used three words: latria (adoration, for God), dulia (veneration of saints) and hyperdulia (the special honour given to Mary).

What the Church teaches

Catechism

Adoration is due to God alone.

CCC 2096–2097

Catechism

The honour paid to sacred images is a respectful veneration, not adoration: it passes to the person the image represents.

CCC 2132

Catechism

Devotion to Mary differs essentially from the adoration given to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

CCC 971

A common misunderstanding

Kneeling before a statue means worshipping it.

In fact

Gestures can look alike — people kneel to propose marriage, too. What matters is what is meant: honour for the person represented, never adoration of an object.