“The complete absence of images is incompatible with faith in the Incarnation of God”
June 27th, 2008 by Menachem Wecker
“God has acted in history and entered into our sensible world, so that it may become transparent to him. Images of beauty, in which the mystery of the invisible God become visible, are an essential part of Christian worship. There will always be ups and downs in the history of iconography, upsurge and decline, and therefore periods when images are somewhat sparse. But they can never be totally lacking. Iconoclasm is not a Christian option.”
Thus, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger in Spirit of the Liturgy (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2000), pp. 131-132. Quoted on The Charcoal Fire.