Why do Catholics have statues of Mary and the saints?

Catholics use statues of Mary and the saints as visual aids for prayer and devotion, not as objects of worship. These images honor holy men and women and help the faithful fix their minds on heavenly realities, a practice rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and the Church's consistent teaching against both idol-worship and iconoclasm.

Statues as a School of Faith

Far from being a pagan holdover, Catholic sacred art is a fruit of the Incarnation — the great truth that matter can bear the presence of God and be sanctified for his glory.