Here is the eighth in the series of short videos by Denis McNamara, Professor on the faculty of the Liturgical Institute, Mundelein; his book is Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy.
This is the second video within the series that focuses on sacred images; in it he argues for a restoration of sacred images in churches which respects a hierarchy of imagery. Describing first the reasons for the iconoclasm of the period after Vatican II, (with more charity towards those responsible than I could muster), he then indicates some principles by which we can restore imagery in such a way as to not simply repeat the problems that existed before the Council. This means giving the altar greatest prominence, followed by authentically liturgical art, art that depicts the heavenly liturgy in a form that is appropriate to its high purpose. He acknowledges that there is a place for devotional images in church, provided they do not distract from the liturgical function.
