Catholic icons are religious images used in the Catholic Church as a form of veneration and prayer. They are often used to represent Jesus, Mary, and the saints, and may also depict scenes from the Bible. Icons are considered an essential part of the church and are given special liturgical veneration. They serve as mediums of instruction for the uneducated faithful through the iconostasis, a screen shielding the altar, covered with icons depicting scenes from the New Testament, church feasts, and popular saints.