Communion of Saints

Catholic homes are frequently adorned with statues or pictures of the saints.  Saints are both the Christians of our own day as well as those faithful Christians who have gone to heaven.  As Catholics, we have a tradition of acknowledging holy men and women of our past who we believe are in heaven.  The Church, over the course of time, has formalized a process of honoring the saints through the what is called Canonization.  When a Catholic is Canonized the entire Church then honors or "venerates" them.  This is not worship as some people erroneously believe.  Worship is for God alone.  Veneration is simply "to honor".  The confusion with worship versus honor leads other Christians to be suspicious of the Catholic view of saints.  There is really nothing to fear.

When I ask a friend to pray for me we are joining together in Spirit for each other.  Catholics believe that those who are in heaven continue to pray and intercede for us on Earth.  We cannot be truly separated from them since we are all THE BODY of CHRIST.  We are together in Christ.  We believe that they can know what our needs are through Christ. To Catholics, asking a saint in heaven to intercede and pray for us is the same as asking a person on earth to pray for us.  Those in heaven are even MORE ALIVE then we are!!!

Patron saints are particular people with whom we feel a special bond.  Mary, the Mother of God, is the most holy of all saints.  She is the mother of Jesus and of the Church.  The particular patron saints of our home include St. Joseph, St. Anne (the mother of Mary), St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Thomas Aquinus.  My oldest son has a particular devotion to St. Francis of Asisi.  I have a particular devotion to Blessed John Paul II.  I believe he "prayed" me back into the church.  I ask him to continue to watch over my family; particularly my sons.   When I notice the statues or pictures of the saints around my home it is the same as if it were a photo of a family member.  They are my family "IN CHRIST."  The items are not idols, but more like "family photos."

The Tradition of Hanging crucifixes in our homes

The altar of the New Covenant is the Lord's Cross, from which the sacraments of the Paschal mystery flow. On the altar, which is the center of the church, the sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs. The altar is also the table of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited. In certain Eastern liturgies, the altar is also the symbol of the tomb (Christ truly died and is truly risen).

- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1182

Christian tradition has long incorporated the use of the cross and, more specifically, the crucifix, in our worship.  Veneration of the cross occurred as early as the 5th century.  The earliest Christians did not use the cross as a symbol of the faith so as not to cause scandal to the weak and to also avoid the ridicule of the cross by non-believers.  When I contemplate the cross, which to Pagans was simply a means of corporal punishment (death penalty), it is easier to understand how shocking it would have been to use the cross as a symbol of Christ.  In the time of crucifixion, the cross would have evoked similar feelings in us as we feel when we see a noose or the electric chair. 

With the passage of time and a lack of experience with crucifixion, the symbol took on it's true Christian meaning (see catechism quote). 

Today, Catholics use the crucifix in the home for various reasons.

1.  The crucifix over our doors represents the blood of the lamb (Jesus) who saves us.  In the time of Moses, the Hebrews were told to cover their door posts with the blood of the Passover lamb and the angel of death would pass over their homes.  By doing this they were saved by the blood of the Passover lamb.  We Christians have been saved by the blood of Christ and our crucifix symbolizes this same "covering in the blood."

2.  The crucifix is the blessing we give each of our guests as they enter our homes.  They are invited into the covenant of our Lord.  The blood of Christ was shed for all and we invite them to call this to mind.

3.  The crucifix is also a symbol of protection so that evil understands that God covers this home with His protection.  We must stay vigilant to the evils that are out in the world.  The crucifix throughout our home reminds us to protect our home by making sure that everything that enters our home is "of the Lord."

4.  Hanging crucifixes over the beds of children also helps remind them of the protection of Jesus while they sleep. 

I enjoy having crosses throughout the home.  Many friends of mine have an entire wall of crosses in their homes.

Welcome to Catholic Home Decor

THE DOMESTIC CHURCH

After searching for a similar site on-line without success, I decided to start my own blog for Catholics with emphesis on home decorating.  I have a great interest in encouraging the use of decor as a way to express our Catholic Faith.  This was a lost tradition during my childhood but I see a great renewal among my friends.

Catholics have a long tradition of filling their homes with spiritual art and inspiring items.  This serves several purposes:

1.  Catholics believe in sacramentals which are items that remind us of the invisible spiritual reality all around us.  These items "call to mind" what our human nature might tend to forget.  These constant reminders help to renew our faith daily.
2.  Catholics believe that there is a cloud of witnesses with whom we are joined in the Body of Christ.  We are a family. We want images of family members in our homes.  We pray with them each day.  By having images of them in our homes, we are reminded of their spiritual presence. 
3.  Catholics have a long history of beautiful art expressing the richness of the faith.  These include, but are not limited to, masterpieces by famous artists in history as well as unknown artists.
4.  Finally, Catholic art and decorative items teach the faith.  They represent eternal truths.  The faith is not only transmitted by word (written and spoken) but by physical items (statues, crosses, crucifixes, rosaries, paintings, and glass).