Random Home Decor for Catholics

Moving Catholic Decor Around the Home to create A War Room

Over the years I find that the need to redecorate is as natural as cleaning the home.  New inspiration can come from various sources.  I stored the more kitschy items that were purchased for the children when they were young.  Then I watched the movie The War Room.  Suddenly, I felt the urge to create my own Prayer Room and what is more natural for a Catholic, then to fill the room with Catholic items to help focus me on God and the saints.  The closet of choice is actually our study closet where we store our tax papers, photo albums and home papers.  A perfect place for the heart of the home.

St. Clare Monastery in Houston Texas

Last fall I was invited to help support a local monastery. St. Clare Monastery is a house for the Brothers and Sisters of Charity founded by John Michael Talbot.  It is a wonderful group of married, single, and families living a monastic life.  The Houston House, St. Clare's, hosts a breakfast and auction to help with the support of the community.  The following are a few photos of the table decor at this event.  The volunteers host a table and decorate with a Catholic theme.  It was an enjoyable time.  My mother and I gathered our Catholic decor and completed a Marian table.  We actually won the first prize for table decor.  The gift for winning was to share the St. Clare statue for one year with the members at our table.  Each lady has shared the large and beautiful statue in their home for devotion.

http://littleportion.org/founder

http://bscdomestic.org/st-clare-monastery

A Few Devotional Pieces over time

A HOUSE THAT HAS A LIBRARY IN IT HAS A SOUL. ----Plato

I can't believe it never occurred to me before to blog about Books!!! I have been in love with books from earliest memory. 
             I love the feel and scent of a richly bound book.
             I love the gold leaf of a revered tome.
             I love how thick paper crackles as the pages turn.
             I love the musty smell of an old book. 
             I love a well-worn volume of a much loved and much read book. 
             I love opening a new book for the first time to hear the binding crack.
             I love the emotional high that comes from a good work of fiction.
             I love the intellectual stimulation of a great writer, especially Catholic
                   writers.
             I love choosing Catholic writers from different periods of time and different
                   countries.  I love  Belloc, Chesterton, Sheen, Sheed and Ward, Hahn......
                   the list becomes too long to name.  I'm going to add Lewis even though
                   he wasn't in the Church because he just is so catholic!
             I love cheap paperbacks, used book stores, blockbuster book stores,
                   electronic books......
             I love DECORATING with books.
             I wish I could write a book.....just one good book.

Most of the books in my home now are Catholic in subject.  This was not always the case.  I spent much of the first 30 years of my life reading only fiction unless required reading in school.  Mainly that was because I was in school until the age of 30 and there was such a load of required informational reading that I escaped into fiction whenever possible.  Once out of college, however, I found a great love of history, philosophy, and finally theology.  The last few years have been focused on the study of scripture, Aquinas, and Augustine.

My books are collected in a large bookcase upstairs and this bookcase is in a small alcove with a desk and very comfortable chair.  I rarely read there, however, as my books are frequently scattered about the home.  I often read several books at once and they might end up on my night table or the end table in the family room.  My husband is often concerned about the number of books that are delivered to our door and he is completely unaware of those books delivered to my Kindle!!!  I have books I haven't read yet but own for my future.  I often fanaticize about my retirement from work when I will have hours to spend reading and "taking notes."  This issue of taking notes only recently developed after engaging in a very challenging women's Bible study.  Our fearless leader, Lyn has developed her own curriculum through the study of many different source books.  Her masters degree in theology also provides us with an excellent Catholic framework for our study of the Old Testament.   I have been a member of this study for six years.  We often joke that we hope we reach the New Testament before we are too old to study.

My profession is psychology and I must confess owning many volumes about psychology but my Catholic book collection has now surpassed my number of professional books.  I consider my Catholic collection to be an invaluable help to my practice however and some of the best sources for understanding objective truth and human nature.

 

Remodel of home "after the flood"

Our home recently went through quite a bit of cosmetic remodeling after some water damage from and "accident."  Our son forgot to turn off the bathtub water and it ran for several hours, flooding most of the upstairs and downstairs of our house.  All is well now, but our summer was spent packing everything, moving furniture and replacing flooring, wallpaper, and paint.  Lighting was replaced and walls and baseboards were repaired. 

This did give me a wonderful opportunity to organize closets and redecorate with what we already owned.  One of my favorite changes is gathering many of my Catholic pieces and making our entryway a Catholic collage.  We have lived in our home over 13 years and I never knew what to place on this curved wall.   You can't help but know how we feel about God when you walk in the front door. 

Mary: The Mother of God and the Mother of the Church

"Jesus' mother stood near his cross. His mother's sister was also standing there with Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Jesus saw his mother. He also saw the follower that he loved very much standing there. He said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son." Then Jesus said to the follower, "Here is your mother." So after that, this follower took Jesus' mother to live in his home."----John 19:25-27

Mary is the most important saint in the entire Church.  She holds that most special place because God chose her above all others, and prepared her to be the mother of Jesus, the Incarnation.  She is also our mother and continues to intercede for us in heaven just as she supported and helped Jesus in his ministry and also his followers after his death.  Jesus himself declared that Mary was to be our mother and we were to be her sons and daughters (see scripture above).  Our parish recently held an appreciation dinner for the volunteers of our children's catechism programs.  It was fitting that we had images of our Mother there to "image" the way we are family.  We are the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus.  He shares his mother with us.  Many people are concerned that Catholics give Mary more importance than we should.  Mary herself, in scripture, prophesied that all would call her blessed (Luke 1:46-55, Mary's Magnificat) because of her exalted position God gave to her.  How can we do any less than honor her? 

Mary is such a prominent figure in most of our homes that it was easy to decorate for this party.  Each table was decorated with a statue of the Blessed Mary as well as framed pictures and holy candles.  Volunteers offered their home decor for the night.

The world map demonstrates how we, The Church, are scattered throughout the world.  Our parish is very multi-cultural.  Mary, through apparitions, has visited many of the faithful throughout the world, She always with the same message; pray and listen to her Son.  Mary ALWAYS points us to JESUS. 

Pastor Father Paul Lockey, Ph.D., and Sister Mary Catherine

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Houston, Texas

2012

Sometimes our home decor can be shared with others.  This was a very special time when several families joined together and were able to share the love of Catholic home decorating with their entire family parish.  I hope everyone can enjoy the beauty.  My fondest hope is that it inspires faith in God and the family relationship he invites us into.