Secret Symbols Of Catholicism Carved In Furniture

[Breakfastbar]

Hi there,

I hope that I have posted my question in the correct section, if not I apologize.
Whilst doing some local history research here in England I was shown an intricately carved, antique wooden fire surround. Several of the carved designs appeared at first glance to be identical but on closer inspection revealed subtle differences. I was informed by the owner that, during the Reformation, such carvings were a secret indication to fellow Catholics that this was a Catholic house.
Could anyone inform me if this is true and if so where may I discover more information?
Thank you.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I have no idea about this particular thing, but it seems entirely reasonable.

 

[Avila123]

Yes it is true. Some houses had black pictures where they covered a religious painting with black paint. When it was safe, some families removed the black paint so that the original picture could be seen. Other people left a border of flowers on the outside of the black paint.

Other houses had priest holes (a small space that barely fits one person) to hide priests when their house was raided, wardrobes and other furniture could be unfolded or opened to reveal small tabernacles, altars, statues etc. Once such house in the UK is Mapledurham (I visited it a couple of years ago, it is awesome to think of the risks they took). Here is a link: archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/17th-june-2011/9/a-house-of-mysteries.

Or how about hiding a whole church in your house? There is just such a church in Amsterdam, it is amazing, the pulpit was hidden in a decorative support column and every piece of the altar could be folded away and the congregation could grab some musical instruments and start dancing before the raiders got to them. See: sacred-destinations.com/netherlands/amsterdam-museum-amstelkring-hidden-church

I am sure that many other CAF members know of other methods used to preserve the faith during times of persecution.

 

[JRTJ]

Yes it is true. Some houses had black pictures where they covered a religious painting with black paint. When it was safe, some families removed the black paint so that the original picture could be seen. Other people left a border of flowers on the outside of the black paint.

Other houses had priest holes (a small space that barely fits one person) to hide priests when their house was raided, wardrobes and other furniture could be unfolded or opened to reveal small tabernacles, altars, statues etc. Once such house in the UK is Mapledurham (I visited it a couple of years ago, it is awesome to think of the risks they took). Here is a link: archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/17th-june-2011/9/a-house-of-mysteries.

Or how about hiding a whole church in your house? There is just such a church in Amsterdam, it is amazing, the pulpit was hidden in a decorative support column and every piece of the altar could be folded away and the congregation could grab some musical instruments and start dancing before the raiders got to them. See: sacred-destinations.com/netherlands/amsterdam-museum-amstelkring-hidden-church

Brilliant - I was unaware all this. Very interesting but hardly surprising given the persecution our Catholic brethren were facing at the time.

I am sure that many other CAF members know of other methods used to preserve the faith during times of persecution.

 

[John_Lazarus]

There is just such a church in Amsterdam, it is amazing, the pulpit was hidden in a decorative support column and every piece of the altar could be folded away and the congregation could grab some musical instruments and start dancing before the raiders got to them.

So that means…

…guitars, drums, liturgical dancers etc are not liturgical abuses! :newidea: They’re just commemorating the persecutions! And when the persecutors leave, they’ll stop dancing and put away the guitars and turn the altar around and it’ll turn into an EF Mass!!

Now I get it! I feel so much better now!

 

[Avila123]

So that means…

…guitars, drums, liturgical dancers etc are not liturgical abuses! :newidea: They’re just commemorating the persecutions! And when the persecutors leave, they’ll stop dancing and put away the guitars and turn the altar around and it’ll turn into an EF Mass!!

Now I get it! I feel so much better now!

New and novel way of fitting it all in I can’t remember clearly but I think there was an organ which folded away.

 

[Symphorian]

Although this video doesn’t answer your question, you may be interested to watch it none the less.

It features Jan Graffius, Curator of Collections at Stoneyhurst College, a Catholic college in Lancashire, England which has a large collection of vestments, plate and relics etc.

youtube.com/watch?v=FclZHnGIBZM