The Domestic Church

[Metaron]

As an Anglican, we was encouraged to display religious imagery and religious artifacts in our households as reminders of our faith, and as a witness to others. Many Roman Catholic and Anglican Catholic households, I assume, have religious imagery and a domestic altar, usually to the Sacred Heart. But in my Catholic friend’s very nice and large house… there was absolutely no religious imagery whatsoever. This kind of surprised me, since I was told, as a Catholic in RCIA, that our homes should have crucifixes above every bed, and a large crucifix in the family room or dining room, as well as a holy water font at the front door. I was wondering; is not this the standard practice of a Catholic home, that sets it apart from other houses? I even have a Mary statue in my yard by the walkway, and a crucifix in every room, as well as a home altar.

 

[lak611]

I live by myself in an apartment. I have a crucifix in my bedroom. When I was growing up, my parents had two crucifixes, one in their bedroom and one in mine (I’m an only child). Other than that, the Nativity set at Christmas time was the only other religious imagery in my parents’ house.

 

[blessedtoo]

This kind of surprised me, since I was told, as a Catholic in RCIA, that our homes should have crucifixes above every bed, and a large crucifix in the family room or dining room, as well as a holy water font at the front door. I was wondering; is not this the standard practice of a Catholic home, that sets it apart from other houses? I even have a Mary statue in my yard by the walkway, and a crucifix in every room, as well as a home altar.

Wow! You must have had an awesome RCIA instructor!

Back in the old days (50’s and 60"s) it was standard for a Catholic home to have the crucifix prominantly displayed. In my large Italian Catholic family, all the aunts and uncles had Mary statues on their front lawns. In my home, there was a crucifix in every room, a picture of a very young JPII, a carved wall hanging of the last supper, a fabulous ceramic Sacred Heart bust that I hand painted when I was 13, and of course, palms.

Interestingly, when you watch films from that era or films that depict that era, they always include iconography like this to depict the Catholic home. I would imagine that most practicing Catholics would have, at the very least, a crucifix in the house.

 

[puzzleannie]

I have a crucifix in every room, by the entrances, as well as the bedrooms, no altar, since there is no Mass offered here (a petty distinction) but a shrine with a retablo of OL Guadalupe from Mexico, the “domestic altar” or home shrine as OP calls it is very common here, and almost always includes photos of the deceased members of the family, as well as the religious images and candles etc.

at least 6 icons or Marian images, most of them gifts. one carved Ecce Homo image in my prayer corner, where to me, less is more.

 

[lak611]

Back in the old days (50’s and 60"s) it was standard for a Catholic home to have the crucifix prominantly displayed. In my large Italian Catholic family, all the aunts and uncles had Mary statues on their front lawns. In my home, there was a crucifix in every room, a picture of a very young JPII, a carved wall hanging of the last supper, a fabulous ceramic Sacred Heart bust that I hand painted when I was 13, and of course, palms.

Interestingly, when you watch films from that era or films that depict that era, they always include iconography like this to depict the Catholic home. I would imagine that most practicing Catholics would have, at the very least, a crucifix in the house.

I think it is a cultural thing with certain nationalities as well. My mother knew an Italian lady who had all the things you describe. She was the daughter of immigrants. People who are far removed from ethnic roots have less of a tendency to have all the images that were associated with the culture of their ancestors. Even in terms of which parish one attends, there are differences now. Most parishes are no longer associated with a particular nationality like they were in the past. If one still goes to an ethnic parish and follows the traditions of his nationality, he probably will have more religious imagery in his home.

 

[Linnyo]

I had absolutely no religious imagery in my home whatsoever until recently. We did however have a Bible in every room (we are quite bookish so we have them on our bookshelves). A few weeks ago, we were in the Pauline bookshop and I gave my children a little pocket money. One chose a cross and the other chose a crucifix for their room.

 

[Sr_Sally]

We have always had some, including a crucifix above the front door. Since my family has converted we have slowly added more and more. Our next step is to create a small home shrine, but discussions are still going on about the best place for it.

 

[Metaron]

I have a crucifix in every room, by the entrances, as well as the bedrooms, no altar, since there is no Mass offered here (a petty distinction) but a shrine with a retablo of OL Guadalupe from Mexico, the “domestic altar” or home shrine as OP calls it is very common here, and almost always includes photos of the deceased members of the family, as well as the religious images and candles etc.

at least 6 icons or Marian images, most of them gifts. one carved Ecce Homo image in my prayer corner, where to me, less is more.

Well, I guess a family shrine would be a much better word for it, rather than a “domestic altar” since altars, are, technically for offering the Blessed Sacrament. I have a large crucifix I got in India when on missions work in my Anglican days; it’s flanked on either side of plaques of St.Therese and St.Joseph, my patron, and flower vases and candlesticks, and a nice table-runner. I’m soon to get a Sacred Heart too.

I take care of my grandmother too, she lives with me. She is Protestant, but very open and friendly towards Catholicism, and she thinks having a crucifix in every room is fine. She herself has a cross and the ten commandments in her room.

Yes, my RCIA instructor is an elderly Italian nun, very nice and sweet. She says we should always give outward sign to others of our faith and undying love for the Trinity. We should pray and make the sign of the cross every time we eat, even in restaurants, and also cross ourselves every time we pass a church containing the Blessed Sacrament, such as Roman Catholic, Anglican (with valid orders), Orthodox, or Coptic.

 

[Rawb]

All of this is in my bedroom because I’m the only Catholic in my house.

I have a home shrine, that has a crucifix above it, two candles, a bottle of holy water, my Bible and catechism, a statue of Padre Pio, and a small bag of blessed salt. I change the candles and cloth to match the liturgical season, so they’re purple now. I also have my advent calendar on the shrine right now.

I have a holy water font by door, next to a blessing which is made to look like an illuminated manuscript (it’s in Latin) and above the door is a St. Benedict medal.

Above my bed is another crucifix and on a shelf above my bed is a statue of Jesus showing His Sacred Heart, two candlesticks, a white cloth, some devotional books and a rosary. Behind and to the right of Jesus is a statue of St. Joseph.

On my desk right now is my Advent Wreath and my Nativity scene, with Mary, Joseph, and the Angel at one end and the wise men at the other. They’re slowly getting to the creche.

Finally there’s a large statue of St. Christopher on the floor by a bookshelf.

I believe quite strongly in having visual, physical reminders of my faith…

 

[Meximo]

Now growing up in a Catholic home we had the huge Family Bible and crucifix in the bedrooms above the bed. I had/have this glow in the dark rosary that my grandma gave me.

We are working on the domestic church in our house. We don’t have a crucifix over every door yet. We have our domestic “altar” shrine space in the area between the dining and living area. Right now we moved things around and we have the Nativity set up there below that we have another table with our candles and prayer cards, holy water, and extra rosaries, etc.

Our boys both have a shrine space in their room as well.

 

[Augustine]

We’ve added a few religious images a few years ago, in particular the Merciful Jesus and Our Lady of Graces, to whom I and my wife are devout to. We do have crucifixes around the house, but not in all bedrooms though.

 

[Metaron]

All of this is in my bedroom because I’m the only Catholic in my house.

I have a home shrine, that has a crucifix above it, two candles, a bottle of holy water, my Bible and catechism, a statue of Padre Pio, and a small bag of blessed salt…
Finally there’s a large statue of St. Christopher on the floor by a bookshelf.

I believe quite strongly in having visual, physical reminders of my faith…

This reminds me of when I was a Catholic-leaning Anglican at the ages of 15-17 in my fundamentalist household. I had/have a HUGE 2-foot beautiful crucifix, intricately hand-carved, that I got during a missionary voyage to India. It is very realistic and life-like, probably carved by some local Mar Thoma Catholic Christians. I also had a St. Joseph statue, which, is now in St.Andrew Anglican Church (as a donation; they’re making a separate chapel with St.Joseph and St.Jude on either side od the chapel).

It took a while for me to convince my fundie father to let me keep the crucifix, but, my mom is not anti-Catholic like him, and convinced him that it was ok, so long as it stayed in my room.