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Elizabeth
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 8:39am | IP Logged
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I have been thinking recently about the term "Domestic Church" and how we can use that term to guide us as we consider how to clean, organize an ddecorate our homes. In a different thread,
Bridget wrote:
OK, ladies. Lets pull ourselves up by our bootstraps! Our homes need a certain amount of order but they don't need to look perfect or even pretty. I'm going for clean, functional, and faith filled.
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What does a Domestic Church look like? How do we hold that before us as the standard amidst the whirl of women's magazines and home decorating shows?
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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Well, my first thought is to throw out the magazines! Seriously -- I find it very counterproductive to look through them, but it's hard to resist at times.  It's very hard to flip through the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and not wish that our bedrooms were as color coordinated and neat as theirs.
How am I trying to attain "clean, functional, and faith filled?" Oops! Guess I'll have to answer that question later -- we're late for swimming practice!  
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 9:20am | IP Logged
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I imagine the home of the Holy Family when trying to fashion a truly Domestic Church! Their home and family would have been filled with Grace...and surely They were focused and centered, first and foremost, on Faith. If we emulate Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and pattern our lives around the Holy Family, exterior appearance, as emphasized by the Media, loses its glamour.
When we moved to a simpler home in the country I found myself studying various images of the Holy Family, as captured in domestic life. The more I contemplated such images, the more I saw the beauty amd wisdom in simplicity! While we are a long way from living as simply as the Holy Family, I find we are far more content living with less of the trappings of modernday life! I avoid magazines, newspapers and TV, and stay away from most stores, especially department or home improvement stores. When you are not exposed to the constant barage of messages shouting "You need MORE, MORE, MORE", you find yourself being much more content doing without!
That doesn't mean we avoid making our homes pleasant or beautiful, but we will be drawn to a simpler style, similar to that which God has given to us in Nature....you never see an "overdone" field or mountainside...they are always gorgeous, but strikingly simple.
Holiness and simplicity come to mind most when contemplating the Holy Family's version of the Domestic Church!
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All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
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Meredith
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 9:53am | IP Logged
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Servant2theKing wrote:
That doesn't mean we avoid making our homes pleasant or beautiful, but we will be drawn to a simpler style, similar to that which God has given to us in Nature....you never see an "overdone" field or mountainside...they are always gorgeous, but strikingly simple.
Holiness and simplicity come to mind most when contemplating the Holy Family's version of the Domestic Church! |
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These are wonderful points and so right on. We really are supposed to be pleasing God Himself and not others. I love the simplistic attitude and wish it could shine through in my home more readily
Having "down-sized" for the time being I have had to make do with a more simplistic approach as we just don't have anywhere else to put things...and they are just things!!
For us our domestic church is part of our attitude in how we are trying to approach God in our everyday living. Asking His Blessed Mother for guidance all along the way (especially for Moi!) and to have a beautiful altar laid with varying statues for the liturgical year, always Mary and a Crucifix, a picture of the Holy Family and the children's special Holy statues they are slowly collecting.
I tend to forget to make special every single feast that comes up, but we're trying to hit the big ones at least for now and live as much of the liturgical year through prayer, devotions, Masses, and lots of good reading, ie. Catholic Mosaic
Simplicity is best, and the atmosphere of a peaceful home, that is MY personal goal. 
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Christine
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I believe my home is a Domestic Church (although at times, it is messy) and others have told me such. Men who have come to work on or around our house comment on how happy our children are and ask me my secret (Love of God and love for each other). Whenever a wonderful friend leaves, she tells me that she would much rather stay in my quiet little monastery (it is noisy at times).
Everyone's Domestic Church will reflect their family and look a little different, but I will share what makes our home a Domestic Church. Our Faith permeates our home from the moment a guest walks in. For most, they probably notice the religious artwork. I hope they also notice the joy with which they are greeted. Once upstairs, first time guests enjoy perusing a small part of our library which is located in the living room ~ Catholic books and secular books are located on various shelves in the room. Guests also notice our little home altar and the rosaries.
Although my house is messy at times (most of the time since I became pregnant), it is still evidently organized. Everything has a home. We make adequate use of tubs and it is clear what toys and other things belong in which tubs. Even crayons and pencils have color-coded tubs. The sticker tub is evident by the stickers that are stuck on the outside of the tub.
I have hinted at the fact that a Domestic Church is more than just how your house looks; it is largely how the family behaves. We naturally stress manners (my parents raised me in the same way). We practice natural graces and we make our guests feel welcome, regardless of whether they are friends or workers. I offer guests something to drink and eat. The children help serve. Guests know we are Catholic by both the appearance of our home and how we act.
All this being said, we need to always remember that we are human and we will fall at times. I have been embarassed at times and sometimes I don't practice true hospitality. Sometimes, we have to pick ourselves up, say a prayer, and try harder to follow the example of the Holy Family and all the saintly families that have come before us.
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Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 11:11am | IP Logged
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I don't think we can define a standard of what it looks like in terms of cleanliness, organization and decoration. Family situations, preferences, abilities etc. are so very different that what works for me may not work at all for someone else and what someone else can afford might simply be out of my reach. I do think those things are important I just think they can vary too greatly to define a standard.
What I think best defines the domestic church and what we need to "hold before us as the standard amidst the whirl of women's magazines and home decorating shows" is the way our homes and our home life, lead us, our families and others closer to Christ - which is the ultimate goal in everything we do.
Thomas Howard's Splendor in the Ordinary explains this far better than I can but basically we need to recognize that as a domestic church our home are holy places and the seemingly ordinary tasks of cooking, cleaning etc. actually reveal God's presence.
Our homes may not look the same but our ultimate goal should certainly be the same.
Out of time. I'm enjoying this discussion and look forward to others thoughts.
God bless,
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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Bridget
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| Posted: June 16 2006 at 10:52am | IP Logged
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I've been thinking about this but didn't have time to type. Then last night I was reading "Dear Newlyweds: Pope Pius XII Speaks to Married Couples", (this is a goldmine of instruction!) and found these passages about the home.
From Nov. 15, 1939.
"But do not forget that every effort will be in vain if you do not find happiness at your own fireside, if God does not build the house with you, to dwell in it with His grace. You too must, as it were, dedicate this "basilica", that is, you must consecrate to God, invoking the Blessed Virgin and your patron saints, your little family temple, where mutual love must be the benevolent monarch, and where the divine commands will be faithfully observed."
and this one from Nov.8, 1939
"See to it that from the very first day your home is manifestly Christian- that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is it's King, that the image of the Crucified Savior and of the Most Gracious Virgin Mary have the place of honor there.
By this you not only reveal to the eyes of all that God is served in your dwelling and that visitors and friends, as well as yourselves, must banish from that house everything that could violate His holy law - indecent talk, falsehoods, quarrels, wifull failings. You also remind yourselves that Jesus and Mary are the most constant and beloved witness, almost participants, of the events of your family..."
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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mumofsix
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My brother (a priest) says that every domestic church should have, at a minimum, a crucifix, a statue of Our Lady, holy water and an image (picture or statue) of the Sacred Heart.
Very interesting quotes from Pope Pius XII, Bridget, especially "must banish from that house everything that could violate His holy law". I wonder what he would include of today's must-haves: secular newspapers, which are all pornographic to a degree, at least in my country, the television, ditto, especially after the 9 pm watershed, the computer (the internet is about 90% or more pornography apparently). If we REALLY took his words to heart, how different might our homes be? And even if we eschew blatant pornography (which obviously we do) how desensitised are we, and would our choice of e.g. videos always pass muster with Pope Pius XII? Hmmm ...
How about enthroning Our Lady as Queen of the Family in your home, and consecrating your family to her daily in a short prayer? (Pope John Paul II gave this title to Our Lady.) Also, especially if your home has been troubled in any way, a house blessing? (I am told that the New Rite is so denuded as to be worthless, and the Old Rite of house blessing is much richer, and I speak as one who normally attends the Novus Ordo Mass, so no axe grinding here.)
I so agree with the point of trying to attain greater simplicity: I think that is key.
Jane.
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All For Jesus
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| Posted: June 17 2006 at 8:56am | IP Logged
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In Response to this topic I have so many thoughts lately that I probably won't be able to express them with much clarity.
First of all in regard to the orderliness of our home I have come to appreciate the fact that with the blessing and beauty of children in one's life comes all their trappings - books, toys, shoes, gum wrappers, pet supplies, art supplies, backpacks - you get the idea ~smiling~.
I work at it to keep our home nice and neat but you know, there is just only so much one can do and I do not believe that it is possible for every square inch to be neat, tidy, and perfect 24/7. I might desire this from time to time but it is not reality and so I accept the "cheerful chaos" and just try not to let it get too crazy or unsanitary.
It even comes to my mind that a home without the "charm" of little people or bigger people stuff here and there would appear sterile. Lifeless. (And I say this in a spirit of abandonment to Divine Providence)~smiling again~
My main efforts for our home have become:
** gently (and slowly) training the older children to put their things away after use and to keep up with their things.
** Clearing the clutter - not too much decorative stuff but just the things I see to be really beautiful and useful. I use plants as ornamentation.
** keeping a Catholic Christian feel to the look of our house- holy images of Jesus and Mary in focal and attractive places (but not going overboard in garrishness)
** I usually have a simple vase of fresh flowers (courtesy of my dh who is thoughtful here and is wise to find these inexpensively at the wholesale club) on the dining room table which adds so much simple beauty.
** I use sunlight to suffuse my rooms in light by opening every blind and or curtain in the house everyday. This adds it's own beauty and grace and is free.
** Keeping the books organized and orderly is important and much easier now since dh bought me a new bookcase for my birthday in February.
** I try to make sure things are sanitary, i.e, clean bathroom, vacumming, clean kitchen, keep the food out of bedrooms but other than that the rest will be for another day and time :o)
In the meantime... my mudroom is messy too, the hallway gets strewn with all the things they know I don't want on the living room floor. It has to be picked up nightly by me and the older two.
The kitchen counters are a hodgepodge of neatly stacked cookbooks, a pink kitchen aid mixer, some pretty, but packed to the gills, ceramic pots, filled with art supplies, a birdhouse preciously painted by my 4 yr. and a pewter kitchen prayer. My window seal above the sink is my little haven in our kitchen and I do try to seasonally keep it looking pretty.
Oh my, this post is very long. Forgive. I told you this has been much on my mind
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Lynn, mom to Sam (7), Bridget(4), and John Paul and Maryn (17 mo.) and wife to my college sweetheart
Life Is Beauty
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: What does a Domestic Church look like
