In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, Paul VI speaks of the fittingness of the term “domestic church,” explaining that “there should be found in every Christian family the various aspects of the entire Church,” and that the family, “like the Church, ought to be a place where the Gospel is transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates.” 

Decades later, John Paul II expressed similar sentiments in a variety of addresses. In Christifideles Laici, the pontiff wrote that “the daily life itself of a truly Christian family makes up the first ‘experience’ of Church,’” and that “the more that Christian spouses and parents grow in the awareness that their ‘domestic church’ participates in the life and mission of the universal Church, so much the more will their sons and daughters…perceive all the beauty of dedicating their energies to the service of the Kingdom of God.” 

How do we achieve this in our own homes? How do we cultivate an atmosphere that communicates the truths of the Gospel? How do we evangelize our children and the people whom we welcome into our homes? 

One way to do this is by the sacramentals and Catholic imagery we keep in our homes. I have always loved going to a friend’s house for the first time and being able to tell as soon as I walk in the the family that lives there is Catholic. Sometimes, the signs are very obvious, such as the presence of a large crucifix hanging on a wall, or a statue of Our Lady perched on a bookshelf. Other times, the signs are more discreet: a prayer card tucked into a windowsill, or perhaps, a rosary left on a coffee table. Although these do not replace an active and fervent prayer life, they are helpful aids in the Christian life, and it is a good thing for Catholics to surround themselves with reminders of the faith that they profess. 

Here are some suggestions on how to transform your home into a little oratory in which prayer, sacrifice, and charity can dwell. 

Hang a crucifix in every room.

I recently had a conversation with a well-meaning Protestant acquaintance in which she was bemoaning the Catholic practice of keeping Christ on the cross. She was arguing that the most powerful symbol we have as Christians is the empty cross because it is a sign of Christ’s victory. But I explained to her that for Catholics, seeing Christ on the cross does not negate His victory; rather, it is a reminder to us of the ineffable love of God the Father and God the Son, that the Father would give His only Son out of love for us, and that the Son would die willingly for our sins. Seeing Christ on the cross is a reminder to us that our suffering is never meaningless—that suffering is redemptive. And it is a reminder to us that Christ Himself asked us to take up our own crosses every day and follow Him. It is a good and worthy thing for Catholics to keep crucifixes in their homes so that they might keep their eyes on Christ Crucified in everything they do. If you are not able to purchase a crucifix for every room, consider at least placing one above the front door of your home and above your beds. 

Have a priest come bless your home.

Although it can seem like a burdensome thing to plan ahead for your pastor to come over and bless your house, it is worth the trouble. Think of it this way: when you have a priest come to your home to bless it, you are subjecting your home to the spiritual authority of the Church and inviting Christ to dwell therein. Recall that Our Lord spent much time in the homes of the families He loved. He wants to spend time with you in your home, too.

Keep a holy water font by your front door.

Holy water is a powerful sacramental given to us by the Church. St. Teresa of Avila said that “there is nothing like Holy Water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again.” It aids us in the avoidance of temptation and, as St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “by the sprinkling of holy water, the debt of venial sin is wiped out.” Just as we make use of holy water when we enter and leave a church, we can do the same when we arrive home and when we leave it—asking for Christ’s blessing on our comings and goings. 

You can also teach your children this prayer to say when they take holy water: “By this holy water and by Your Precious Blood, wash away all my sins, o Lord.” 

Keep blessed salt, water, candles, and other goods in your home.

There are many traditional Catholic feast days on which it is traditional to have certain items blessed. On the eve of the Epiphany, the fifth of January, salt and water are blessed for use throughout the year. On Candlemas, the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary—celebrated on the second of February—priests bless candles. There are many other opportunities for items to be blessed, though you might have to ask your pastor if he will do it: wine may be blessed on December 28, the the feast of St. John the Evangelist; honey may be blessed on the feast of St. Ambrose. Herbs, furthermore, were traditionally blessed on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In using these items, we place ourselves and our families under the dominion of Christ, Whose blessing we seek from the hands of His priests. Through faithful use of those blessed items, we ask for protection of our souls and bodies, as well as aid in fighting against temptation and sin. 

And finally, place images of Our Lady and the saints throughout your home.

Our Lady is our greatest ally in combating spiritual warfare, followed by her most chaste spouse, St. Joseph. And each of the saints in heaven prays for us as we battle against temptation here on earth. There are certain saints whom God has tasked with our particular protection, and sometimes, He reveals those saintly friendships to us. We often believe that we choose to practice devotion to a certain saint, but it is usually that saint who has chosen us. We benefit from the example and intercession of these saints, and it is a good and worthy thing to remind ourselves of their fidelity to Christ and of their holiness, which we ought to emulate. Therefore, find beautiful depictions of these saints and place them throughout your house so that as you pass by each image, you might be reminded of that saint’s valiant, holy life and ask him or her to pray for you. 

Teach your children to say this short prayer whenever they encounter a picture of a beloved saint: “Pray for me, O happy Saint! When shall I be like you in Heaven?” 

There are many other ways to shape our homes into little domestic churches, but I pray that these will assist you in beginning. Remember that the home should be for a child her first “experience” of church: give her a home in which she can pray and live joyfully with you.