Thursday, April 2, 2009

Prayer Reminders: A "Walk" Through My Home

Okay, friends. You all know this is Lent. The pastor on the blog "Without Wax" has posted his sermon explaining how he remembers to pray throughout the day, which of course is the most important thing we can do during Lent. Here it is.


Pete Says Hell_3.29.09 from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

Now, what is a conservative Catholic girl like me doing posting noncatholic minister's sermons on her blog? Well, believe it or not, it makes a great intro (in my opinion) as to why Catholics use icons and religious pictures and statues and other sacramentals. I am going to take you on a walk through my house to talk about some of mine. Unfortunately, there will be no pictures, because I don't know how to upload, download, whatever. Maybe I can get Bob to help me sometime and then I'll repost this later, but for now, I will describe them.

Crucifix in bedroom---reminds me of Christ's sacrifice, so that I can thank him in the morning, and ask Him to help me remember His sacrifice throughout the day when I am dealing with other people. I offer him my morning, and ask Him to make it worthy.
Divine Mercy Picture (The one here is from internet, but mine is smaller, and in a green frame)

Notice that it says "Jesus, I Trust in You" at the bottom. This picture reminds me to trust Jesus during the day, and to ask for his mercy. Sometimes I will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. at 2:00 pm, but not as often as I ought. The repetitious "For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world" is a prayer near and dear to my heart.

Also in the living room, I have a statue of Mary holding baby Jesus. Sometimes this statue makes me sad, because I can't have children and always wanted them, but most of the time, it reminds me that saying yes to God brings peace. Take a look at her face. Such bliss......because she followed God's plan for her. No doubt it wasn't easy being the mother of God made flesh, but peace doesn't come from easy, but from obedience to the Lord. (I figured out that can use photobooth on the mac to take a picture, but leaving me out of it was near impossible)
Also cool is that this statue was given to me by a dear friend in college after we had a great big argument. Now I normally don't need peace offerings, but I was touched that my friend, who isn't Catholic, respected my beliefs enough to give me this. I think our big argument was theological, but I am not sure of the fine points anymore. Now the only point is that we can disagree, and it doesn't mean we are questioning the other's worth or salvation....it just means we disagree.


I never met my mother-in-law, but in her cedar chest, I found a statue of Saint Therese the Little Flower of Jesus.. Her name wasn't Therese (Catholics can be real fond of the Saint they were named after), but it is a beautiful statue made of some material that doesn't break. I know this because I dropped it when moving, and it didn't break. I keep this statue in my mom's room. She is famous in Catholic circles for "the little way". In other words, I can glorify God in the little things I do everyday to take care of my mom. This is how God wants me to glorify him right now. St. Therese reminds me of that.


In the kitchen I have a picture of Jesus praying in the garden. This picture is dear to me on so many levels. In the garden, Jesus was praying for me. And you. Before dying, His concern was that we would remain in Him. How awesome is that! He was going to suffer a horrible death, and still He prayed for us!
My parents had a different picture of Jesus in the Garden in their dining room. I kept it, but it is a little large for our walls. Still, I get the same feeling from this picture, though it is artistically much different.


There are others I could show you, but I think this post has gotten long enough. I think you have figured out that these pictures and statues are my reminders, and that is why they are so dear to me. They remind me to pray and to serve, and of the loving God I am subject to.

11 comments:

katdish said...

I think Catholics get a bum wrap about idols and whatnot. You have effectively crushed those arguments. We all need reminders, even if they are girly, scrunchie puff balls that we use in the shower. (That last sentence was for Pete Wilson - you're welcome.)

pete wilson said...

I'm Catholic and didn't even know it!! Wow.

pete wilson said...

@Katdish, that was low. :)

♥ Kathy said...

My mother was raised Catholic and has many things like yours in her house. That was lovely Helen. Thank you for the reminder ♥

Sherri Murphy said...

WONDERFUL EXPLANATION FOR ALL OF US PROTESTANTS.MY GRANDPARENTS WERE CATHOLIC AND ALSO HAD MANY STATUES AROUND. I THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY COMFORTING.

WHY ARE YOU HIDING BEHIND THE STATUES/PICTURES? LITERALLY, NOT FIGURETIVLEY.

PETE WILSON IS A SECRET CATHOLIC AND HELEN WAS THE ONE TO EXPOSE HIM!
YOU ARE ONE POWERFUL WOMAN HELEN!

Michelle said...

Very nice Helen. I am glad you are able to find comfort in those sorts of things. Me? I hug my running shoes?? :O)

Sorry, I didn't meant to make light of it its just how I roll sometimes!!!

Candy said...

I married a Catholic who has now become a "Luthlic" (or would it be "Catheran")? I never understood a lot of the Catholic icons and this was very helpful. I wish I had some of my mother-in-laws things now, rest her soul. Reminders are such a blessing.

I will, however, never use my shower scrunchy again without thinking of Pete and his little pink poofy. I don't think the point of his visual aid was to imagine a pastor while in your shower. EEwwww...(no offense to Pete). So I went out and bought a real loofah.

Candy said...

Sherri, why are you YELLING? It doesn't protect you from typos, you know.

Nick the Geek said...

well, you know where I stand on all that stuff I actually think Icons and such are pretty cool. The history is about helping people remember the basics of their beliefs. Actually it seems most of the traditions are about remembering the beliefs. Creeds, icons, even the way the cathedrals are constructed are all about remembering and participating in beliefs.

That is pretty powerful

Helen said...

Katdish, I really appreciate that. The comment about Catholics getting a bum rap. I want to loofah the shower comments out of my mind. :-)
Pete, I have known that I am Catholic for quite some time. If you want any hel with that, let me know.
Kathy, where does your mom go to Church now?
SHERRI, I AM HIDING BEHIND A SWEATER SO IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE I AM POSING. I WANTED YOU TO SEE WHAT I WAS SHOWING YOU, NOT ME.
Michelle, don't worry about it. I don't expect you to pretend anything. We can both be ourselves.
Candy, if you have any questions at all about what Catholics believe, ask me.
And I do agree about not wanting to picture men in the shower. This is not that kind of blog.
Nick, that's right. Even the Church seasons are about making sure we take time to remember certain things. Of course I can ponder the sacrifice of Jesus in October, but Lent sees to it that I do take time to ponder it. That's what Traditions (and traditions) are for.

Unknown said...

I stumbled upon this site googling a bible verse about jesus walking through my house and healing my family (still need that). I will tell you a story I heard at a get together in Texas earlier this spring. The speaker was speaking to 25,000 people he said what religion are you, there was 5 or 6 thousand different answers, sounded like mumble jumble. He then asked what is the reason we are here, evryone said Jesus end of discussion