What makes a house a home? There are many answers. A house becomes a home when you can drive there like second nature and by memory. A house becomes a home when you don’t remember what it feels like to sleep in any bed but your own or to cook in any other kitchen. A house becomes a home when you know your neighbors by name. But in the end, it comes down to the people inside. A house becomes a home when you are surrounded by those that you love: your family and your closest friends.
So, what makes a home a Catholic home? The answer remains the same: the people you welcome into it. But besides the family and friends that you welcome into your home, who else should be present?
The first person you want in your home is Jesus, so that you might always be close to God, and that He might always guide your family toward Heaven. On the walls we put crucifixes and images of Jesus and His Divine Mercy or His Sacred Heart.
We don’t ever want to forget that He endured more suffering than any other human being and that He understands our struggles, and our crosses. We should also remember that His mercy and love for us knows no bounds. He will not give you trials that you are not capable of withstanding. So trust in Him.
The second person we want in our home is Jesus’s mother, Mary. In the living room, the kitchen, and our bedroom, we place images and icons of Our Lady and her many titles: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth. Who better to reach Our Lord than His mother? When you feel like you are not being heard, go to Mary and she will lead you to Him.
“When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’
[And] Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.’
His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” (John 2:3-5)
The third person we want in our home is the foster father of Jesus: St. Joseph, the protector, St. Joseph the Worker, St. Joseph, Terror of Demons. What more could you want from a patriarch charged with defending and providing for his family? St. Joseph is humble yet confident, ready and willing to accept Mary and Jesus into his home according to God’s plan. He is the role model for young men, husbands, and fathers everywhere. Place an image or statue of him somewhere in your home to remind men of their role and of their example.
And finally, we welcome into our house our guardian angels to provide guidance and protection. Guardian angels are the individual angels assigned to each person to offer assistance whenever we might be in trouble. And contrary to what some independent individuals might believe, we all need assistance sometimes. Before you go to bed, pray the prayer to your guardian angel for protection.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom God’s love commits me here, Ever this day, be at my side, To light and guard, Rule and guide. Amen.
Allow these people you welcome into your house to remind you of the way you live. Always have a bible, a Roman Missal, and enough rosaries to go around, and use them often. Say your prayers in the morning, before meals, the Angelus at noon, and at night before you go to bed. Never take the Lord’s name in vain, but invoke His name in prayer always. Find joy in the little things, worry not for tomorrow, and love one another as the Lord loves you. Invite good things and good people into your home and it will remain a sacred place of love and joy.
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