How to make your home a domestic church

According to the Catholic Catechism (CCC1656), the family is the Ecclesia domestica (Domestic Church).” This means that the family is the real expression of the Church; The parents are the first witnesses of the faith; and the home is where faith is lived and passed on.

Basically, your home is not just where life happens – it is where faith is LIVED, faith is TAUGHT and faith is PASSED ON.

So, how does one transform a home in a Domestic Church?

Simple. By making your home centre around Christ.

Here are 10 practical tips on transforming your home into a Domestic Church.

1. Pray together with your family daily: Can you say a morning prayer before you go to work or the kids go to school? Can you say grace before and/or after meals? Can you say the rosary?
2. Do you have a designated prayer corner or altar at home? If not, why not create one with the Holy Bible, Holy water, crucifix and rosary beads.
3. Hold a weekly bible study with the family. Grab a hold of a good Catholic bible study (eg. Fr Mike Smidt’s Bible in a Year) and sit down and study the Word of God with the family. 30-40 mins is all that is needed.
4. Purge your family home of non-Christian/Catholic and secular items: do you have questionable ornaments or items hanging up in your home? If so, maybe it is time to declutter and replace with faith filled items. Please check out my store for Catholic based décor.
5. Do you stream shows that are not in alignment with Christian/Catholic beliefs? Why not replace your viewing time, with Catholic podcasters and content? (eg. Dr Scot Hahn, Edward Sri, Trent Horn, Dr Taylor Marshall, Joe Hesmeyer and Christine Niles?)
6. Use sacramentals in the home. They are a tangible reminders of a spiritual reality. Bless yourself daily with Holy Water or have your parish priest come and bless the family home. Light blessed candles during prayer or family rosary time. Adorn your home with blessed crucifixes. Display the Divine Mercy image.
7. Encourage Catholic related recreation and limit screen time. Play board games, cards and dominos. Go fishing, swimming, camping and hiking. Teach your children life skills like cooking, cleaning and sewing. Encourage reading of classic literature and the bible.
8. Celebrate and live the liturgical year. Bringing the rhythm of the liturgical year into your home, creates a sense of meaning and anticipation. Celebrate the major seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, as well as favourite feast days of the saints.
9. Which kind of books do you have on your bookshelf? Do they support your Christian values or do they have non-Christian values themes throughout them? If so, now is the time to purge your home from these books and replace it with some classics and Catholic based books that support faith formation.
10. Declutter your home. Firstly, God can be present ANYWHERE! However, when you remove unnecessary items from your home, it can allow you the time to make space for Christ. Less is sometimes more 😊 Easier said than done, of course!!!!

Thank you for reading. Please let me know any other ideas you may have too. I’d love to hear them.

God bless xxx