How to Have a Domestic Church!

How to Have a Domestic Church – past articles.

Introduction
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Trying to be holy (especially when it’s not in your nature!) is hard work! I remember one day in particular about ten years ago when my kids were younger and I was trying desperately to turn my home into one of loving warmth and goodness like what I imagined the Holy Family had in Nazareth. The only problem was that none of my children was Jesus Christ!

Instead, the children I had fidgeted during prayers and fought over everything from school supplies to food. One of them twirled his rosary in the air during the sorrowful mysteries, and another couldn’t remember anything from that morning’s religion lesson. And they were always punching, pulling, tugging and annoying each other in what I now recognize was a clear case of testosterone toxicity. As I was trying to push all of them out the door to get to daily mass, one of my boys let out a blood curdling scream as his brother stomped (intentionally or otherwise on his foot). I had had it.

“I want a holy family damn it!” I bellowed.

Dead silence.

And then a spurt of uncontained laughter from Calvin and then the rest of my little boys and finally from me. The irony of what I had just said wasn’t lost on anyone.

While it is wonderful to read about all of the holy books and practices other families are reading and participating in, not every family can do everything. Mom has to recognize where her family is in their spiritual, emotional and physical development when she plans to incorporate spiritual reading and activities into their lives.

Some moms might be able to get her four kids under seven to sit for 30 minutes of bible reading, but I sure couldn’t. My little boys were just too high strung at that time to do a quiet activity at home for that long. But shorter bible stories from a good children’s bible with lots of pictures and even the occasional animated bible tape worked out just fine. Now that they are older, its much easier to have these types of daily practices. And why we may say our morning offering with Rosie whirling around the table it’s okay – because she now sees how we do it and slowly but surely she is entering into this practice with us on her own time.

Not all families, can do all things at all times. And it’s okay. Start slowly with a few practices (grace before meals, bedtime prayers) when they are little, and as your family grows and matures you can add more things and it will become second nature to them.

Next week – language in the Domestic Church.

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