SAINT WHAT'S-HER-NAME

Saint Ealhswith, wife of King Alfred the Great of Wessex

"The True and Beloved Lady of the English

Saint Ealhswith is one of a large number of saints about whom we know very little.  There are umpteen different versions of her name, which is rather typical for some of these folks during that era.  Etheidwitha is one.  Ealswitha another.  She was a Mercian princess, the daughter of Aethelred Mucil and a female scholar named Eadburgh, who was prominent at court.  Ealhswith was married to a very famous person (King Alfred the Great); we know that she established a convent, Nunnaminster at Winchester Cathedral, also known as Saint Mary's Abbey; and that her children and other descendants were illustrious, William the Conqueror being one of them.  Many of her descendants live in America, and I am one of them.

Customarily, I research a saint on their feast day so that I can come to an understanding of the particular gift(s) to be emulated.  In cases such as these, where little is known, an outstanding feature is usually the fact that the person founded a convent, monastic order, or a grand church, giving land and/or monies for this purpose.

Ruins of St. Mary's Abbey at Winchester

I can barely support myself, so making a big splash with a large piece of land and a fine convent is not something I can do, though I would like nothing better and think of little else on the rare occasion I buy a lottery ticket.  It has been a dream of mine for a very long time, and these days I still imagine that I will establish a community of disabled and/or elderly ladies who will pray their little hearts out with their last bit of energy left on earth.

This is where I have to get creative.  How can I emulate this ancestor of mine?  I have to recall the "little way" of the little flower, Saint Therese, and accomplish the essence of what my ancestor did, in a small way.

By holding a space in which people can be supported in a community of prayer, I am doing my very little bit.  I have a Facebook group called CATHOLIC FAITHFUL SANCTUARY, in which I try to post inspiring items and which I try to maintain as a worry-free zone.  In my home, I have two prayer corners, and, although people do not typically come to my house to pray, I hope that the atmosphere and visual image will be taken home with visitors.

Although I may not be able to found a convent or even join one, I can live a convent style of life, something for which many of these saints are valued.

As I work toward this worthy goal, I ask for your prayers of encouragement and support.

God bless us all.

Silver "Rose" Parnell
(c) 2015

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOMESTIC CHURCH

The statue of our Blessed Mother Mary that looks down upon me

when I am seated in my customary chair in the living room

For the last two weeks or so, I have been ill with a stomach bug, and I have spent more time in my recliner chair.  Being disabled, I spend quite a bit of time in it anyway, but I sort of poured myself into it a couple weeks ago when I first came down with the stomach flu and haven't budged much ever since.  In fact, one night I slept the whole night here.  On many other nights, I spent at least 3 hours sleeping in it.

When I awake from one of these naps, or when I look up from my crochet project, my computer, or my reading, my living room shrine, with its candles and icons and statue, are immediately in my line of sight and invites my contemplation.

The prayer corner in my living room

Drawing inspiration and encouragement from Jesus, Mary and the Saints, I often respond with a short prayer before I move on to my next task.  Having the Lord always in my line of sight is a reminder that He is always with me.  My guardian angel is always with me.  The saints are available to me and are ready to intercede for me.  I am not alone.

Speaking as a woman who has lived "alone" for more than a dozen years, it means a lot to be able to say that I am not actually alone, and this is part of what my Catholic faith has done for me.  The awareness that I am part of the body of Christ and that there is an awesome host of beings accompanying me through life is both stunning and soothing at the same time.  I have only to remind myself of this by gazing at the numerous signs placed around my apartment hermitage.

My living room prayer corner

Despite my numerous discomforts, I feel a welling up of joyful gratitude for everything the Lord has given and has promised me and every other Christian who follows Him.  Contemplating the icons, crosses and crucifixes throughout the house gives me fresh incentive every day to praise Him and glorify Him in all my thoughts, words and deeds.  As my eye falls upon the picture of Him, I tune into the feeling of His presence within me.  When I am washing dishes or cleaning the bathroom, I am doing it for Him.  I feel that, having mentally consecrated this house to him and his worship, everything I do, I do for Him.

Little picture of Jesus on the bedside table

On those mornings when I wake in my bed instead of my recliner, I am likewise greeted by a host of icons, and I am moved to say, "Glory to Jesus Christ!"

Part of my bedroom prayer corner

Just as in the living room, my eyes rest upon Jesus, Our Blessed Mother, saints and angels, wherever I look in this room.

The other wall of the prayer corner

Images of the Blessed Mother on another

bedroom wall

In addition, I keep Holy Water available in two fonts; one at the front door and one in my bedroom.  I used to have a third, but I gave it to a visiting Catholic who didn't have one at home and whom I thought would like it for himself and his family.

Holy Water font in the living room by

the front door

Holy Water font in the bedroom

I try to encourage people in their efforts to spiritualize the atmosphere of their homes because it is especially important to remember that, although our churches are treasured places where Jesus comes to us in a special way through the mass and through his body and blood in the Eucharist, we must carry our faith and the awareness of His presence with us throughout our lives.  Visual cues help us to do this.  They also help us to bear witness to our faith.

Whereas our secular culture is now trying to limit our religious freedom to a mere freedom of worship, which quarantines our faith within the 4 walls of our churches, we need to break out of that prison in which the culture is trying to retain us and bring our faith into the world in a visible way. We know that faith without works is dead and that all the visible signs of faith are pointless without following Christ in every thought, word and deed, but I am suggesting that, while the habit of a nun, monk or priest is a powerful visible signal, our homes can also be a silent witness to every neighbor, relative and friend who visits us while at the same time giving us strength and continual reminders of our companions who travel with us, mostly unseen.

Angels in the bedroom

What I value is not in the slightest bit in question, once someone comes to my home.  I am not advocating that everyone adopt my style of decor, however.  It would be too colorful and busy for many people.  I only suggest that evidence of one's faith be prominently displayed, for all the reasons previously mentioned, and that there be at least one corner devoted to prayer.

Icon of our blessed Mother

at the back door

It goes without saying that, having constant reminders of God scattered about one's house is a good incentive to prayer and contemplation.  Personally, I like to make liberal use of candles and genuine church incense, in honor of the Divine Person to whom I pray.  The fragrance tends to persist for some time after my prayers are finished, reminding me of the constant presence of the Lord.

Give some thought as to whether your home speaks to you and to others about your faith and your values.  Did you decorate with God in mind, or do you take your cues entirely from some style of design one might find in a secular magazine such as Better Homes & Gardens?

My front door

The wall of my foyer

I would be interested in seeing pictures of your home and prayer corners from any of you that care to send one.

In the meantime, I pray for you, as I hope you pray for me.

God bless us all,

Silver Rose Parnell
(c) 2015