Some Doors have Windows VID 3






Tandem BLOG Article – VID 3

Catholic faith is bodily faith. Embodied, because God took a human body to be able to interact with us on an intimate level. We are fully incarnate, relational believers.  Paul wrote to Timothy: For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer (1Tm 4:4-5).  Therefore, sacred images too, products of co-creating humans, when used to give glory to God and honored as re-presenting a real living saint, act to revitalize and sustain human-divine interaction and vivify human relationships.

During the Reformation, certain groups strictly forbade and even violently destroyed religious images, at the same time portrait painting emerged.  The human need to express connection shifted to honoring the human being. Through the centuries until today, glamor-centered culture has brought the human image to front center. It even names supermodels gods and goddesses. The extreme version and aberration being the illusive, multi-billion dollar human trafficking and porn industry.

This almost exclusive human or created nature emphasis in interior design has ousted the sacred image from home décor. A few years ago religious pictures or statues could be found in a grandparent's bedroom.  Now I even think they are scarce or cryptic in those private places (like a solitary cross on the dresser in the movie "War Room").  Many families today are seeking to visibly re-invite God back into daily homestead living.



Another dynamic aspect of the family patron relationship is the emotions it potentially stirs up in your heart.  Rational, opinions, and thoughts (correct theology and real temptations) need to be balanced with healthy, life giving emotions, even tears of joy.  The relationship with the household patron is real, not imaginary, not some fantasy fairy tale. 

Patrons had flesh and bones, ups and downs, failures and successes just like all of us. For me personally it’s like the difference between the Capitalist Elf who resides on the North Pole, has flying reindeer and a staff of miniature elves to run his toy business. Cute for making toddlers laugh and be “good”, but much different from his inspiring mentor the actual Bishop, St Nicholas.  This bishop saved sailors from death and drowning, children from unjust punishment, young gals from the business of human trafficking, and knocked out an obstinate heretic!


Whatever your final choice, I believe the parents need to take the leadership role in discussing which saints of two millennia, are most appropriate, challenging, comforting and inspiring for the family, just as they choose their child’s name. Each child will have the opportunity to celebrate their own personal patron, to be discussed during another video in this series.
Below are some questions parents may consider asking themselves when seeking out a sacred image as family patrons. For starters, you may consider selecting Warner Salman’s classic “I Stand Knocking at the Door.”  I have listed some considerations below.  One of the main purposes of Heaven Door spirituality is giving God room to revitalize and vivify human relationships. Therefore, the initial Heaven Window you choose needs to present the holy ones together, interacting with each other, an event rather than a solitary portrait.


         Heaven Doors are about making room for another person in our home. Jesus, primarily, revitalizes our relationships. Seek out more than one person depicted in your family’s sacred image. For example, Madonna and Child, Holy Family, Rublev’s Blessed Trinity (above), Jesus at table with his disciples, an event in the Gospel or life of a saint.



         Do you have a particularly inspiring event in Sacred Scripture? If yes, search the Bible for the event and spend a few days seeing how the action relates to experiences in your life. Why is this event important to you?  How will you pass on this significance to your household?

         You may consider searching for sainted persons bonding you to your family history or heritage.  Could it remind you of sacred image reverenced by your grandmother or other long-gone family members?

         Your family sacred image could be something purchased during a pilgrimage to a favorite shrine or holy place. I purchased this while visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe's Shrine in Mexico City.



         How does a particular image draw you into the person or the event in the life of these patrons?  How does the artist’s depiction draw you beyond appreciating artistic beauty, style, color, light, gestures?  What faith symbolism does it present to you or in its artistic tradition?  Below is a stunning example of the Fifth Glorious Mystery: the Holy Trinity Crowns Mama Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth.



         What does the image say to you?  Describe any interior emotions while gazing at it.  An emotional connection is a very powerful connection for prayer.

         A Heaven Window Trial Period.  If this practice is new to you, consider trying a few favorite images. Printing up a sheet with your first choice.  Hang it with masking tape at the place selected for your Heaven Door. Over the next few weeks, see how it inspires you.  Spend some time praying before it, initiate some action prayers (led lite vigil, Rosary/Chaplet, flowers, , pray a Psalm, gather a few family members when a special moment arises—when you’re done sprinkle them with holy water as protection) If you like to print another image and see where the patron leads you. Choose the holy image that evokes the strongest positive connection. If praying before this image, brings your to consoling tears, look no further.

With the above in mind, other images may always be added to the Heaven Door. Placing seasonal images (a personal favorites: emotional expressions of "The Shepherds at the Manger" below) or feastday statues of a family member’s personal patron are some


of the most exciting dynamics of the Heaven Door tradition.  They express ongoing, living, interpersonal interaction with heaven.  Adding another image keeps the window relationship dynamically, “alive” as it connects persons faith festivals with the entire household.

Next Saturday: “Where’s your Family Tabernacle?”
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All video content of St Casimir’s Series on the Domestic Church and Tandem Blog Articles 
© CzMKrysa, Buffalo, NY  May 2020

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