One of the ways our family builds and nurtures our domestic church is by teaching our children about the importance of sacramentals. Sacramentals are "sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them, men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1667).
Our house is sprinkled with sacramentals. Rosaries are kept (at little arms reach) on our home oratory, scapulars are worn around our necks and blessed palms can be spotted tucked behind a crucifix and framed religious artwork throughout the home.
We received a beautiful white-stone holy water font featuring the Holy Family as a house warming/blessing gift when we moved into our house. It hangs next to our front door and is a reminder to us of our baptismal promise. We hung a second font at kid-level just below it. The kids love to dip their hands in the holy water and make the sign of the cross. Often times they kneel down and say a prayer to Jesus under the holy water font. Blessing ourselves is a constant reminder to us and our children that we belong to the Church and helps us strive to keep Christ at the front of our minds all through the day.
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