Marian Touches Around the Home

Finding ways to add Our Lady around the house is one of those activities that brings so much joy to my mundane! I find that there is a twofold method of applying Marian nods. Firstly, there is the aspect of having physical objects around the home that trace back explicitly or subtly to Our Lady. Secondly, there is the aspect of how the family and its rhythm relates back to or behaves when heralded by these Marian touches. 

The family and its rhythms include the more well known habitual practices such as a daily family Rosary or praying the seasonal Marian Antiphon along with Evening Prayer or with a meal. It can include the Angelus at noon or a short Marian Consecration prayer along with the Morning Offering. There is another aspect though that is oftentimes forgotten, or may seem superficially overt especially in more Germanic-Anglo backgrounds. 

How do we reverence or show affection for Our Lady? In the home, it can be as simple as teaching our children or creating the habit for ourselves of honoring her images around our homes with fresh flowers. It can be a home May crowning or a treating of her images with respect. It can be watching the tones with which we say her name or anything having to do with her—whether it be not complaining about an evening Rosary or speaking of her statue with a loving reference. But it can also be blowing her image a kiss in passing—or saluting her whether with a nod or bow or with a smart military gesture (the latter is especially appealing to young boys). It could be a gesture of once a day before the family Marian image remembering to bend a knee and offer her your fealty and love as the Queen of Heaven. These seemingly simple actions foster an atmosphere that serves to deepen not just devotion but also intimate, normal connection to the Mother of our Savior and the Mother who is always there for us in every joy or sorrow. 

Let’s move back to the physical objects that represent Our Lady around the home. After all, if we are to undertake habitual practices and reverential gestures, it is extremely helpful as humans to have tangible reference points. 

This is where personalized devotion, individualized style, and creative scope come into play. 

Statues, Framed Artwork, or Icons

Statues, framed paintings, or icons of Our Lady are one of the first options people think of, and they truly are endless options. While its worth taking the time to search for ones that have particular meaning or devotion in one’s own family or looking to find a statue with a face that one feels drawn to, it is also simple enough to start with a smaller option or easily found one as there is always time to branch out or add to one’s home collection. Similar to crucifixes, it is never too much to have some art of Our Lady in every room. 

Wall Brackets and Candles

A favorite enhancement of mine is a wall bracket or a candle sconce. Wall brackets often bring to mind long decorative shelves, which are also a perfect place to tuck Marian statues and symbols, but in this instance the item is a small bracket or holder that is sturdy enough to hold a small vase of flowers and be attached to the wall below an art piece or relief of Our Lady. They can be easily thrifted, antiqued, sourced online, or even built, and they offer a simple yet touching way to bedeck Our Lady. 

Candle sconces may sound a bit old fashioned from the days before electricity, and there is even some merit to caution around the capers of children. At the same time, it is fairly simple to find battery operated candles if one does not feel comfortable with the real thing, and these are beautiful finishing touches on either side or below a wall ornamentation pertaining to Our Lady. Of course, normal candles—whether pillar, jar, or taper—are also excellent placed before a statue on a mantle or dresser. 

Rosaries

Rosaries usually end up everywhere around the home, but it is nice to have a particular place for them, especially the ornate ones. Rather than in a drawer or basket though, a hanger on the wall can be a different touch that keeps another Marian sacramental visibly present. Vintage or antique metal hooks are an elevated option to the easily found wooden or metal hangers.

Framed Lettering

Framed quotes on Our Lady or prayers to her are another option. One custom that has grown in popularity is to have different prints of the seasonal Marian Antiphons to switch out.

Subtle Nods

Subtle decorating nods are where creativity and genius meld. The colors of paint, the patterns of wallpaper, or the choice of stencils on the walls can be strategically picked to evoke Our Lady. Textiles of pillows, curtains, or upholstery also leave room to play. Emblematic objects such as door knockers, book ends, wall hooks, keepsake boxes—the options are endless, and there are many small Catholic or Etsy shops online that carry possible artifacts. There are even specifically religious items such as French tin hearts or wall boxes or holy water fonts to add. 

Outside

Outside is one of the spaces that tends to have a more unlimited canvas for larger projects. Marian grottos, large statues, a Marian flower garden (even a handpicked assortment of symbolic flowers without a statue), or a Rosary walk are all examples of such. Another old outdoor European custom that would be lovely to popularize in the United States is building wayside shrines (often made of wood or stone to house a statue) or tile mosaics in street and house walls. 

When Building

Finally, there is the option to take Marian touches a step further. Instead of adding them as an afterthought so to speak in the final stages of decorating, what about including them in construction? Architecture plans for builds or remodels can include a family chapel room, alcoves or niches for artwork and statues, and built in spaces for a family altar or prie-dieu. 

While the endless choices to honor Our Lady in the home might seem daunting, it is important to remember that the individual can choose as much or as little as she feels inspired too. No matter how great or minute, how overt or hidden, each gesture is known by Our Lady and has the capacity to spark devotion in the human heart. Let this read be a helpful reference guide when you need a check-in or more inspiration along your spiritual home journey.