tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682550116445790117.post5021604040953015780..comments2024-03-23T09:59:53.293+00:00Comments on LINEN ON THE HEDGEROW: How to make your home fireproofRichard Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10826907710570316952noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682550116445790117.post-88201619047985554632013-08-15T16:14:17.762+01:002013-08-15T16:14:17.762+01:00Several years ago I placed a few objects of devoti...Several years ago I placed a few objects of devotion in the parts of my house where they would be seen by visitors as well as by me. I wanted objects that were unconventional enough that people's eyes wouldn't glaze over when they saw them. I also wanted the objects to sneakily get around the knee-jerk hostile reaction of the anti-religous crowd. One of the objects is the Holy Trinity icon by Rublev and another is an olive wood carving done by an Arab Christian of the Holy Family's Flight into Egypt. Both are conversation pieces: people are drawn to icons as well as to a more unfamiliar part of the Christmas story. The wood carving also gives me a chance to talk about the plight of Christians in the Holy Land. <br /><br />I guess my point is that people are drawn to beauty and beauty engages the senses before people have the chance to put up their mental barriers to faith. You see it in museums all the time: onlookers drawn to religious paintings despite themselves because of the sheer beauty of what they're seeing. I think it's essential to bring that beauty into the objects of devotion in our homes because - separate from our own personal devotion - it's a wonderful, silent way of planting the seed of God in people's hearts. Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02198419417921454525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682550116445790117.post-21501222012629065782013-08-15T08:09:08.633+01:002013-08-15T08:09:08.633+01:00Gervase, I heard of a female vicar who announced t...Gervase, I heard of a female vicar who announced to a Catholic friend: "We're all Catholics now". Don't think so.Richard Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10826907710570316952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682550116445790117.post-15580288029629687022013-08-15T08:07:26.679+01:002013-08-15T08:07:26.679+01:00Oldconvert, I echo Elaine's comment. Such disp...Oldconvert, I echo Elaine's comment. Such displays of devotion are hard to continue with until you think what Christ suffered for us.<br />I still inwardly have problems saying Grace before meals in public but, thoughts of the crucifixion soon bring me to my senses.Richard Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10826907710570316952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682550116445790117.post-63745593541856001002013-08-14T12:40:06.702+01:002013-08-14T12:40:06.702+01:00oldconvert - please be encouraged to display your ...oldconvert - please be encouraged to display your crucifix and devotional objects without anxiety. They are a witness to the great event of conversion even though you may encounter some prickly conversations! Today, I have my bible open at Proverbs 3:5 and it seems to be just for you - 'Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps'. <br />Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17553341002553188224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682550116445790117.post-58873507566172668902013-08-14T12:24:29.409+01:002013-08-14T12:24:29.409+01:00Thank you for this. Today seems to be blessed wit...Thank you for this. Today seems to be blessed with some cogent readings.<br /><br />As I converted only 3 years ago at an advanced age I have friends and relations who have no religious beliefs or dubious ones (2 people who profess to be pagans). I have a crucifix in my bedroom together with other devotional objects and when I rearrange my flat to make room for visitors I found it quite a difficult matter to know what to do about these. I give up my room if I have more than 1 visitor at a time. At first I used to clear them all away and put them in a box which would accommodate the crucifix upright. At least now I put the crucifix in the living room so that it is no longer hidden. And now there is a Stations of the Cross poster on my bedroom wall which I do not remove so maybe I am becoming more confident in my Catholic identity.oldconverthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480256023049084854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682550116445790117.post-7371308607539259482013-08-14T08:15:03.031+01:002013-08-14T08:15:03.031+01:00I made the mistake once and asked an elderly frien...I made the mistake once and asked an elderly friend of my father in law's was she a catholic as she talked about the saints and had a crucifix - no Anglo-Catholic Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com