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Celebrating Faith at Home

The Role of Catholic Sacred Art & Interchangeable Liturgical Living Signs

Growing up in a home filled with love, faith, and creativity, I always found great joy and comfort in the presence of Catholic sacred art. These pieces, rich with spiritual meaning and artistic beauty, brought an atmosphere of peace and reflection into our living spaces. As I started my own family, I knew I wanted to carry on this tradition. Over the years, I’ve collected various pieces of Catholic sacred art, each one carefully chosen for its meaningful depiction of our faith. Now, my walls are adorned with photos of my children and inspirational sacred art, creating a sanctuary within our home.

Sacred art has long held a significant place in religious traditions around the world. It serves as a visual representation of faith, a reminder of spiritual teachings, and an inspiration for daily life. For many, these pieces are much more than just decorations; they are expressions of devotion and tools for meditation.

In our home, sacred art serves several purposes:

  1. Spiritual Connection: Seeing images of saints, biblical scenes, or religious symbols helps maintain a constant connection to our faith. It reminds us of the divine presence in our lives and encourages us to live according to our values.
  2. Teaching Tool: Sacred art provided a visual way to teach my children about their faith. It sparked curiosity and offered opportunities for discussions about religious stories, virtues, and practices. If you have statues related to a particular season, place them in a prominent place in your home and talk to your kids about why they are special for that season. For instance, a Pieta statue would be brought out for Lent, or the La Posada statue for Advent.
  3. Aesthetic Beauty: Beyond their spiritual significance, sacred art pieces often possess great artistic value. They enhance the beauty of our home, creating a serene and uplifting environment. Perhaps you have collected several prints from Catholic artists and have them framed in your home. Changing out those prints for each liturgical season is another way to enhance your home and prepare for the upcoming season.
  4. Emotional Comfort: In times of difficulty or stress, looking at these pieces can bring comfort and solace. They serve as reminders of hope, love, and resilience.
Yeshua, Kate Capato's version of Christ the King sacred art for your Catholic home.

As our collection of sacred art grew, so did our sense of fulfillment and peace. However, we eventually faced a delightful problem: we ran out of wall space! With every inch adorned with cherished photos of our children and treasured pieces of sacred art, we needed a new way to continue celebrating our faith within our home. This challenge led to the creation of the Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign. I wanted something that would not only fit into our already beautiful space but also allow us to celebrate the liturgical seasons in a meaningful way. The result was a unique piece that combined practicality with artistic expression.

Crafting the Sign
Each Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign begins with a solid maple wood base. The base is hand painted and meticulously glued together to ensure durability and beauty. This craftsmanship creates a stunning stand that serves as the foundation for the interchangeable signs.

The true beauty of the Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign lies in the signs themselves. Each one features a gorgeous stained glass appearing design that captures the colors and symbols of each liturgical season. These designs are not only visually striking but also rich in meaning, reflecting the spiritual themes of each season.

Celebrating the Liturgical Seasons
One of the most rewarding aspects of having the Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign is the ability to celebrate the liturgical seasons in our home. Each season brings its own unique focus and spiritual significance:
Advent: A time of preparation and anticipation for the coming of Christ. The sign for Advent features purple and pink advent candles, symbolizing hope, peace, joy, and love.
Christmas: A season of joy and celebration marking the birth of Jesus. The Christmas sign has a gorgeous Nativity scene on a beautiful blue stained glass appearing background.
Lent: A period of reflection, repentance, and renewal leading up to Easter. The Lenten sign is characterized by Jesus in the desert.
Easter: The season of resurrection and new life. The Easter sign bursts with bright colors and a cross draped in white cloth symbolizing purity, innocence, and the victory of light over darkness. It represents the resurrection of Christ and the hope it brings to all those who believe.
Ordinary Time: Representing growth and maturation in faith, with a beautiful green symbolizing life and hope.

By changing the sign with each season, we can visually mark these important times in our liturgical calendar. It serves as a constant reminder of where we are in our faith journey throughout the year.

Catholic Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign by Anne Kidder.
Special offer, framed, gold leafed This Is My Body giclee print by Catholic sacred artist Kate Capato.

The Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign has become more than just a decoration in our home; it has become an integral part of our spiritual life. Here are some ways it has impacted us and will hopefully help your family as well:

Enhancing Our Spiritual Practice
Having a visual representation of the liturgical seasons constantly present in our home helps us stay connected to our faith on a daily basis. It encourages us to reflect on the themes and teachings associated with each season and integrate them into our daily lives.

Strengthening Family Bonds
My hope is that changing the sign will become a family activity we all look forward to. It’s an opportunity for us to come together, discuss the significance of the upcoming season, and prepare ourselves spiritually as a family. This shared ritual will deepen our bond and create lasting memories.

Teaching Our Children
The Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign is an excellent educational tool for children. It provides a tangible way for them to understand the liturgical calendar and learn about the different seasons and their meanings. The vibrant designs capture their attention and spark their interest in learning more about their faith.

Creating a Sacred Space
Incorporating the Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign into our home has helped create a sacred space where we can retreat for prayer, reflection, and family time. It adds to the overall atmosphere of peace and spirituality that we strive to maintain in our home.

As we continue to use the Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign throughout the years, it will undoubtedly become a cherished tradition that brings us closer together as a family and deepens our relationship with God. If you would like an Interchangeable Liturgical Living Sign for your family, you can get one here.

Special blog guest Anne Kidder of Kidderbug Kreations.

I’m Anne Kidder, the Chief Everything Officer at Kidderbug Kreations. Based in North Dakota, I’m married to an incredibly supportive husband, and together we have two adult daughters. In my spare time (haha), I enjoy babysitting my granddogs, sewing for fun (which rarely happens), spending time with family, and traveling.

Kate Capato

Kate is a Sacred Art Painter, Inspirational Speaker, and Faith-filled Movement artist on a mission to spread God's love through beauty! Her inspiration comes from prayerful encounters with the Lord, and the rich traditions of our Catholic faith. When she's not creating something faith inspired, Kate is often traveling all over the world with her hubby soaking in the wonders of God's creation, or spending time with family and friends to live every moment to the fullest. To see her work, visit her portfolio below and share in this mission of spreading truth and goodness.

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