"Yes Lord!" (March 2019)

What springs to mind with the words,
‘the Renaissance’? Chances are you will
think of the flourishing of art in Italy; the
Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo; or
perhaps the grand patrons who helped
make this possible, the powerful Medici
family in Florence. Furthermore, it
is likely that you will picture the arts
in grand places, in the homes of the
rich and famous, and the places they
frequented, in convents, churches and
public buildings and spaces.
However, there is much to learn about
the Renaissance by looking into the
homes of the ordinary people of the
times, not just the wealthy upper
classes. Everywhere, you would find
how religious practice and belief
were part of the daily life of people.
Take for instance the bustling market
place where a merchant would ply
his trade, carrying a wooden toolbox
with a set of scales and weights. Take
a closer look at the intricate carved
design on the outside of the cedar box
and perhaps you will find a detailed
carving of a religious scene such as the
Annunciation. Inside the box you might
find a carved cross and the words, ‘Ave
Maria’. Prompts such as these would
remind the merchant to engage in
pious acts while going about his work,
perhaps to say a decade of the rosary
or simply to make the Sign of the Cross.
In the home, some of the utensils and
crockery placed on the table at meal
times would also serve as reminders
to pray. Cups were decorated with
simple scenes and religious symbols
to remind the gathered family to
bless their food before breaking
bread. One earthenware cup, which
is in the Cambridge Fitzwilliam
Museum, depicts St Francis praying
the rosary. Combs, yes, even combs,
were delicately carved with religious
scenes; for Catholic priests these
might be biblical in nature. A carved
comb was sometimes part of a bride’s
trousseau; the scene, perhaps of the
Annunciation or the Nativity, would
remind her how to serve as a good
wife and mother.
Many homes would have designated
sacred spaces for prayer; the better
off families might have a prie-dieu, a
prayer stool, to kneel at while praying
and reflecting. There would be
candles, holy pictures and a variety of
other devotional aids. Images of the
holy family were constant reminders
to imitate them. Parents were
expected to model good Christian
behaviour and lead their family in daily
devotions. Fathers were responsible
for instructing their children in their
faith.
How we can build a culture of
prayer in our homes?
+ + Invite a priest to bless our home.
+ + Choose Christian names for our
babies and talk to them as they
grow about the saint they are named
after.
+ + On the anniversary of a child’s
baptism, light their baptismal candle
and say a prayer.
+ + Night-time stories could include
the adventures of our faith heroes,
Moses, our saints and simple gospel
stories about Jesus.
+ + Talk to our young people about
Suzanne Aubert’s heroic work in
early NZ. Such was her renown, that
her funeral in Wellington in 1935
was the largest funeral for a woman,
which had ever been held there. Her
candidacy for sainthood is currently
being considered in Rome.
+ + Encourage our older children to
keep a prayer journal. This gives
them a place to write about their
worries, concerns, hopes and
dreams, and prayers.
+ + A simple crucifix or a holy picture
somewhere in our house can remind
us that we are loved children of God,
and called to show Christ to the
world.
+ + If a family member or family friend
passes away, light a candle and pray
for them.
+ + Praying as a couple is not always
easy but it important that God is part
of the marriage. Thank him for the
blessings of family. Call on him to
help you make important decisions.
Building a culture of prayer in our
homes is important.
Our homes are the
domestic church.
Wendy Clark
“Yes, Lord!”
Editorial Team
Coming up with baby names is one of my favourite parts of the pregnancy
journey. Jason and I were rather overwhelmed at the prospect of being parents
to five children, especially as my fifth pregnancy was high risk. Samuel was born
at 34 weeks and spent five weeks in NICU. He is now healthy and thriving.
I had always liked the name Samuel, and it helped that given our different
tastes in names, Jason also liked it. The name Samuel means “name of God”,
“God heard”. I really like it because the prophet Samuel responded to the Lord’s
calling with, “Speak Lord your servant is listening”.
We hope that our Samuel, like the prophet Samuel, will have the same
openness to hearing the Lord’s voice and be the Lord’s servant and prophet too.
06
Debra McTague