Saint John of the Cross said, “If you meet the Virgin on the road, invite her into your house. She bears the word of God.” Increasingly, people are seeking ways to bring Mary into their lives and into their homes. There are many small ways to create space for Mary in one's home.

House Blessings

The Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and many Protestant Churches have retained the ancient tradition of house blessings. House blessings are usually done by a parish priest who walks through a house with the family, sprinkling holy water throughout while praying for those who live in the house as well as for all of the family's loved ones.

The ancient ritual of house blessing is based on the idea that physical spaces can be transformed by prayer, meaning that a house of brick or wood can become a holy space through the prayer-infused sprinkling of water. Christians have also found intentional ways of inviting Mary to dwell in their homes.

Prayer Corners

In Eastern Orthodox communities, the most common way to create space for the saints inside of the home is by creating a prayer corner. Prayer corners do not always have to be literally located in corners, although many families do place them in a corner of their home. Traditionally, icon corners have been placed on a wall that faces east because Christians have historically prayed facing eastward — in the direction of the rising sun. Praying eastward is one more way in which the Church has integrated the natural rhythms of the earth into its prayers.

Icon corners vary from home to home. Some families will have an entire wall of images that are significant to them, while others will have very basic icon corners. The most basic family icon corners include icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints for which each of the family members are named.

Prayer corners are often lit by small oil lamps called lampadas. Traditionally, these lamps are filled with olive oil because olive oil burns clean and is frequently used for liturgical purposes in the Church — baptisms, Chrismations (or Confirmations in the West), as well as anointing for healing.

Many Orthodox families keep their lampadas burning at all times as a way of remembering that God is always present, along with the unseen communion of saints, and that we are called to keep watch for the coming of the Lord. The lampadas that burn in the homes of many Orthodox bring to mind the ten virgins from Matthew 25:7, who must keep their wicks trimmed and their lamps full of oil in anticipation of the coming of the Bridegroom. These simple lampadas require only a minimal amount of care, but the very act of trimming the wicks and keeping the oil full can serve as a physical reminder of the continual sense of watchfulness that permeates a Christian's life of faith.

By creating icon corners, families are able to set aside a small sanctuary within their home. Many families place the icon corners in their dining rooms, saying prayer before meals while facing the icons. The icon corner serves as a constant reminder of unchanging heavenly realities, helping to transform the home from a mere dwelling place to a place of holiness, hospitality, and peace.