American yard decoration doesn't usually include statuary, but of late it has gone straight from personalized seasonal flags to aggressive statements of leftist creeds, interspersed, it's true, with the rare red-white-and-blue TRUMP-bannered outlier. At least that is how it is here on the East Coast.
What is the point, I ask myself, of proclaiming on a placard that “ALL ARE WELCOME” when I can guarantee that I, at least, would not be welcome, not at all. The judgmental politics of non-judgmentalism are plastered all over people's lawns, and it has the effect of alienating others and creating a sense of division.
Some people have suggested making yard signs with counter messages. I have wondered if this is the right response. To post a sign with, say, the Apostle's Creed, or a point-by-point refutation of the love is love/we believe in science narrative, one seems to grant the premise that people want to know each other's opinions, that those opinions ought to be expressed verbally on one's lawn, and that doing so will have a good effect.
I don't think this is the way, nor do I think even those sporting the signs care much about them, so it's missing the point. Instead, I think all those BLM and Pride rainbows function like Václav Havel's “greengrocer's sign in the window” (from his essay, The Power of the Powerless — do read the whole thing if you haven't, and by the way you say his name “Vatslav Hav'l”, apparently). He was a Czech statesman who knew a thing or two about powerlessness.
The manager of a fruit-and-vegetable shop places in his window, among the onions and carrots, the slogan: “Workers of the world, unite!” Why does he do it? What is he trying to communicate to the world? Is he genuinely enthusiastic about the idea of unity among the workers of the world? Is his enthusiasm so great that he feels an irrepressible impulse to acquaint the public with his ideals? Has he really given more than a moment's thought to how such a unification might occur and what it would mean?
I think it can safely be assumed that the overwhelming majority of shopkeepers never think about the slogans they put in their windows, nor do they use them to express their real opinions…
Let us take note: if the greengrocer had been instructed to display the slogan “I am afraid and therefore unquestioningly obedient;' he would not be nearly as indifferent to its semantics, even though the statement would reflect the truth. The greengrocer would be embarrassed and ashamed to put such an unequivocal statement of his own degradation in the shop window, and quite naturally so, for he is a human being and thus has a sense of his own dignity. To overcome this complication, his expression of loyalty must take the form of a sign which, at least on its textual surface, indicates a level of disinterested conviction. It must allow the greengrocer to say, “What's wrong with the workers of the world uniting?” Thus the sign helps the greengrocer to conceal from himself the low foundations of his obedience, at the same time concealing the low foundations of power. It hides them behind the facade of something high. And that something is ideology.
Today we call it virtue-signaling, but that doesn't quite get to the subtlety of servility, the acquiescence to the totalitarian impulse, that Havel's longer analysis achieves. But let's just say that to counter it with a different sort of virtue-signaling accomplishes nothing — other than sucking the person who does it into the vortex of ideology that he is trying to oppose.
Instead, let's do something that most Americans have never done (other than in ethnic enclaves; certainly not in the fancy suburbs where signs proliferate) and most modern people in developed places do not do any more: let's make our yards beautiful with a sacred art shrine of some sort.
We tend to expect statues in churches and parks, although these days they might not even be in the latter, if they have met with censure from the new history police. But maybe we can bring them into our own little sphere.
Specifically, let's step out of the war of words and even out of the frustration with our neighboring “greengrocers” and their seeming subservience to power.
Beauty is the radiance of truth. If we merely post a “respect life” sign for the benefit of perfect strangers or our neighbors, we activate a response, pro or con. But if we show a Madonna and Child, we draw the passer-by into a different realm where the child is not only respected but loved and where we desire to be the sort of person who participates in that world of love.
I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love : and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.
(Hosea 11:4, from the first reading at Mass yesterday; it struck me as I was thinking about this post.)
When we're having an intellectual debate we can state our position, but when we are dealing with everyone on the street whether we really know them or not, we must draw them towards truth and away from ideology. It's love that draws hearts towards itself, and beauty is the manifestation of love.
Of course, I live at the end of a dirt lane; there are no passers-by. Here is where I would put my statue, and only those already here would see it:
But I would love to see some traditionally conceived sacred art on or in front of a house I am passing… instead of some haranguing placard. And I don't mean a banner… I mean a real statue, icon, or bas relief in a niche.
I also want to mention the virtue of magnanimity, which is to venture great things, and in part this virtue challenges us to acquire that habit of generously spending money on beautiful things for the benefit of others.
Without rich people using their wealth magnanimously, spending freely on real and beautiful art and architecture, nothing in the public sphere would inspire and draw us into another realm. Indeed, magnanimity redeems riches! How would artists live if it were not for patrons? To be a patron one must have money.
Even those of more modest means can practice this virtue in this particular way, though. We don't have to endow a public monument, but we could offer a chance pedestrian on our street a beautiful image.
But here's the problem: how to find really beautiful art for our gardens, walls, and niches?
I don't know! I even had difficulty finding examples of art in people's yards for this post.
There are some mass-produced statues that are rather pretty. Part of me wants one, part of me wants to find something unique…
So tell me — and the rest of us — if you have a source for beautiful, traditional, and durable statues, bas-reliefs, and mosaics, or anything that we could put out for others to see and behold. We'd like to know of the less expensive choices and the more expensive ones too.
bits & pieces
I should say “and a couple of announcements”!
- Don't forget that the 20% off code for my newly republished book, God Has No Grandchildren (2nd edition) is good until the 14th! Use the code PiusXI (case sensitive) when you get to your cart.
- And I still have four places left for me to talk via teleconferencing with your book group! Send me a message at LMLDblog@gmail.com to reserve a spot. You don't have to commit to a time or date at all — just get on the list! Email the publisher for a discount on bulk orders.
- In case you are local, go hear my friend Leila Miller fearlessly defend marriage! Catholic Answers invites you to Ascension Parish in San Diego, CA, on Friday, June 18 for our first local lecture and reception. Our speaker will be Leila Miller and her talk will be titled “Let No Man Put Asunder: What the Catholic Church Really Teaches About Lifelong Marriage.“
Come at 6:30pm for some social time over wine and cheese. Talk starts at 7pm.
Ascension Catholic Church
11292 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92124
Leila is the author of Primal Loss: The Now-Adult Children of Divorce Speak, Impossible Marriages Redeemed, and Raising Chaste Catholic Men: Practical Advice, Mom to Mom, and co-author (with Trent Horn) of Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues. Leila fearlessly takes on the controversial moral issues of our day with unfailing clarity and charity.
“Please join us for an engaging talk and convivial conversation. The event is free and open to the public so do bring a friend.”
- Anthony Esolen likes to talk about word origins: The Roots of Race
- I've said it before, I'll say it again, especially as Covid restrictions might make it so that you can't be with your child in the hospital: the medical profession has discovered a market and is going to exploit it. The market is vulnerable children who can be convinced to transition, as they call it, and the laws in many states allow for separation from parents if sexual identity is involved, under the guise of abuse. It's a simple money-making proposition. In this article, note that many of the victims are groomed by being allowed to use their devices at will. Keep the fight far from the walls by not allowing your children to have access to the internet. Even teens need to have strict limits, for their own well being.
from the archives
- Three martyrs for marriage. These feasts are coming up!
liturgical year
Immaculate Heart of Mary, as well as the anniversary of my father's death, if you can spare a prayer.
follow us everywhere!
My “random thoughts no pictures” blog, Happy Despite Them — receive it by email if you like, or bookmark, so you don’t miss a thing!
Stay abreast of the posts here at LMLD, when they happen:
Consider subscribing to this blog by email. In the current situation, if we can’t meet here, it would be good for us to be connected by email!
We share pretty pictures: Auntie Leila’s Instagram, Rosie’s Instagram. Sukie’s Instagram. Deirdre’s Instagram. Bridget’s Instagram.
Auntie Leila’s Facebook (you can just follow)
The boards of the others: Rosie’s Pinterest. Sukie’s Pinterest. Deirdre’s Pinterest. Habou’s Pinterest (you can still get a lot of inspiration here! and say a prayer for her!). Bridget’s Pinterest.
Rosie Hill says
I love this idea! Our road gets decent traffic and once we fix a drainage issue there’s a part of the front yard that my husband wants to turn into a pollinator garden. Fine by me, I have a whole list of plants I want!! And now we can add another statue to the list, though we have such high winds that I really need something heavy and sturdy, our poor Mary statue is always getting blown over…
Lucia LaRocca says
https://etsy.me/2RQnYmx
I find old statues at some stores on Etsy. Here is one I love. I have too many already or I would buy this! I’ll share some other Etsy stores I browse that often have old religious statuary. Loved your essay.
Emily says
That’s the thing that kills me about those signs. I’m technically disabled, even though I don’t use that terminology general. But I am not “accepted” in these all are welcome places. When people say they accept the disabled? No, they would not accept *me* because I do not accept their arguments, and they do not accept mine. So really it’s “All are welcome who believe the same thing I believe.”
April VanRooyen says
Yes, or I know I’m not welcome because barefoot and pregnant with six children right beside me …
Leila says
Totally agree, Emily.
Cirelo says
I love this post!
I recently went to the famous Longwood Gardens near Philly which was built by one of the Duponts and it really was an expression and meditation of magnanimity for me. I felt so grateful for someone using their money so generously to share beauty and wealth with a nobody like me! I sometimes feel desperate and sad by the ugliness of our surroundings in the suburbs.
Nancy says
Great idea! I like the icon picture with wooden box on tree idea… grandkids created the Mary garden with statue in the backyard, but only we see it.
There are so many… Love wins etc signs in our eclectic neighborhood that is literally next door to our parish. I look forward to others ideas on where to find beautiful art for the outdoors.
Donna says
Beautiful idea! On the higher end of things are sculptures by Timothy Schmalz. (https://www.sculpturebytps.com/) We have a smaller version of this one (https://flickr.com/photos/bbarna/5830121362) that we first saw at a church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.
Stephanie says
So I kind of love this being that you first exhorted us to the Little Oratory…I love reclaiming beauty in the American yard this way. I have a Mary Statue on my porch they may need a place of more prominence and beauty 🙂
Rosemary says
This site has some lovely ones: https://www.marianland.com/orlandi/mary/main.html
This one is my favorite, but it is taller than me and too big for our city yard; I wish it came in half the size!
https://www.marianland.com/orlandi/mary/dt_F69671.html
Rachel says
I love the examples you found! Not that there is anything WRONG with the standard Our Lady of Grace statue that you usually see – I always love seeing them in peoples front gardens. But I think in a way they kind of fade into the background or maybe just feel like an addition to a flower bed, instead of the whole point of it. We just moved to the country, so don’t have the same traffic someone in town has, but our gravel road is rather busy. This will have to be added to the sooner than later to do list.
Mama T says
I am concerned about being separated from my children during medical care because I am not vaccinated against covid. Is this a valid reason to get vaccinated? Honestly, this has been my biggest fear from the beginning of the whole ordeal. Even a year ago children were forced to receive medical care away from parents who had covid-like symptoms and/or tested positive.
Lisa C. says
I work in a hospital as a speech pathologist and we allow one parent with each child regardless of vaccination. All visitors have to wear a mask as do employees, but there is no separating child from parents at my Catholic hospital.
Leila says
Mama T, I do not think it’s a valid reason, personally. Maybe when the moment comes, IF it comes, you will have more of an idea. But many have not gotten the shot. Are they all going to be separated from their children?
I think it’s worthwhile to do some research about hospitals around you and find out more about what your area is doing.
Pray and think! But don’t succumb too soon!
Mama T says
Thank you for this good information and advice. Prayer is essential!
Toni Graham says
Ordering _God Has No Grandchildren_ right now! Thank you!
Another great blog post. I especially love your mentioning the virtue of magnanimity.
I have a broken and weathered, but still very sweet, statue of Mary that I curb-picked nearly three years ago. We were moving from a third floor apartment to an upgraded, first floor, one, and she was by the curb of the old building. She contentedly rests on my first floor patio now. But I want add more items of beauty to both my patio and my front door area (which is a dark apartment breezeway). Thanks for the encouragement!
Lucy says
I like Prairie Icon Houses on IG and Etsy. Beautiful work.
Nancy says
Thanks Lucy
Barbara says
My husband actually recently started making wayside shrines, beginning with one for his mother with St. Joseph inside and then he decided to put them in his little Etsy shop, and I have the Marian ones in mine. I have one from many years ago in my backyard, as well as three other statues of Mary around the yard. Never too many statues!
Etsy.com/shop/ChristChildStables
Etsy.com/shop/MaryDevotions
Logan says
Those shrines are so sweet, thanks for sharing the link!
Barbara says
You’re welcome! My husband loves making them. He always wanted to be a carpenter. he just had to wait until he was 60. 😉
Cami says
We live on Main Street in a small town in Connecticut. Lots of foot traffic and car traffic for a small town. You’d think it was a conservative area being an old town and on Main Street, but the local businesses just walking distance down the road proudly don their BLM and updated rainbow flags. I have young children that enjoy the rainbows when we drive through, although they are unaware that the symbol of God’s love & mercy from Old Testament has been hyjacked by parties rejecting God’s design. I have a poorly trimmed crabapple tree in front of the house that could have a statue beneath it. Otherwise, just a stonewall area that might not be as pretty. I grew up with a single mom in a townhouse with a cement patio so I’ve had a hard time knowing what to do with our country landscape, I always thought we’d get a Mary statue for our backyard to little by little add flowers to, but this seems important… much like your daughter’s post about sending Christmas cards with the Holy Family… other people need the images too. I do worry Mary will get vandalized though. We don’t live in an area with much crime at all but I find people often become angry when challenged with Truth.
Victoria says
The parish I grew up in had its OLF statues vandalized on a regular basis. The were regularly removed from the grounds to be restored. A small garden statue, though, could just be spray-painted white over and over a for a while. You might reach a point that the layers obscure the details, but you could dip it in a good paint remover at that point. Too much of a pain to dip it every time though (at least I would feel that way).
I have an old OLG statue that is just visible from our quiet street. I have wanted to repaint it since we moved into this house, and I still haven’t done it. Maybe this summer will be the summer.
Kasey says
We have in the backyard a statue of the Blessed Mother that we rescued from a neighbor who chucked Her into a pile of junk when he moved into the house across the street. But we do live on a high traffic street and I have always wanted to put some religious items out front as well. I know of one father-of-five who rescues old, worn out religious statues and repaints them, which is probably the most affordable way to create something beautiful to display. The old statues can be found in the usual ways: thrift stores, church bazaars, secular neighbors who don’t realize the value of what they’re taking to the dump, etc.
Caitlin says
Leila, I love this! Those signs are odious.
I have to tell you about this experience on our street… not exactly the same thing, but on a related note. Every Halloween there was this one house that went all out. It was really gross. One year they brought out a 15 foot “decoration” of a demon clown thing holding a baby doll upside down… really nasty stuff. We couldn’t really think of anything to do besides put out a beautiful statue of Mary on our own lawn, to bring some beauty to combat the darkness. Well, the rains increased by the week until they had to cover the statue, and eventually take it down! It felt like a little spiritual victory on our street. The statue we got was not traditional at all; it was a plastic thing we got from Amazon that we had to fill with sand. It was all we could afford, and the most immediate thing we could do. This is what we have and we really like it, it looks very nice and has held up well.
https://www.amazon.com/EMSCO-Group-Virgin-Mary-Statue/dp/B00295R232/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=outdoor%2Bmary%2Bstatues&qid=1623550800&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVkdPWEIxUVVLVTgzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODQxMTM4TjVEOEQzN0YwR1lPJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwOTI0MDAzUENXODNMU0xNWDNQJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1
Kelsey says
I love this story! Thank you so much for sharing. It really is awesome how, whenever we authentically and appropriately engage in spiritual battle, Heaven fights for us. It never ceases to astonish me.
Leila says
What a story!
We have something similar on a nearby road that I travel all the time. A really creepy and aggressive Halloween display. We need to throw some holy water on that thing and get some shrines set up!
Victoria says
Wow, what a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing that.
Lorelei says
In Pulaski, Wisconsin (settled by the Polish, obviously!), many farms have little Mary shrines on the roadside, usually like a little house with glass walls. It’s very pretty.
Cordi says
Perhaps it’s a regional thing, but here in the Midwest, religious statues in front yards are so common as to be unremarkable. Maybe I shouldn’t take it so much for granted!
Kelsey says
This is one of my favorite things you’ve ever written, Leila! I love it!
I am reminded also of our former pastor (you met him!) who used to regularly walk the downtown area where our parish is, praying the rosary. He never spoke of it, I would just see him occasionally because we live so near, but I just know that he was establishing a perimeter. This is something we should do, too, around our properties but even in our neighborhood. We do not have the spiritual authority of a priest, and not over other people’s property, but we can surely ask Our Lady to watch over these places.
Leila says
Thank you, Kelsey! I love that idea of establishing a perimeter. Beautiful.
Maria says
What a lovely idea! Here in MD, we see a lot of those signs. I found this etsy shop with something for every budget that has some beautiful shrines:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WaysideShrines?ref=l2-about-shopname&page=1#items
Mariana Ryan says
Thank you, thank you for this link! Their work is incredible !
Adele says
These are so beautiful, but well out of our price range alone plus we live in the back woods and no one would see it. We are hoping to buy one between three families and put it at the house of the family that lives in town.
Ashley says
You have me and my husband thinking how we can work something into our yard. We’ve always loved the shrines that are so common in Europe, but somehow we’d never thought to work something similar into our suburban yard.
I made strawberry rhubarb pie for the first time yesterday and it was delicious. Even my child who isn’t fond of the rhubarb loved it. 🙂
Mary Keane says
I love this. We do have a yard sign for our neighborhood Rosary Society (yes, we have one!), but also a Mary statue that was a gift from our realtor when we bought our first home. It is concrete and could use a repainting, but overall it’s in pretty decent shape for 11 years and two more long-distance moves.
Mary statues are fairly here in Pittsburgh, and thus far I have not noticed a yard with a Mary statue AND one of those liberal creed signs or rainbow flags. Some of the Mary statues are tackily decorated with fake flowers and LED lights, but I feel they do have a kitschy charm born (I believe) of devotion. This surely varies widely around the country, but near us there are several small businesses that make yard statuary. Mary and St. Francis are the most popular, but I have also seen St. Joseph, St. Michael, and even a Pieta. I think the context around the statue matters more than the statue itself. The nicest statue does not inspire devotion when placed next to Sasquatch and the garbage cans. Not that any readers here would do such a thing, but I’ve seen it. I especially like the wall grotto with a single flower in a glass jar. Putting Our Lady in such an intentional and prominent position and taking responsibility for keeping fresh flowers in that shrine is a beautiful act of devotion.
On a different topic, my daughter had to have surgery in the spring. Children were allowed to bring a “comfort object” with them to the OR. A blanket, stuffed animal… or electronic device. I was deeply disturbed by that concession to our children’s attachment to technology.
Ruth says
We have a statue of Our Lady in the front. Sometimes, dog owners don’t clean up after their dogs and one day, I saw a lady standing out front meditatively. I walked out to make sure she was going to clean up after her dog….she looked sheepish and said, “Just saying a “Hail Mary””. No dog. Just prayer, right in front of my house. My 2 year old kisses every statue of Our Lady and Our Lord in the neighborhood (we live in Louisiana so lots of statues….)
Leila says
Love it!
Kristi says
I’ve been looking for a good Mary statue for our yard for years! With the ones I’ve seen in person, Mary is either a bit odd looking (not pretty, as Mary should be) or she has a strange expression on her face, or it is way too expensive for what it is (plastic). I’ve been nervous to buy online because of the cost, and not being sure of what the final product will look like. I really appreciate the suggestions and links offered, I’m researching them.
In any case, you’ve given me the idea that the Mary statue, when we find it, should be out in the FRONT yard, not the back where I was planning. Such a good idea and a beautiful counter to those misguided yard signs.
Leila says
Kristi, I could definitely see one in front and one in back 😉
Kristi says
You just talked me into it! 😉
Ellen says
We put in a Mary garden and statue last year, and planted a robust little drift rosebush in front of Mary. My favorite statue and shrine options were from etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/463360520/lady-of-guadalupe-religious-cement
https://www.etsy.com/listing/608626519/vintage-saint-francis-the-patron-saint
https://www.etsy.com/listing/89857333/marian-shrine-wayside-shrine-garden
https://www.etsy.com/listing/818781721/faux-stone-wall-niche
Ellen says
In the last 2 years, i have developed a keen interest in Mary Gardens and have read quite a bit about their long history. In my Midwestern polish ans irish town growing up, almost every house had and still has at least a Mary in the front yard with some sort of flower, even silk flowers. Roseharrington.com is a catholic artist that who has lots of good info about th3 gardening side of things, as well as lovely flower art. I like the idea of adding a little roofed shrine as well.
Christianne says
My Mary came from HomeGoods! Composite marble, so a lovely white and heavy enough to not tip over. She is roughly three feet tall, so she is quite visible in the side yard of my house. We live on the main street in town, and I really wanted a Mary statue to alert the neighbors to our affiliations 🙂 Her facial expression wasn’t my favorite, but my sister, who has pretty much rejected the faith, texted me two days before May and said “she’s the only one in an aisle of Buddhas, you should come save her.” So I did! We do have a flagpole, came with the house, and we are debating a Vatican flag, does that seem too similar to the virtue-signal of a rainbow?
Leila says
Great find! Good work, sister!
I admit that I am not a fan of flying the Vatican flag. I don’t think it’s virtue-signaling but I do think that it mixes up allegiances in a country where the red, white, and blue mean so much (as opposed to lots of countries where the flag is not so strongly symbolic). In terms of how others interpret it. And really, our allegiance is to Christ, and words and flags are not the same as images of persons. There’s something ultramontanist about it… but it’s up to you of course!
Sarah says
A lovely post! Here in southern Louisiana, aka Cajun country, statues and shrines (particularly of the Blessed Virgin) are found in multiple yards on almost every street. I’ve never considered that it is something out of the ordinary…they are even more common than Trump signs, thank Goodness, though those are also very common. Journey down South, Auntie Leila! The bayou water is fine. (Also, disgusting. Please, please, please never swim in a bayou.)
Katie says
This woodcraft company is owned by a dear friend of ours (traditional Catholic) and he builds wayside shrines like you see in Europe. He made one for my mom – the kind on a stand with a tiny house/triangle on top. A Crucifix is etched inside my mom’s, but he can do all sorts of them. http://mcwcustomwood.com/
Fiona says
Thank you for asking for sources! I have a “corner” of my front garden that currently has three rather sad, small rhodies and a gorgeous rose bush and I had just decided my fall project will be turning it into a Mary garden (take out the rhodies, add more roses, a lilac and flowers). It’s right next to my front porch steps and I think it will be beautiful. My next-door neighbors have a rainbow flag and BLM yard sign and this will be so much prettier!
Vera says
Thank you so much for this post! Excellent idea that I will definitely incorporate into our future home. I really appreciate all the links posted in the comments as well. Always so practical!
Mrs. Bee says
Oh, a great post this is! And it is almost spooky, because just last week I thought of proposing to my son, who down the road wants to earn Trail Life’s highest award and is in need of a big service project idea for it, that he build some sort of little shrine for a parish, a Catholic nursing home, or whatever institution will be happy to have one. They are very, very common in Italy, thought of course no one builds them anymore… Country roads are dotted with them, city corners can reveal many of them as well – always with a little vase of flowers placed by someone who cares. Where I was born they are called maesta’ – majesty, I think because most of them are in honor of Mary, our Queen. Here’s a website that collects pictures from that area: https://www.lemaesta.it/ One such shrine precipitates a big crisis in one of the hilarious Don Camillo movies: the Communists who run the town want to tear one down because it’s in the way of their low-income housing project (of course they want it there just so they can tear the shrine down! And true to Judas, they care about the poor, a shrine is mere stones!), but popular devotion and the miraculous intervention of divine Providence have different plans, and in the end a beautiful compromise is found, with the intact shrine fully incorporated into the project design.
I, too, had luck at HomeGoods – two big statues of the Sacred Heart and Mary’s Immaculate Heart! These sit on our patio in the back – I like them there because they look at us and at the house. Each Christmas I hope I will find a good Nativity statue, but so far no luck. I think Christmas is an easy introduction to the idea of a religious display in the front of the house – and then one could change the “message” but still keep something, and a tradition is born. We also live out of the way, so only the mailman and delivery guys come close now and then. I have a “Chi Rho” glazed tile by the front door, but that might be too cryptic! We also have the Epiphany Blessing letters and numbers above the door, and sometimes I wonder what people make of that! Anyway, I’ll think of ways to add more Beauty – even if it’s mostly for our eyes only.
Julie says
We started a Facebook group called Find Mom at the beginning of the shutdown with the idea that people should go out for walks and post pictures of the Blessed Mother statues and paintings that they found. There was one great one where someone inserted a statue of Mary in a knothole of a tree probably 8 feet off the ground. So quirky and wonderful!
I love this post, and now it has me thinking about ways to improve the presentation of our statue.
Luce says
I search the internet for old sacred works to display. The craftsmanship is often superior than the modern market place, and more creative. A large price range. Worn and broken pieces add character and are often cost less. Etsy has some stores as well as eBay. I search on Catholic antiques and follow the rabbit hole. I love your article and hope others take up the call.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/976726015/virgin-of-el-rocio-our-lady-of-el-rocio?ref=hp_rv-4
Cirelo says
I hope you are going to Zion!
Have safe travels, we’ll miss you!
Ashley Drew says
In Atlanta, the Lakewood Antique Market, has multiple vendors set up one or two times a month. Many of them have statues and icons from parishes that were forced to sell off property for whatever reason. I despise seeing these items sold like that, but if you want something that will stand the test of time, then antique markets might be your best bet.
Good luck.
Hillary S. says
As far as icons, statues, and the like go, I personally keep up a good relationship with the parish secretary. Oftentimes, elderly Catholics in the area die with many of these treasures, and their children either have no space for them or no use for them (unfortunately, it’s more of the later). But they have a gut sense that religious pieces shouldn’t just be thrown away or given to goodwill, so they often deposit troves of them at the church. I’ve found GORGEOUS paintings and my current front yard Mary statue this way, and hope to glean more in the future. As long as you don’t have a very particular image or piece in mind, the price is definitely right!
Anne says
I have been shopping for statues ever since I read this last year. So many beautiful ones and so few funds to spend on them 😅
Katie says
I thought of this post today when after we voted we walked past a yard filled with political signs, and my 8yo said “do they think those signs will actually change people’s minds?” ha!!
And that reminds me, I want to look for something for our well-trafficked corner yard…
Wanda says
We have three Blessed Mothers in our yard. OLOG greets the mail carrier each day and the two Lady of Graces keep the garden at peace. We are thinking of turning our Little Free Library into a grotto as well.
Leila says
Wonderful! What if OL of Wisdom looked over the library! 🙂