The Manifestation of a Silent Alliance
“And your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Matthew 6:4).
In my line of work (interior design), I come into contact with Catholics who are on varying faith journeys and, therefore, have varying ways of displaying religious items. Whether we use abstract or direct symbolism, I thirst to bring glory and honor to God. With every potential client, I desire to gently assist them in deepening their connection with Christ, but when that client is a family member, it can be easy to fall into a certain set of expectations.
To Whom Shall I Cry but to You, O Lord
A dear family member wanted to furnish a short-term vacation rental. Given our history, I knew their strong notions against mixing business with faith (and knew they would not be open to having a crucifix in the home), but I decided to lend them my help with general home styling.
Throughout the duration of the project, I opened up my mind to God through a casual inner dialogue. Whenever I entered my car, I explained everything to Him, knowing well that He was in the passenger seat. Although I hadn’t mentioned my concerns to my family member, they remained at the forefront of my mind.
To make up for the missing crucifix, I decided to use subtle Christian motifs and place a Catholic Bible in every nightstand, just as hotels used to put Protestant Bibles in nightstand drawers. These Bibles were a method of evangelization that we both agreed on.
For weeks, it brought me great dissatisfaction that, despite being a close family member, I could not convince them to hang a crucifix in their rental property as they do in their own home. I understand how the sight of the crucifix could be off-putting for a guest, but since I had a reversion to Catholicism, I see life through a different lens. Jesus said, “Whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father” (Matthew 10:33). With every decision, we choose life or death, as we do not know when our final hour will be.
Eventually, I let the matter go, feeling that God’s presence was marked in the space by other means. Later, we agreed on the need for a priest to come and bless the home. We were both excited about the upcoming appointment, and as I scheduled the house blessing, I began to forget about my worries regarding the crucifix.
What May Seem Improbable Is Not Impossible: My Soul Waits for the Lord
On the day the priest arrived at the home, he brought a red velvet box. You can imagine what was inside! I paused and even stepped back in disbelief. The crucifix inside even matched the decor of the home!
When we finished becoming acquainted, my family member started to ask the priest if it made sense to include a crucifix in a home that would have guests with different beliefs. At that point, I made no hesitation to share my concern about the matter. The priest also defended the idea that even a rental property should have a crucifix prominently displayed if owned by a Catholic.
Slowly, we came to a final agreement. The priest blessed the crucifix as well as the home, and they had a spiritual and delightful conversation. I could tell it was the highlight of my family member’s day. After the priest left, we mounted the crucifix on the wall. I thought to myself, “So be it! Let them be the first to normalize this practice.”
I cannot recall how many house blessings I have been to, and this was the first time a priest had taken it upon himself to give the homeowner a crucifix. Perhaps it is customary, but this was my first time witnessing such a precious act. I knew it was God answering my prayer, using the tough love of this Irish priest to give me the green light for the crucifix.
Sometimes, all it takes is sharing your worries with God, without even directly petitioning Him. Talk to Jesus every day about your issues, and let Him decide how to intervene. He is literally with you through every struggle. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8).
This experience reminded me that alliances are being forged without our knowing. If you are seeking and willing, then God is working on placing people on your path, at the right time, to help you and others grow bolder in your walk of faith. It is truly a hidden kinship woven together through the secret powers of grace. We all can share in the citizenship of Heaven and bring others through its celebrated gates.
Many saints invoked through daily intercession have died for this unseen sublimity—this final union with God. Make it a point to call on them. Ask them to become your patron for a particular day or a certain undertaking. It all begins with your undying affection. If we can start by showing God how much we care, we will see what He has in store for us at the most opportune time.
Berthe Emmanuella Antoine is an interior designer who sees no distinction between her work life and devotion to God. She fine tunes others on how to create beautiful habitations in Christ from their domestic surroundings to the innermost parts of their being. Her rule of life has led her to launch INTERIOREM VITAM, a Catholic decor blog and boutique with a sleek and classic aesthetic. She is forever whisked away into the intricacies of hidden devotions and the silence of the interior life. She hopes to build a fruitful community around the brand’s mobile app. Feel free to join and start a conversation with your comments.