Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Jayme Stuart Wolfe describes a fresh approach to family prayer for Lent: creating a "door to Heaven" in your own home.

For most Catholics, Lent is an annual retreat, a time to hit the refresh button on our spiritual lives. And while prayer, fasting, and almsgiving should have a place in how we live our faith in Christ all year, finding a deeper way to engage in prayer is probably the single most important path to spiritual growth.

So how can we pray more deeply this Lent?
How can we make prayer more engaging, especially for the children in our lives?
By turning all those casual promises to pray for people into a mission—like my mom has.

Inspired several years ago by The War Room, a movie about intercessory prayer, Mom decided to post all her prayer requests and intentions on the inside of her closet door. That started as something simple but has since evolved into something much more elaborate and beautiful.

Decorated with holy cards of her favorite saints, images of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts, and red and white ribbons to symbolize Divine Mercy, Mom’s closet door is a work of art. But it’s also a practical way to honor the prayer requests she receives and keep track of them. For her, knocking on heaven’s door is no longer an abstract concept, but a living reality—one she knows has made a difference in the lives of the people whose names and needs are carefully pinned to her door.

Rosaries, novenas, Divine Mercy chaplets, Bible reading, fasting, acts of service, and Holy Communion: at 88, my mom has become a full-time prayer warrior. Best of all, she doesn’t have to spend money she doesn’t have or even leave the house to be a missionary intercessor. Neither do stay-at-home moms, young children, or people who are ill or less mobile than they used to be.

Click to tweet:
If you or your family are looking for a fresh approach to prayer this Lent, choose a door in your home and tap into the creativity God gave you. #CatholicMom

If you or your family are looking for a fresh approach to prayer this Lent, choose a door in your home and tap into the creativity God gave you. After-season dollar-store goodies, holy cards, construction paper, and ribbons can bring heaven’s doors to wherever you are. Pray for your family, your parish and your priests, the poor, lonely, and sick, and the souls of the deceased—especially those who have no one to pray for them. Then watch what God does, not only for the people you bring to Him, but for you!

When you establish a place where you and your family can bring your needs and the needs of others to Jesus in prayer, you will see grace flow like never before and witness the faithfulness of God.

How to Make Your Own Door to Heaven

Choose a door somewhere in your home.
Find an over-the-door set of hooks or other storage as a foundation.
Choose favorite colors or themes.
Decorate with holy cards of favorite saints, or favorite prayers.
Use sticky notes, or pins to post names or photos of people and the intentions and needs you are praying for.
Keep track of the prayers you offer, any sacrifices you make, and prayers that are answered.

Copyright 2023 Jaymie Stuart Wolfe
Images: (top, bottom): Canva; (center) copyright 2023 Jaymie Stuart Wolfe, all rights reserved.

About the author: 

Wife and mom of 8 adults, Jaymie is a Catholic convert working as a freelance writer, editor, inspirational speaker, and musician while loving life in New Orleans as a missionary disciple in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales.