One of the projects I wanted to get done before I started my board fast was setting up a family altar, a place for prayer. Now, ideally, this would be bigger, it would be out in a more conspicuous place, but seeing as my CoC family is over often and they would see this as a shrine to the devil, I decided to make it a bit more discrete. So it's located in a corner of our bedroom, which is quite hidden when the door is open, lol. Here's a description of what all is there:
I got some holiday napkins at Walmart in green, purple, and white, for the different liturgical seasons, and just sewed them up to fit over the little table! (That cost me...like $3! Woohoo!) I'm decoupaging a wine box (lol, it's the only thing that will fit in the little space under the table) and keeping the other table covers, lighters, more candles, etc inside it for convenience.
On the stand, I have a little easle for prayer cards, and several prayer cards to switch out. Right now it has St. Gerard on it (can you guess why? *sigh*) And of course the standing crucifix, and little statue of Mary, and my rosary hanging beside it. A lot of this stuff I got from totallycatholic.com for really cheap!
On the middle shelf I have a small French Bible de Jérusalem, and an old French "Christian manual," which has the New Testament and Thomas à Kempis' The Imitation of Christ in it, which I have yet to read! (Adding that onto my already long list...) There is also an image of Our Lady. Underneath the shelf is a prayer card with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
On the top shelf is just a simple Catholic book of common prayers, and an image of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Good stuff!
I'm excited to start putting my little family altar to good use! I will keep all of my online friends in my prayers!
16 comments:
That is so cool - I love it! You have given me some great ideas. Right now, I just have a small table in the corner of my bedroom with the photos of all the grandparents (deceased), a small candle and the images of the Immaculate and Sacred Hearts. It is a reminder to pray for our dead during the month of November. My children and I try to pray for them nightly during the month. But I really like the idea of setting up something more permanent. Thanks for sharing!
Very cool idea. I think it might be more fun to see the expressions on your families face if you had it in the living room!!! Seriously, I know what you mean. When my brother (protestant pastor) and his family come over we tone down the statues and rosary beads a bit.
They don't come over much anymore :(
It is lovely, Stephanie--Don't you tone it down a bit for anyone--You be who you are. . .it is YOUR faith!
I hope that with your board fast, you will continue to visit my blog and give feedback! Your thoughts are always valued!
Have a wonderful All Saints!
That sounds lovely, Anne! Here's a website that helped me put it together: http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19990301/FRIDGE/altar.htm
I know TJ...one day, when I'm not living in my CoC grandparents' house for free, lol, I'll be a bit more willing to bust out all the Catholic artifacts, and too bad if my family doesn't like it ;-)
I'll certainly do that, Thomas, and Happy All Saints' to you too! :-)
It's beautiful, Stephanie. Very tasteful and artistic.
Thanks Cheryl!
It's lovely! You have a real gift for aesthetics!
Why thank you, Kasia! :-)
"In the beginning..." God made 'stuff.' It's no surprise Catholicism likes stuff, too. Religion is not just cooly thought...thoughts, but rosary beads on fingertips, the glow of the candle, the speck of the bone of the martyr, the wafer in the mouth, "My Body." Rejoice!
Amen, Jim! ;-)
Now, if only I could figure out a way to make a family altar that my cats wouldn't destroy...
Lol, that is a problem!
I agree .. very cool. I've wanted to do something like this, but we ended up with "stuff" scattered throughout the house. A crucifix here, an angel over there, a framed print in that room, another crucifix in the bathroom, etc.
I have lots of "stuff" scattered everywhere too, it's nice to have reminders all over the house, but it's also nice to have one special place! I've been enjoying my daily prayers there!
Madre had a bunch of crosses on one wall.. it really freaked me out.
Lol! What's freaky about crosses?
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