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Gamera
Guest
Home altars sound interesting but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. Where do you get one? What goes on it? What’s it for?
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E.E.N.S
Guest
My father has one, (but I think that it is just an ornate “sofa table” or “entry table”), but on it is a deep red cloth, 6 large candles, and an altar crucifix on the top, and three small candles, two kneeling angels and a picture of Mary on the bottom section. It really looks like an altar you would see at a small TLM Mass. 
He converted an entire room to a “prayer room” - it has:
dark wood - floors, pews, and cross beams in the ceiling (half an A-ceiling), an 8ft crucifix that he and my mother practically made!, an incense stand with a censor and boat (all very ornate!), and a large painting of a the Sacred Heart of Jesus (the one that says For God so loved the world - in Latin - at the bottom of it) above the “altar” and other various paintings (his whole house probably has close to a hundred paintings)…some various statues…and much more really.
If you think that is a lot, you should see how many books he has! (He reads a lot!! like 5-8 hours a day!)
He converted an entire room to a “prayer room” - it has:
dark wood - floors, pews, and cross beams in the ceiling (half an A-ceiling), an 8ft crucifix that he and my mother practically made!, an incense stand with a censor and boat (all very ornate!), and a large painting of a the Sacred Heart of Jesus (the one that says For God so loved the world - in Latin - at the bottom of it) above the “altar” and other various paintings (his whole house probably has close to a hundred paintings)…some various statues…and much more really.
If you think that is a lot, you should see how many books he has! (He reads a lot!! like 5-8 hours a day!)
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Caesar
Guest
It was traditional for Catholic homes to have some area or table or shelf dedicated to religious devotion prior to the 1960s. Today the tradition is growing again.
Take a look at this article for more information -http://www.fisheaters.com/domesticchurch.html
I have a small altar/shrine on a shelf. There is a crucifix hanging at the very back of it, flanked by pictures of Christ and candles. There is a small statue of Our Lady in front of the crucifix, a small New Testament, prayer cards, and a small thurible.
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Andruschak
Guest
OPINION (only), reflecting my pagan training. Any table or flat surface can be used as an altar. What makes it an altar is your use of it for spiritual practices. Say after you bless it with holy water. Put on the altar whatever is meaningful to YOU.
Like icons? Put one or two on it. Dislike icons? Leave them off. Candles, crosses, crucifixes, altar cloths, whatever, up to you. Pictures and statues. Whatever helps.
Another opinion. Reverance, yes. Superstition, no. If your baby barfs on the altar cloth, or my cat deposits a hairball on the altar cloth, just clean it up. I work on the assumption that Mary is level headed and reasonable, does understand, and even has a sense of humor.
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Caesar
Guest
So, if a cat knocks a ladder into my path which causes me to drop an umbrella onto the table, I’m not supposed to throw money over my shoulder and put a statue of St. Benedict under the kitchen sink?
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Andruschak
Guest
Nahhhh…one Hail Mary should the jobSo, if a cat knocks a ladder into my path which causes me to drop an umbrella onto the table, I’m not supposed to throw money over my shoulder and put a statue of St. Benedict under the kitchen sink?
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havemercy
Guest
That’s good to know, I suppose.
I bought a wall sconce from my work for my future icon corner. I’ll put it up once I’m done painting my walls. I’m excited!
I bought a wall sconce from my work for my future icon corner. I’ll put it up once I’m done painting my walls. I’m excited!
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thistle
Guest
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Caesar
Guest
Your shrines never cease to amaze me.
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Crusade_Guy
Guest
Here’s the altar in my apartment:
C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Pictures-30-2007
C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Pictures-30-2007
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Crusade_Guy
Guest
Here’s a couple pics of the home altar in my apartment. I’m actually a little embarrassed about mine now that I have seen Thistle’s beautiful shrines. It’s pretty simple, just a plywood table my roommate built draped with some lacy white cloth with candles, statues, and a crucifix. I usually have a prayerbook, missal, or Bible and rosaries sitting on it too.
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Crusade_Guy
Guest
I’d like to post a couple pics of my home altar, but this thread says I cannot post attachments. :crying:
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E.E.N.S
Guest
Here is the home altar at my house (there is a lot more, but I took this picture with my laptop camera last night after praying Liturgy of the Hours)
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
(It’s not that dark, but hey I took this picture with a built-in-camera in my laptop…and yes, I know the picture is not straight.
)
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
(It’s not that dark, but hey I took this picture with a built-in-camera in my laptop…and yes, I know the picture is not straight.
)
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Marilena
Guest
i believe thistle posted a lovely picture of his home altar. i think he has one. correct me if iam wrong thistle?
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thistle
Guest
I posted my website in post #8.
I actually have more than those I show but because I’m technically clueless I haven’t yet figured out how to put more photos there.
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Marilena
Guest
oh goody!! i’ll go back and look
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LilyM
Guest
Wish I was tech savvy enough to post a picture of mine, but I’m sure you can use your imaginations if I describe it
- image of the Sacred Heart, nice little icon of Christ Pantocrator
- images of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Joseph,
- red and white roses,
- lacy white tablecloth,
- Bible, Rosary, prayerbooks,
- little votive candles burning more or less constantly (I’ve always had a thing about candles
) - a little bottle of Holy Water
- crucifix on the wall above
- and a new addition as of today, a mess of blessed candles (tapers really) from Candlemass, which I’m going to use to light the votives.
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Polish
Guest
Dear Gamera, To answer some of your questions, an icon corner, like the Church, is meant to convey the Heavenly Kingdom that we commune with in prayer.
The icon corner is more than a “corner.” It embraces our entire “Home Church.”
It can be very basic or as elaborate as you wish. However, centerally it should have an icon of the Lord Jesus and the Most Holy Mother of God. Around these two main icons, you can place icons of saints whom you feel closest to, as well as biblical scenes that inspire you.
The icons can be placed on a shelf or a table, preferrably on a white cloth. Ideally, though it is difficult in some homes, your icon corner should be on the East side of the room, so that you are facing the East while praying.
Some icon corners also have candles and incense.
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cyberwolf001
Guest
I was thinking the same thing. Going with a mostly Celtic theme. Changing the clothes during the season. An striping the whole thing bare just about for lent.
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Dunmoose
Guest
I have a simple little apartment altar. you can view it on this link here:
dboyko.info/images/prayercorner02.jpg
Its just an old endtable. There is a white tablecloth I use as an altarcloth. There are three candles at the back of the table. Then I have my two lighters and a candle snuffer. Roughly in the middle there is a wooden box I use to store my rosary. On the lower left is my breviary and a couple other prayer books.
dboyko.info/images/prayercorner02.jpg
Its just an old endtable. There is a white tablecloth I use as an altarcloth. There are three candles at the back of the table. Then I have my two lighters and a candle snuffer. Roughly in the middle there is a wooden box I use to store my rosary. On the lower left is my breviary and a couple other prayer books.
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