Family altar

[TheSeeker2014]

I am planning on making a family altar very soon with a baby coming (which is healthy luckily ). I do need ideas on what would be good to add to the altar. I am also putting together a binder of prayers and would like ideas for that as well.

Pictures and links are welcomed as well/.

thanks

 

[pensmama87]

Ours is very simple - we have two candles on top of our fireplace mantel, and I use a table runner corresponding to the liturgical color of the season (sometimes I remember to change it just for the day in the case of a feast for a martyr, etc.) I also keep our family Bible and a book of Catholic prayers there, and would like to add at some point when I get to it a nice notebook for writing in specific prayer intentions so we don’t forget to pray them. Over the mantel I have a crucifix, and I would also like to add a few images. I’ve also considered getting a small censer to burn incense there, since I find that very conducive to praying.

Ours is mostly used in the evening as part of our bedtime routine - we have a “family prayer time.”

 

[His_helpmeet]

Statues of St. Joseph, Our Blessed Lady, and the Child Jesus (such as the Infant of Prague) make a nice touch.

 

[Mary_Estelle]

I love family “alters” However, I call mine a prayer room or meditation room. You can have anything you want on your alter. I wouldn’t have real candles 'though. Too much temptation for little fingers. There are battery operated candles available.
The reason I don’t call mine an alter is because I think of an alter as a table of scared sacrifice. That is just me; you can call you place of prayer anything you wish. Please post a picture when you can. I don’t have the savvy to post mine.

 

[camerong]

Here’s our blog post about how our altar will always be inexorably linked to Elsa from Frozen.

 

[DakiniArtist]

I compiled some basic prayers and prayer starters, including some I picked up from other sources, including “ACTS”–Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. I printed these and glued them to colored notecards, hole punched them at the top and attached them to book rings ($2 at WalMart). Some of the prayer card say things like, “Say the Daily Office,” “Pray the Rosary,” “Pray for My Children’s Future Spouses,” “Saint ____, pray for us,” and the like. On another book ring, I put some Bible verses for memorization.

These stay on our altar, along with a Bible. Hoping to add other things, such as statues and cards, flowers.