Help creating shrine/home altar/Questions

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ccmcmg

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I used to visit many Hispanic homes when I was a young adult, and was amazed at their dedication to the Faith, with many pictures, decorations, etc.

We recently returned to the Church, and this is something I want to do; I will need to start small due to a recent nose dive in our economic situation.

Would it be improper to use the mantle above our fireplace? We currently have an assortment of angels (Boyd’s Bears, wood, and some others…not cheap ones) on it now; can I leave those on the mantle along with my special items? Also, I just thought of this: our family picture is over the mantle as well, on the wall. Should I remove it? I definitely don’t want to be ‘above’ God in any way.

We also have a very nice five-shelf thing (brain lapse, sorry…need my B12 badly) against the wall; it’s fairly narrow, but I’m currently using it for a few items that are religious (statues). Speaking of statues, I have a beautiful stone bust of Jesus in white; can I have it blessed, or is that dumb/unacceptable? What about the special angels that I have…blessed? We have one that is very very nice that was my husband’s Mom’s that we got her many years ago, and another I received from my Mom, in addition to my more decorative/pretty ones.

Either of these would be a temporary solution until I am able to get more items; I like the shelves, but I worry my dog will knock it over (although that’s never happened before). With many shelves, I could easily put our Bibles, Rosaries, Holy Cards, statues, candles on it, and they would be easily accessible. If it’s on my mantle, it’s accessible, but not as much. For the shelves, if most were dedicated to the Shrine, would it be okay to keep my Catechism, Missalette, etc on them? I don’t know why not, but I’m not sure.

I also have a beautiful wall plaque that says, “Rules for Today: Do nothing that you would not like to be doing when Jesus comes; Go nowhere you would not like to be found when Jesus comes. Say nothing you would not like to be saying when Jesus comes.” It hung on my grandparents’ kitchen wall my entire life, and when they both passed, that was the most important thing I asked for (the other thing was a stuffed animal from my childhood).

I also want to get some Holy Water for it, and perhaps install a small font by the front door.

Either of these options for the shrine/altar would be in our family room; I want to see it ALL the time; I would pass it every time I went to a different part of the house; although we have a separate entry living room, we rarely use it. In time, I would like to set up a small shrine or tribute in more rooms.

Thanks so much!
Blessings!
Christina
 
ccmcmg said:
I used to visit many Hispanic homes when I was a young adult, and was amazed at their dedication to the Faith, with many pictures, decorations, etc.
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I, too, find the dedication to the Catholic faith by Hispanic and non-Hispanic alike to be amazing. I often, before I joined this forum, “lurked” on the Home Altars thread, looking at the beautiful areas of prayer and solemnity.

Perhaps I can help you with your question! If I do not answer to your satisfaction, I apologize; hopefully someone will be able to if I am not.
ccmcmg said:
We recently returned to the Church, and this is something I want to do; I will need to start small due to a recent nose dive in our economic situation.

Would it be improper to use the mantle above our fireplace? We currently have an assortment of angels (Boyd’s Bears, wood, and some others…not cheap ones) on it now; can I leave those on the mantle along with my special items? Also, I just thought of this: our family picture is over the mantle as well, on the wall. Should I remove it? I definitely don’t want to be ‘above’ God in any way.
Click to expand...
No, I cannot see why it would be inappropriate to use the mantle above your fireplace; in fact, I can see why it would be a good place, as your entire family is likely to see it throughout the day and be reminded of their faith. Perhaps each night, after dinner, your entire family could pray the Rosary in front of the fireplace?

If you wish to leave your items on there, I would not see why it would be sinful or improper, given they are not sinful items. However, as your shrine grows, you may need to find somewhere else to keep those items. 😉 My shrine, on my windowsill, is growing and I’m afraid I won’t have enough room for all I want!

I am not sure of the family picture, although again I cannot see an issue with it and its being proper.
ccmcmg said:
We also have a very nice five-shelf thing (brain lapse, sorry…need my B12 badly) against the wall; it’s fairly narrow, but I’m currently using it for a few items that are religious (statues). Speaking of statues, I have a beautiful stone bust of Jesus in white; can I have it blessed, or is that dumb/unacceptable? What about the special angels that I have…blessed? We have one that is very very nice that was my husband’s Mom’s that we got her many years ago, and another I received from my Mom, in addition to my more decorative/pretty ones.
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I believe that anything can be blessed (I may be mistaken, however), and I believe that if you called your parish (or simply visited the parish office or sacristy during its “hours”), you would be able to have your items blessed by a priest.
ccmcmg said:
Either of these would be a temporary solution until I am able to get more items; I like the shelves, but I worry my dog will knock it over (although that’s never happened before). With many shelves, I could easily put our Bibles, Rosaries, Holy Cards, statues, candles on it, and they would be easily accessible. If it’s on my mantle, it’s accessible, but not as much. For the shelves, if most were dedicated to the Shrine, would it be okay to keep my Catechism, Missalette, etc on them? I don’t know why not, but I’m not sure.
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It would definitely be acceptable to keep your Catechism, Missal, etc. on your shelves; in fact, it may encourage your children (if you have any, if not, your husband) to read their Catechism and learn their faith.
ccmcmg said:
I also have a beautiful wall plaque that says, “Rules for Today: Do nothing that you would not like to be doing when Jesus comes; Go nowhere you would not like to be found when Jesus comes. Say nothing you would not like to be saying when Jesus comes.” It hung on my grandparents’ kitchen wall my entire life, and when they both passed, that was the most important thing I asked for (the other thing was a stuffed animal from my childhood).

I also want to get some Holy Water for it, and perhaps install a small font by the front door.

Either of these options for the shrine/altar would be in our family room; I want to see it ALL the time; I would pass it every time I went to a different part of the house; although we have a separate entry living room, we rarely use it. In time, I would like to set up a small shrine or tribute in more rooms.
Click to expand...
Perhaps you could hang your plaque near your shelves or your mantle (whichever you choose as your shrine area)? Installing a Holy Water font would be a wonderful idea, crossing yourself each time you enter your house; it is also a wonderful idea to use the family room as the room for your shrine, given you will see it often and be reminded of your faith each time you pass it.

God bless, and good luck! I wish to see it when you are finished, it sounds very beautiful! 🙂
 
Immacolata said:
I, too, find the dedication to the Catholic faith by Hispanic and non-Hispanic alike to be amazing. I often, before I joined this forum, “lurked” on the Home Altars thread, looking at the beautiful areas of prayer and solemnity.

Perhaps I can help you with your question! If I do not answer to your satisfaction, I apologize; hopefully someone will be able to if I am not.

No, I cannot see why it would be inappropriate to use the mantle above your fireplace; in fact, I can see why it would be a good place, as your entire family is likely to see it throughout the day and be reminded of their faith. Perhaps each night, after dinner, your entire family could pray the Rosary in front of the fireplace?

If you wish to leave your items on there, I would not see why it would be sinful or improper, given they are not sinful items. However, as your shrine grows, you may need to find somewhere else to keep those items. 😉 My shrine, on my windowsill, is growing and I’m afraid I won’t have enough room for all I want!

I am not sure of the family picture, although again I cannot see an issue with it and its being proper.

I believe that anything can be blessed (I may be mistaken, however), and I believe that if you called your parish (or simply visited the parish office or sacristy during its “hours”), you would be able to have your items blessed by a priest.

It would definitely be acceptable to keep your Catechism, Missal, etc. on your shelves; in fact, it may encourage your children (if you have any, if not, your husband) to read their Catechism and learn their faith.

Perhaps you could hang your plaque near your shelves or your mantle (whichever you choose as your shrine area)? Installing a Holy Water font would be a wonderful idea, crossing yourself each time you enter your house; it is also a wonderful idea to use the family room as the room for your shrine, given you will see it often and be reminded of your faith each time you pass it.

God bless, and good luck! I wish to see it when you are finished, it sounds very beautiful! 🙂
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Thanks for your great thoughts! The large blue plaque is one of my most cherished items. My grandparents were very religious and holy, and I learned about God not just from words from them, but example and daily living. They were Protestant, but tremendously amazing in Him.

The font will be also for crossing myself when I go out into the world; I have more temptations while out in public than sitting at home! 🙂 (Mostly, biting my tongue!)

I just remembered I do have a very large corner shelf/stand that would work great, if I can find the proper place for it. If not, I plan on creating a tribute on it in our bedroom. I pray there nightly, and would be a good place for one.

C
 
I was thinking of a corner shelf myself. Is there a place in the same room as your fire place that can be used? I was kind of thinking that it might be nice if you could get someone to install a set of shelves in there. It wouldn’t have to take up much room. Only big enough for what you have, plus a bit of grow room. Actually, that would depend on how much you want it to grow. The plaque can hang near by, along with any religious pictures you may have.

I don’t have a specific shrine, but I do have various religious objects around the house. Mostly in the living room. As far as books go, I have a lot. Not all of them Catholic ones. The books, among a few other things, are on a shelf that takes up one whole wall of my living room. Then I have a few statues of Mary, a picture of Christ (I think the title of it is, "for God so loved the world.) Anyway, it has that in Latin on it. So i have a few odds and ends. I guess they mostly found their way into the living room.

I have (or had) a holy water font somewhere. I tried using it, but it wouldn’t hold water!! I’d put water in it, only to find it empty an hour or so later. :eek:
 
Christy_Beth said:
I was thinking of a corner shelf myself. Is there a place in the same room as your fire place that can be used? I was kind of thinking that it might be nice if you could get someone to install a set of shelves in there. It wouldn’t have to take up much room. Only big enough for what you have, plus a bit of grow room. Actually, that would depend on how much you want it to grow. The plaque can hang near by, along with any religious pictures you may have.

I don’t have a specific shrine, but I do have various religious objects around the house. Mostly in the living room. As far as books go, I have a lot. Not all of them Catholic ones. The books, among a few other things, are on a shelf that takes up one whole wall of my living room. Then I have a few statues of Mary, a picture of Christ (I think the title of it is, "for God so loved the world.) Anyway, it has that in Latin on it. So i have a few odds and ends. I guess they mostly found their way into the living room.

I have (or had) a holy water font somewhere. I tried using it, but it wouldn’t hold water!! I’d put water in it, only to find it empty an hour or so later. :eek:
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Our family room is awkward, and my current corner shelf thing might be too wide in the one corner of the room available (the others: sliding glass door, door to hallway, fireplace edge…we’ll see how it goes! 🙂 I could do wall shelves. Also, we don’t use our fireplace, so in the future, I could get something to put in front of it.

I also found some boards on Pinterest! 🙂

C
 
CCMCMG
In the Eastern tradition we will have in our homes an icon corner, usually consisting of a shelf or book case with icons of Jesus and Mary, our patron saints, and other saints or events in the Bible which may have special meaning to us. Some folks will have an oil lamp and incense burner to provide a more prayerful setting. Such a place in one’s home can provide you with a refuge and place of quiet and prayer. Google will provide many tasteful examples.
God bless us all. bob.c
 
To my knowledge there are no rules/rubrics for home shrines. I built mine from used plywood. a few 2x2’s, some wood screws, a small container of plaster board “mud” and some paint. It took awhile for it to come together. I posted pictures of here before but he goes again.
 
corsair said:
To my knowledge there are no rules/rubrics for home shrines. I built mine from used plywood. a few 2x2’s, some wood screws, a small container of plaster board “mud” and some paint. It took awhile for it to come together. I posted pictures of here before but he goes again.
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Very nice!
C
 
I too find home shrines to be a very beautiful and personalised expression of Faith. I can relate to the desire to start small too, as a full-time and unemployed university student, I simply have a San Damiano Cross, a single candle and a statue of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The statue is currently used as a bookend, and the cross is hung on the front edge of a bookcase, and the candle on the shelf next to it. I have recently purchased a statue of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos which will hopefully find an area around the place.

While elaborate shrines are definitely beautiful, I prefer simple and minimalistic, not just because it is all I can afford, but also because I think I would get too distracted otherwise (I get distracted enough as it is haha :o )

All the best, and keep us updated with your progress!

Regards
Matt
 
corsair said:
To my knowledge there are no rules/rubrics for home shrines. I built mine from used plywood. a few 2x2’s, some wood screws, a small container of plaster board “mud” and some paint. It took awhile for it to come together. I posted pictures of here before but he goes again.
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Good golly, that’s impressive! Do you ever have Mass at home?
 
I have everything but an Altar stone/relic. I do have a relic though; just not in a stone. I have never had a Mass said in my house but it could be done. In fact I have attended Masses by visiting priests in homes where they had a lot less to work with than I have. Even have a Ciborium and Chalice/paten.

The wife put a stop to my excessiveness. The place was starting to look like a full blown church complete with kneelers.

Mea culpa, 🙂
 
corsair said:
I have everything but an Altar stone/relic. I do have a relic though; just not in a stone. I have never had a Mass said in my house but it could be done. In fact I have attended Masses by visiting priests in homes where they had a lot less to work with than I have. Even have a Ciborium and Chalice/paten.

The wife put a stop to my excessiveness. The place was starting to look like a full blown church complete with kneelers.

Mea culpa, 🙂
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One thing we should keep in mind is that we should not have an altar in our homes. Altars, by definition, are for sacrifice and our sacrifice is the mass, which can only be celebrated outside a consecrated church or oratory/chapel (ie a sacred place in canon law parlance) in normal circumstances.

Can. 932 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.

§2. The eucharistic sacrifice must be carried out on a dedicated or blessed altar; outside a sacred place a suitable table can be used, always with a cloth and a corporal.

Everything the OP describes is good, but refrain from referring to it as an altar, which is a particular type of sacred object to Catholics.

God bless
 
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