Home Altars in a time of Pandemic

Status
Not open for further replies.
The crucifix is now veiled but during Passiontide I display the statue of Jesus the Captive. Close by there’s also a statue of the sorrowful Mother and a perpetual lamp. (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
PennyinCanada said:
I’m wondering if altar is the right word. Altar implies a spot for a sacrifice, something that priests do for the celebration of the Eucharist or the Jews when sacrificing a lamb. Perhaps Prayer Corner would fit better.
Click to expand...
I call mine an oratory, which means a place for prayer. Of course there’s no altar. It has a prie-Dieu, a crucifix, a statuette of the BVM, my liturgy books, candles and a small incense burner.

If these home “altars” are places for personal or family prayer then either oratory or prayer corner is more appropriate. I would use oratory if in a separated area, and prayer corner or place if out in the open.

A bit pedantic I suppose! The important thing is to have a dedicated spot for prayer/lectio. It really helps.
 
PennyinCanada said:
I’m wondering if altar is the right word.
Click to expand...
I wrestled with this too, but then I realized that Morning and Evening prayer is a sacrifice of praise. So, I decided I was OK with it.

But I prefer oratory.
 
Last edited:
C.Ray said:
40.png
C.Ray:
but then I realized that Morning and Evening prayer is a sacrifice of praise
Click to expand...
I have never heard this. Thanks
Click to expand...
I got the notion from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer:
“For these thy mercies, we bless and magnify thy glorious Name; humbly beseeching thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving”

Maybe the ordinariate office uses this phrase… I’m not sure.
 
Last edited:
Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense ; and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Ps141:2
 
@Mary888 Thank you. I didn’t know there were unseen angles when we pray! I will try the veil or even a headscarf to help soothe and quiet things so that I can focus too. Great ideas from you. I miss the incense too, from the mass. This time is also painful as well.
 
Very nice, thank you.

@po18guy the video shares that we veil things that are beautiful, mysterious and life-giving.

So am I veiling the crucifix in a black scarf or do I use a purple one right now?
 
Last edited:
He seems to be saying that something that is clean and decent. The color is nice but the veiling addresses the spiritual aspect.
 
@po18guy @Emeraldlady @PennyinCanada @tafan2 @CathBoy1 @(name removed by moderator)

What is the spiritual aspect to each of you, as you place a veil over the crucifix?

And are you covering the crucifix with a purple cloth right now, or are we using a black cloth currently?
 
Mary15 I don’t cover a crucifix ever. I don’t veil an icon. It’s a foreign idea to me. Why wouldn’t I want to look at the crucifix during Lent?
 
I myself haven’t veiled my crucifix’s, but if I did I would use purple as that is what I have been accustomed to seeing, purple being the color of royalty.
As for the spiritual aspect it is meant to put us into solemn state of mind.
It is a beautiful tradition.

I do not (currently) have a home altar as I have no room in my rather small home, I do however have several crucifix’s of which this is probably my favorite:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Last edited:
All my Catholic items are in storage right now, but I brought these items out to build a place to pray at home.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) (Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

St Bonosa relic card and my father’s first communion certificate.
 
I feel you on that one, for sure!

If you go to the top of the thread, check out the second post where someone posted a video about this.

I dont want to hide Jesus either right now, I want to be able to see my Savior, right?

So I placed purple decorative scarf underneath the crucifix so that the prayer table is covered up with the Lenten color.

Im not going to cover Mary or any other sacred things, bc, I dont know about you, but I need all the help I can get right now!
 
Last edited:
mary15 said:
@po18guy @Emeraldlady @PennyinCanada @tafan2 @CathBoy1 @(name removed by moderator)

What is the spiritual aspect to each of you, as you place a veil over the crucifix?

And are you covering the crucifix with a purple cloth right now, or are we using a black cloth currently?
Click to expand...
I have to relate that the covering the crucifix didn’t resonate with me. It was never a tradition that I remember or happened in my house. When I was a child my family participated in a weekly stations of the Cross which was a raw contemplation on the journey of Jesus to Calvary.

As a cradle Catholic I have to report that I’m just not familiar with the veiling of the Crucifix.
 
We do not cover the statutes or religious art in our home during any of lent. I am nit bring critical if the practice. But I must admit to not liking it personally. They are an aid to prayer,. We are called to pray more during lent, why cover up the aids? But that’s just me, I know it’s a tradition for many.
 
I have two small oratories and a few other items scattered throughout my home helping me make it through home isolation. I don’t cover anything. At my parish things are covered, but I prefer not to do the same at home.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Last edited:
I have a small oratory in my living room with many statues and and image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I used to veil my statues and images and then stopped for awhile after my family was grown but this year with all that is going on, I did cover some and will probably finish and cover more today. I like the video above where he explains many reasons for veiling the statues. I have also heard that the tradition started in the past when the Sunday before Palm Sunday was called Passion Sunday and the reading every year on that Sunday came from the Gospel of John 8:46-59.

In the very last line of the reading John says, “they took up stones therefore to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple.”

St. Augustine says Jesus made Himself invisible at that moment.

So for me, right now with the virus and the doors of the Churches locked I find an extra special significance in covering the images, especially since all of this is happening at this very special time of the year, Lent.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top