Home altars

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SacredHeartFan, thanks for starting this thread! I made the most ghetto home altar ever, consisting of a milk crate turned on its side on the ground, with a lap desk on top (mostly flat piece of plastic, just for a bigger “table” area), covered with a white pillowcase. I moved a lamp next to it and I can stick books inside the crate. Holy cards of Madonna & Child & Sts. Dominic & Thomas, and a small crucifix, and holy water, sit on top, with space for an open prayer-book.

It’s already helped me, because I say a daily Rosary but sometimes it is too cold to run to the Chapel so I try to say it kneeling by my bed… but then I fall onto the bed… :yawn: :sleep: :doh2: But with a “home altar” it seems like a fitting place to pray, so I don’t give up. (well, I have only tried this once, but I’m hoping to make it a habit!)

I put it where if the closet door is open, you can’t see it, so as not to weird out my Protestant housemate, but I have to remember to leave it so I can see it, till I remember it’s there!
 
I’m beginning to understand something. My Mom used to tell me that when I was a child she asked a priest to come and bless the house. When he came in he asked did she want it blessed? If I got Mom’s story straight, he said it was like a Church.

Through the years, Mom and I traveled, bringing numerous religious souvenirs home, adding them to images which have sentimental value. After seeing some of your altars, I’m thinking I have altars all over the house without really calling them that ! (walls, halls, end tables, door, bedroom bureaus - everywhere). I’d have to photograph every room! No more candles (we used to light votive in kitchen daily for particular feast or regular day as in Our Lady on Mondays, St. Anthony on Tuesdays, etc.) but statues and images everywhere - which I think surprised visitors - but I always took for granted as the norm.
 
Here is my “portable” shrine:

Top with the ship:


Outside, front of the box:


Inside the box:


Another look inside the box reveals!!!:


List of what is inside the box!
Crucifix
Statue of St. Jospeh
Statue of St. Christopher
Statue of St. Anthony
Rosary

I plan to buy a small prayer book to keep inside though.
 
SacredHeartFan said:
Yes. When I’m done, I just lay everything down in it and close it. My mom used to use the box, but then she gave it to me and I had this idea.
Click to expand...
That’s awesome it looked actually quite professional. My family accused me of idolatry today because of my small shrine in my room. 😦 Oh well.
 
Here is an idea for people looking to find something to make a shrine. I though of it. I went to Walmart and bought a small desk…No shelves or anything so its just flat. Its about as tall as my hips and nice and flat. I bought 3 big wicker baskets to put under it to keep all of my books and phamplets. Then I bought a nice fabric tablecloth. Its floral and lacey and put that on. All the baskets holding all of my stuff is underneath but hidden by the tablecloth. On it I have statues, a bible, missal, prayer books, rosaries, chaplets, candles, flowers, holy cards, a stand up crucifix. And on the wall I hung all my favorite religious prints. Another tip is the “fake lit” candles. I bought mine on QVC. They are made of real wax in many colors and even scented. They run on batteries and light up and flicker like a real candle. They are great because the wax and scents make it seem so real. I bought the candles that have a timer. They turn on by themselves, stay lit for 5 hours and then turn off. Its nice not having to worry about open flames or deal with wires.
 
Any other pics from anyone?
I haven’t been on this thread in a long time!
 
Same here, I don’t know. I only have a antique Crucifix on my desk with some prayer cards around it.
 
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I change the colored cloth based on the liturgical season- this one’s Easter/Christmas season.

(Crucifix is from EWTN, only like 60$, gorgeous, one of the best-looking, most economical standing crucifixes I’ve been able to find.)
 
I’m hoping to have one in a few months as I am working on a basement finishing project. Fun! I already have a nice print of Sanzio’s ‘Disputation about the Eucharist’ and an icon of St. Michael the Archangel from years ago to start me out. I’m looking forward to finishing the basement project mostly so I can get my home altar area set up. 👍
 
It was so wonderful to read through this thread and see so many people devoted to a place to pray.

I was just confirmed at Easter Vigil and finally set up my devotional shrine last weekend. I have a landing at the top of the second story of my home with nothing there.
I hung “For God So Loved the World” print by Unknown. Above that I have a beautiful pewter crucifix. I have a framed copy of Bouguereau’s Pieta, which just takes my breath away under those.
I found a nice end table that I covered with a beautiful scarf I bought in Medjugorje.
On the table I have a blessed St. Michael candle, a statue of our Lady from Medjugorje and some blessed cloths from there too. I have a dyptich of Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother. A special rosary and until Sunday, I have a wooden chalice that has been consecrated on the altar of my church. We take turns bringing them into our homes and praying for vocations. I asked if I could have it forever but, no, as a good Catholic, I have to share. 🙂

My father had some 20 year aged oak so he made me a Prie Dieu with the padded kneeler, shelf etc. He is going to stain it to match my woodwork. So, I can light a candle, turn off the lights and pray in complete silence or I can turn on the light and just contemplate the beauty of My Lord’s face.

I do have to say that I usually consider an “Altar” as a place that has been consecrated and solely for the use of offering a sacrifice, as we do in mass. I would consider what I have at home as a shrine. Everything has been blessed by my Priest but, I can’t consider it an altar.

I really wish I had a family member who was a Priest. Course, I would be bugging him every day to come and pray for me, pray over me, offer mass for me, bless me, lay hands on me. (I am a recent convert so it is still all about me) Might be a bit much. I feel bad enough for my parish Priest having me bring in something every other week to get blessed.
I love my Priests!!! Without them we have no Eucharist and without the Eucharist, we have no life within us.
 
muffinmojo I like it! Who are the two saints at the bottem of the crucifix?
 
= ] Thanks.

They’re st Franics and Anthony, I got them in Germany…hand carved, etc, very awesome.

And the holy water is from the font I was baptised in 👍
 
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