Home altars

[holdencaulfield]

Haha. That makes three of us with a protestant family with weird reactions to shrines. My mom got kinda weirded out when she saw mine in my room, and out of respect for her feelings, I took it down. I’m picky about appearances, and something just wasn’t appealing to me about my personal prayer area anyway. Besides, what greater shrine than the Temple of the Holy Spirit in my heart?

True

Holden- I’d reccomend respecting your family’s feelings about Catholicism. Your actions as a Christian will speak louder about your faith than any prayer corner.

Yes I know, they don’t openly attack my faith. However some of the snide comments by them do get on my nerves.

 

[Rabbititus]

I’m very proud of my little home altar, which sits on a shelf I found for half price at a hobby store. It has an old crucifix, a lithograph of the Madonna and Child framed behind it that I got for free because my friend’s wife works for a church and had tons of them laying around, a pair of candlesticks, a wood box with a rosary and holy cards, some hold water, and a small prayer book. I keep my other books nearby in a bookcase. It also has a little picture stand that I use to put up different holy cards at different times.

All in all, I’m very happy with it. Though I unfortunately don’t have any pictures.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I’m very proud of my little home altar, which sits on a shelf I found for half price at a hobby store. It has an old crucifix, a lithograph of the Madonna and Child framed behind it that I got for free because my friend’s wife works for a church and had tons of them laying around, a pair of candlesticks, a wood box with a rosary and holy cards, some hold water, and a small prayer book. I keep my other books nearby in a bookcase. It also has a little picture stand that I use to put up different holy cards at different times.

All in all, I’m very happy with it. Though I unfortunately don’t have any pictures.

Yes I like pictures.

 

[holdencaulfield]

I like the idea of having Blessed Salt around. Could I just get this at a church the same as Holy Water?

 

[Margarite]

I am so sorry for you people with protestant family! I am soooooooo blessed! I am 18 and my parents and we kids are the only “good” Catholics in either my mom’s or dad’s family. I could not think of a better single word than good. What I mean by that is that we are the only practicing Catholics in union with Rome. So while we don’t have any support from our relatives, (it is much harder for my parent’s) we live comfortably together. My father enjoys arguing with us over dinner, teaching us how to defend our faith, and my mother teaches us devotions.

My mom’s whole immediate family is in the SSPX and her extended family is all protestant (we get along better with the protestants). My dad’s whole family is non-praciticing Catholics, or occational practicing Catholics. One of my aunts converted to mormonism.

So I can sort of feel for you, but I have it much better than you guys. Are you all young? I mean do you have to live at home? If so, how is it that such young people have become Catholic? I cannot imagine telling my parents that I am becoming protestant, or mormon, or anything else. I cannot imagine living with them after I did. I am 18 and I could never say such a thing unless I truly believed it and even then…Wow! I love being Catholic and I could not give that up.

I like the one person’s idea of putting it in your closet. How do you all get to mass?

When I was little, my mom had me read a story about a little girl, in about the second grade, who told her friend of the same age who was protestant, all about Jesus, Holy Communion, and the Catholic Church. Well the protestant little girl got sick and was going to die, so she asked her parents to let her become Catholic. Her parents called a priest, and he gave her her First Holy Communion and Last Rights. I was always touched by that story, and of course the book told it better than I did.

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[BennyBoy89]

I am so sorry for you people with protestant family! I am soooooooo blessed! I am 18 and my parents and we kids are the only “good” Catholics in either my mom’s or dad’s family. I could not think of a better single word than good. What I mean by that is that we are the only practicing Catholics in union with Rome. So while we don’t have any support from our relatives, (it is much harder for my parent’s) we live comfortably together. My father enjoys arguing with us over dinner, teaching us how to defend our faith, and my mother teaches us devotions.

My mom’s whole immediate family is in the SSPX and her extended family is all protestant (we get along better with the protestants). My dad’s whole family is non-praciticing Catholics, or occational practicing Catholics. One of my aunts converted to mormonism.

So I can sort of feel for you, but I have it much better than you guys. Are you all young? I mean do you have to live at home? If so, how is it that such young people have become Catholic? I cannot imagine telling my parents that I am becoming protestant, or mormon, or anything else. I cannot imagine living with them after I did. I am 18 and I could never say such a thing unless I truly believed it and even then…Wow! I love being Catholic and I could not give that up.

I like the one person’s idea of putting it in your closet. How do you all get to mass?

When I was little, my mom had me read a story about a little girl, in about the second grade, who told her friend of the same age who was protestant, all about Jesus, Holy Communion, and the Catholic Church. Well the protestant little girl got sick and was going to die, so she asked her parents to let her become Catholic. Her parents called a priest, and he gave her her First Holy Communion and Last Rights. I was always touched by that story, and of course the book told it better than I did.

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

I’m 18 and a senior in high school. My father’s family is Lutheran and my mother’s family is a mix of baptist/charismatic/non-denominational evangelical Christians. I was raised non-denominational/Southern Baptist. Needless to say, my family didn’t take my conversion well, but they’ve come to accept it. In the beginning I think they thought that it was a phase that I would get over… that didn’t happen. As of now my family can’t find a church to attend regularly, and so don’t take too much issue with me attending Mass. My dad is one of those “I can worship God in any church I happen to be in” types, so my Mass attendance has never been a problem.

In my journey, the hardest people to deal with aren’t the die-hard protestants, but the Catholics that have left the Church to become protestant. They’re downright rude and in-your-face when it comes to discussion of the faith. (Perhaps some suppressed guilt?)

Margarite, that’s very interesting that your mom’s immediate family is SPPX and the rest are protestants. How’d that come about? What do your protestant family members think of them? (If you don’t mind me asking…)

 

[Rawb]

I like the idea of having Blessed Salt around. Could I just get this at a church the same as Holy Water?

Probably not. Blessed Salt has sort of fallen by the wayside, as have many other things. We’re seeing here how we younger guys are bringing them back though!

Traditionally Blessed Salt is Sea Salt, but if you can’t find that don’t worry about it. Get a bag/box/can/shaker, take it to your local church, and have the priest bless it. Boom, Blessed Salt. They might ask you about it, some haven’t seen Salt be blessed in years. My deacon laughed when he first saw it; for a split second he though I was asking him to bless drugs.

Are you all young? I mean do you have to live at home? If so, how is it that such young people have become Catholic?

I was 18 when I entered RCIA, 19 when I was Confirmed. It wasn’t that big of a deal for my family, both my parents were raised Catholic, my grandparents were/are still all Catholic (maternal Grandma was my Confirmation Sponsor, and paternal Grandfather sent me a catechism for Easter). My Dad has the most issues with it I think, but he’s not going to say anything to me about it. I live with my sister now (though I had my first shrine at my parent’s house) and my bedroom is a bastion of Catholic memorabilia. I didn’t post pictures of the Saints I painted that look like Stained Glass, or the Holy Water font by my door, or the St. Benedict medal above my door, or the house blessing on my wall, or Saint statues by my bed, or…

Well, you get the point.

 

[holdencaulfield]

So I can sort of feel for you, but I have it much better than you guys. Are you all young? I mean do you have to live at home?

Yes I do live at home.

If so, how is it that such young people have become Catholic?

It all started when I got really sick. Just like Martin Luther I feared my own death and damnation. I decided to start reading the Bible. While I was doing this I started studying the Protestant Reformation. I couldn’t understand how Protestants could throw away years of Tradition of the Church. And also the Bible is a product of Tradition. So I decided to see if the Tradition of the Church matched the Bible. And guess what, it matched it exactly. Then I started to looking into Protestant doctrine and found that most of it is not in the Bible. So Martin Luther led me to Catholicism.

I cannot imagine telling my parents that I am becoming protestant, or mormon, or anything else. I cannot imagine living with them after I did. I am 18 and I could never say such a thing unless I truly believed it and even then…Wow! I love being Catholic and I could not give that up.

Me two, however it is a constant battle in my household.

I like the one person’s idea of putting it in your closet. How do you all get to mass?

I don’t go very often. I’m not Confirmed yet so I’m waiting for the RCIA this September. I’m looking very much forward for it. When I do go, I have to go by myself. My family dislikes Mass so I go alone.

When I was little, my mom had me read a story about a little girl, in about the second grade, who told her friend of the same age who was protestant, all about Jesus, Holy Communion, and the Catholic Church. Well the protestant little girl got sick and was going to die, so she asked her parents to let her become Catholic. Her parents called a priest, and he gave her her First Holy Communion and Last Rights. I was always touched by that story, and of course the book told it better than I did.

That’s so sad, although at least she got what she wanted.

 

[Margarite]

BennyBoy89, Rawb, and holdencaulfield,
WoW you guys have amazing stories, I don’t know that I would be brave enough to stand up to my parents and I don’t know that I would study enough to determine that the Catholic Church was THE church. I am amazed.

As far as my mother’s family,
Well my mother’s mother (Poly) converted to Catholocism when she married my grandfather. The rest of her family remained protestant. Well, my mother’s family became involved with the SSPX and when the SSPX left the church, they stayed with the SSPX. Very sad. As far as relationships go, we are closer to our protestant family than our SSPX family. The SSPX people say that we and all our protestant family are going to hell, because we do not go to the TLM. It is really sad/strange. The protestant people are normal, they live very good lives, they follow the commandments, they are very good people (one of them just had her fifth child), and they are not judgemental. The SSPX people are a little strange, they live good lives, etc., but they are very judgemental, and they do this openly, even in front of children.
I mean my parents have always told us about the situation, but I think it rude for aunts and uncles to tell their nieces that the church they are going to is bad, and that all their clothing is bad. It is much easier to catch flies with honey than vinigar, and I think the SSPX needs to learn this lesson (well maybe not, because that is what keeps lots of people out).

I feel very blessed to have the parents I have and the education this whole situation has given me. I know more about more religions, than most adults I meet, and I know why they are wrong. I certainly don’t know very much, but I know more than many.

Well enough of my doubletalk.
Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[holdencaulfield]

BennyBoy89, Rawb, and holdencaulfield,
WoW you guys have amazing stories, I don’t know that I would be brave enough to stand up to my parents and I don’t know that I would study enough to determine that the Catholic Church was THE church. I am amazed.

As far as my mother’s family,
Well my mother’s mother (Poly) converted to Catholocism when she married my grandfather. The rest of her family remained protestant. Well, my mother’s family became involved with the SSPX and when the SSPX left the church, they stayed with the SSPX. Very sad. As far as relationships go, we are closer to our protestant family than our SSPX family. The SSPX people say that we and all our protestant family are going to hell, because we do not go to the TLM. It is really sad/strange. The protestant people are normal, they live very good lives, they follow the commandments, they are very good people (one of them just had her fifth child), and they are not judgemental. The SSPX people are a little strange, they live good lives, etc., but they are very judgemental, and they do this openly, even in front of children.
I mean my parents have always told us about the situation, but I think it rude for aunts and uncles to tell their nieces that the church they are going to is bad, and that all their clothing is bad. It is much easier to catch flies with honey than vinigar, and I think the SSPX needs to learn this lesson (well maybe not, because that is what keeps lots of people out).

I feel very blessed to have the parents I have and the education this whole situation has given me. I know more about more religions, than most adults I meet, and I know why they are wrong. I certainly don’t know very much, but I know more than many.

Well enough of my doubletalk.
Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

Thank You, although I don’t know what SSPX is?

 

[CatholicCid]

They are the Society of St. Puis X.

The late founder of the group was excommunicated, as well as four Bishops he ordained.
The thought of the group being schismatic is tossed around a bit. I’m not sure as to their actual status, and I won’t go into further discussion on it (nor do I believe it is allowed). To my knowledge though, they follow the Mass rubrics prior to Vatican II and Catholics are not encouraged to attend their Masses and such.

I’m excited for when I can set up a little shrine now. There’s a rummage sale at a local parish next week, so might see if I can find anything nice there.

 

[Margarite]

Thank You, although I don’t know what SSPX is?

The SSPX is a group of Catholics who left the Church in 1988 (I think). They teach that salvation is only possible through them. The reason the left is they don’t like the new mass. They prefer the old Latin mass and they think that the new mass is evil. All the women have to wear skirts covering their ankles and the men almost never wear shorts. Women are better off uneducated and women are never to do sports. They are very much like the pharisees in their attitude towards rules in that they are more concerned with the letter than the spirit of the law. It is sad, because the TLM (latin mass) is much more beautiful than the NO (new mass). But they left, and they won’t come back until the Church only allows TLMasses. It really is just plain sad but:shrug: there is not much we can do about it. I do know 2 SSPX priests who came back to the Church because they started studying and they found that the SSPX was wrong. Now they are both in the Fraternity of St. Peter (an in union with Rome group of priests who only say the TLM) and they are helping the Church from within instead of attacking it from outside.

GTG

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[DesertSister62]

Dear Margarite,

Thank you for your explanation to the question of the SSPX! I love the beauty of the Latin Mass and I have to admit that I, personally find the Novus Ordo Mass to be less reverent and some of the people come looking like they are attending an event at the sports arena. However, I have been praying about all that has been said on this forum in relation to the different Masses and what you said finally spoke to my heart in this matter! Things are not really the way they should be, but the place to change them is on the inside of theChurch , not the outside…throwing rocks!

Thanks, Margarite!
DesertSister62

 

[Margarite]

Dear Margarite,

Thank you for your explanation to the question of the SSPX! I love the beauty of the Latin Mass and I have to admit that I, personally find the Novus Ordo Mass to be less reverent and some of the people come looking like they are attending an event at the sports arena. However, I have been praying about all that has been said on this forum in relation to the different Masses and what you said finally spoke to my heart in this matter! Things are not really the way they should be, but the place to change them is on the inside of theChurch , not the outside…throwing rocks!

Thanks, Margarite!
DesertSister62

Thank You SO much for joining the ranks! We need all the help we can get. I thank Our Lord for using me as an instrument to keep you with His Church.
Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[BennyBoy89]

So… anyone got any more home shrines that they’d like to share?

 

[holdencaulfield]

So… anyone got any more home shrines that they’d like to share?

I’m currently looking for a table to put it on. My only option right now are a bunch of old TV tray tables. Like the ones from the 80’s that people would use to eat dinner on the couch and watch TV. I may use it, but I want to make it a little bit more respectful.

 

[Faustina_Pio]

Your right, actually I have started constructing a shrine. I will fight for my faith. I don’t know where to start, I have some prayer cards, I don’t however have any large Crucifixes in my house.

Yes, my family often makes snide comments however about the sex scandals. That’s there main point to attack.

It is a true statistic that the percentage of priests in a sex scandal is only 1%It is quite lower than other churches!! Its sad your family is that way. But remember, no one can save your soul but Jesus. It comes a time in everyones life to put their faith first. Like it says in the bible, “put your hand to the plow and dont look back”

Faustina Pio

 

[SacredHeartFan]

Any more pictures???

 

[FrRJBoyd]

So… anyone got any more home shrines that they’d like to share?

I actually have some before and after pictures of the altar I have at my parent’s house (where I say Mass on my days off)… This one was taken before September 14, 2007. Tomorrow, I’ll try to upload pictures of the post-September 14, 2007 altar. (I’m sure you can all guess at what the difference is…)

My dad built the altar (mensa), and I have an altar stone in the center.

God bless,

Fr. Boyd

 

[holdencaulfield]

I actually have some before and after pictures of the altar I have at my parent’s house (where I say Mass on my days off)… This one was taken before September 14, 2007. Tomorrow, I’ll try to upload pictures of the post-September 14, 2007 altar. (I’m sure you can all guess at what the difference is…)

My dad built the altar (mensa), and I have an altar stone in the center.

God bless,

Fr. Boyd

I like it. It is simple yet says a lot. I think it shows a respectful piety. May I ask is that a multi-purpose room, or is it just for that? I think it’s nice. Many people, myself included tend to go overboard (at least I would if I had the money ) with too much stuff.