Home altars

  • Thread starter Thread starter SacredHeartFan
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Ok. I don’t want to argue if some of you guys prefer to call it a shrine. I call it as it is- home altar.

Altar is always connected to a place of sacrifice.
Protestants don’t have altars. They only have tables.

The crucifix is a symbol of the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross. A home altar without a crucifix is not an altar.

I have a crucifix at home. It always reminds me of that sacrifice on the cross that’s happened one Good Friday. Why merely call it a shrine? Or merely… a table?!?🤷
 
Different terminology is conventional among different people. What some might call a home altar or a home shrine, I call a bright corner. I think it’s OK for people to have different naming conventions. 👍
 
thirdn6 said:
Ok. I don’t want to argue if some of you guys prefer to call it a shrine. I call it as it is- home altar.

Altar is always connected to a place of sacrifice.
Protestants don’t have altars. They only have tables.

The crucifix is a symbol of the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross. A home altar without a crucifix is not an altar.

I have a crucifix at home. It always reminds me of that sacrifice on the cross that’s happened one Good Friday. Why merely call it a shrine? Or merely… a table?!?🤷
Click to expand...
Protestants don’t have shrines either. 🤷 And if you’ve had yours blessed by a priest it really is a shrine.
 
I’ve seen a wonderful home altar made from an old armoire furniture. The family placed a couple of low wattage lamps inside, along with their chosen devotional statues and pictures . . .

Here’s a standard American armoire:

 
Matariel said:
Protestants don’t have shrines either. 🤷 And if you’ve had yours blessed by a priest it really is a shrine.
Click to expand...
I the monastic tradition I call mine an oratory, a place to pray. My set-up resembles somewhat that of a Carthusian monk (even though I am a Benedictine Oblate); I sleep, work, pray and rest in the same “cell”. For the sleep part, my wife banished me to the cell thanks to my snoring 😃
 
OraLabora said:
I the monastic tradition I call mine an oratory, a place to pray. My set-up resembles somewhat that of a Carthusian monk (even though I am a Benedictine Oblate); I sleep, work, pray and rest in the same “cell”. For the sleep part, my wife banished me to the cell thanks to my snoring 😃
Click to expand...
The funny thing is that when I hear the word “oratory” I think an auditorium at a college. 😛
 
Beautiful bright corner, Alveus Lacuna! And some of my favorite icons! 😃
 
Alveus_Lacuna said:
I realize that this is an old post, but does anyone know where I might get tablecloths like these, that look like liturgical vestments?
Click to expand...
Some nicer fabric stores, whether locally or online, will have fabrics like these. (Eastern Christian Supply comes to mind.) If you are able to sew or know someone who can, getting the size and shape you want for a table, shelf, book cover, etc., should not be too difficult. 🙂
 
Alveus_Lacuna said:
I realize that this is an old post, but does anyone know where I might get tablecloths like these, that look like liturgical vestments?
Click to expand...
I got some similar things from Ross in the section where they have things for the home. They have some things that you could improvise with. That’s what I did. I have this sort of very thick satin sheet (several layers sandwiched together) with fringes at the end that I used for my prayer area. I don’t think it’s a blanket, I guess it’s sort of a throw for a sofa or something. But it looks great, and I don’t remember it costing too much.

I love how you set up your Icons! I wish I had that sort of creativity; people told me my prayer area is nice, but it’s actually quite tacky compared to yours. Don’t the lamps sort of get in the way when you want to meditate on the side icons though? I might steal that idea from you, but I think I might find the obstruction of the view to be a little distracting.

I’m using one of those spotlights that they have on museum ceilings to illuminate their pieces, but your idea is so much more elegant.
 
JesuXPIPassio said:
Don’t the lamps sort of get in the way when you want to meditate on the side icons though? I might steal that idea from you, but I think I might find the obstruction of the view to be a little distracting.
Click to expand...
Well, it wasn’t an “idea” I had. Hanging vigil lamps before icons is the standard Orthodox practice. They don’t obscure the view; they assist in it. Especially if you’re praying in the dark, the lamps the only way you can even see them!
 
SacredHeartFan said:
I am in the process of making myself a home alter. I was wondering if any other Roman Catholics had one and how they set theirs up. I know I made mine of many different household materials. I’m only in high school, so I can’t afford much!
Click to expand...
Poor graduate student here. I’m in the same boat as you.

My home altar consists of:
  • An old nightstand that I bought off Craigslist for $5.
  • A white bed sheet folded a couple times, and ironed, to look like a nice table cloth, draped over the nightstand.
  • Different colored clothed napkins (for the different liturgical colors of the year) under each artifact that sits on top of the altar.
  • A couple glass candles with the facades of saints ($1 each at the Dollar Tree, but subsequently blessed by my priest).
  • I keep all my religious jewelry, including my blessed scapular, on the far right of my altar.
  • A porcelain statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary (family heirloom) holding her child Jesus on the LEFT side of the altar and a statue of St. Joseph Most Chase Spouse on the RIGHT side of the altar (the position matters since I have a wall crucifix pinned in the center. Jesus’ right side should be reserved for Mary whether she be in icon or statue form).
  • A Bible
  • A Missal
  • A copy of “Christian Prayer: the Liturgy of the Hours”
  • A LOT of rosaries.
  • An incense holder that I purchased at a hippy store here in San Francisco.
  • Pictures of deceased family members and friends whom I pray for.
If you can, try to make it so that your home altar faces the east.

Good luck! 🙂
 
SacredHeartFan said:
Do I spy a first class relic??? 🙂
Click to expand...
SacredHeartFan: Yes! That’s a First Class Relic in front of the statue of St. Anne and Our Lady. It is a bone fragment of Blessed Bartolo Longo. Also, all of the Holy Cards on display are Second or Third Class Relics of my favorite Saints. I have added a lot to my altar since that picture was taken. Here is what it currently looks like:

flickr.com/photos/26279405@N07/4418094374/sizes/l/

Hope you like it!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top