Personal Prayer "Vigils"

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Hi everyone,

I was just thinking, and I’m not sure if this is a practice anyone does, but does anyone ever hold their own prayer vigils at home where they light candles before a prayer corner or shrine of some sort and just spend a long period of time in prayer? Kind of like the time spent in adoration just without the Eucharist. For some reason I feel called to make a little prayer corner on my nightstand or somewhere and to just go to the Lord in prayer for an extended period of time maybe tonight after everyone’s asleep or something.

Does anyone do this or something similar and does anyone have any tips to make it fruitful?

God bless
 
I don’t usually light a candle, purely for practical reasons. But I do have a “home shrine”. It contains a large crucifix, various icons and statutes, a Bible, a breviary and various spiritual books. It helps to create a space for prayer. But the most important thing is getting into some sort of routine, something I find difficult personally.
 
Most of my prayer time is in my own bedroom. In it is an icon of our Blessed Mother with the Christ Child, and a crucifix on the wall above the icon. On another wall is a framed picture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

It is in my bedroom that I pray the LOTH, and have different kinds of quiet prayer time.

In my living room over the fireplace the Sacred Heart of Jesus picture was enthroned many years ago, and beside it is a small one of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Friends come over every Monday afternoon for one hour of prayer consisting of the Scriptural Rosary, a Litany, a quiet time with sacred music, and other prayers. After that hour we have refreshments for about forty-five minutes and chat. Every week anywhere from four to seven ladies attend that.

Because I am a widow, and also a senior, senior citizen I have been doing that for many years.

There are other ways to include prayer vigils and all kinds of prayer times when one’s life is filled with children and family priorities. Prayer is such a great help in all things! (whether we feel consolation or not when we have the prayer time). How good it is that you are inspired the way you describe.

Peace in Jesus and Mary,

Dorothy
 
Dorothy said:
Most of my prayer time is in my own bedroom. In it is an icon of our Blessed Mother with the Christ Child, and a crucifix on the wall above the icon. On another wall is a framed picture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

It is in my bedroom that I pray the LOTH, and have different kinds of quiet prayer time.

In my living room over the fireplace the Sacred Heart of Jesus picture was enthroned many years ago, and beside it is a small one of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Friends come over every Monday afternoon for one hour of prayer consisting of the Scriptural Rosary, a Litany, a quiet time with sacred music, and other prayers. After that hour we have refreshments for about forty-five minutes and chat. Every week anywhere from four to seven ladies attend that.

Because I am a widow, and also a senior, senior citizen I have been doing that for many years.

There are other ways to include prayer vigils and all kinds of prayer times when one’s life is filled with children and family priorities. Prayer is such a great help in all things! (whether we feel consolation or not when we have the prayer time). How good it is that you are inspired the way you describe.

Peace in Jesus and Mary,

Dorothy
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What a wonderful post with some really good ideas. I really like the idea of having a weekly prayer group and I love the scriptural rosary.

OP,
I think it sounds like a wonderful idea and many here have posted on off about their prayer spaces or rooms and some even posted pictures. I hope it works out for you.

Mary.
 
Don’t stop with a mere corner of your room. Take over half the closet.

Flickering tea lights simulate candles, and they are much more homeowner friendly.
 
We used to call those home altars.
Mama had one. Everything stopped every day at 3 pm.
I have one in my bedroom at present.
Each of my daughters also has one.
 
I found it beneficial to use a quiet corner in the house for prayer. With a bible, rosary, statues, etc. on shelves.
 
Mine is basically at my computer all around the screen…behind it to the left is 3 large glass candles with: Jesus, Jude & Virgin of Guadalupe on these 3. (I found a clearance so have a box of 10 so can alternate as needed) in front of that is a small plate that I burn smaller candles on and my rosary will sit there while I’m online.

To the right I have one wall hanging statue of Christ on the cross that needs hung up, and another one that stands on its own with more rosary’s hanging on it… also there in front of that I have 6"? statues of Mary, Francis, and Anthony and a small 5" Joseph. Have a 4" tall plastic Pieta? coming in the mail, and have several of the cards as well sitting behind the small plate of candles. Also to the right I have a plastic container on the couch (within arms length) filled with chalets and rosaries for the different prayers I do daily.

And have many more I want to get…but I fear I’m being ??? cant think of the word right now… :o
 
If you are looking for a good book for children, Rumer Godden’s The Kitchen Madonna concerns the effect of having a home altar on the family. A lovely book, beautifully illustrated.
 
That’s a really nice idea 🙂 I’ve done that before. Usually I don’t light candles but I do find them better for prayer than bright ceiling lamps.

I have a prayer area in my room too where I would put a favourite image of Our Lord and I have some other holy pictures around my room
 
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