Placing things on altar for private prayers

[Hicks]

I have a suspicion that placing items on the altar for use in private devotions (say a Divine Mercy image while praying the Chaplet) is not allowed. Am I correct in this? I ask for my own reasons, I’m not looking to correct anyone. Thanks!

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

During Mass or outside of Mass?

 

[Mintaka]

If you’re not a sacristan/assistant sacristan, server, priest, or deacon, you shouldn’t be putting anything on an altar at church. Altars are sacred. Don’t get handsy.

Now, putting stuff on the altar steps – that’s closer to okay.

Putting stuff down on the floor in front of the altar but before you get to the steps (or somewhat away from the altar if the altar is on floor level)? Totally okay for laypeople without special altar business.

But even if you are a priest, and you’ve been assigned to run Divine Mercy devotions in church, it usually would not be proper to put a Divine Mercy picture on the altar. An altar cross is the decoration that belongs up there.

But putting a little table in front of the altar with the Divine Mercy picture? Fine.

Or making a beautiful “frontal” picture or cloth covering up the altar legs? Also totally fine.

 

[Mintaka]

Of course, if you are talking about having your own private altar at home, and it’s not a consecrated altar, you can put whatever you want on it.

(Home “altars” aren’t the same thing as an altar in church, or a priest’s portable altar for saying Mass.)

 

[Hicks]

If you’re not a sacristan/assistant sacristan, server, priest, or deacon, you shouldn’t be putting anything on an altar at church. Altars are sacred. Don’t get handsy.

Now, putting stuff on the altar steps – that’s closer to okay.

Putting stuff down on the floor in front of the altar but before you get to the steps (or somewhat away from the altar if the altar is on floor level)? Totally okay for laypeople without special altar business.

But even if you are a priest, and you’ve been assigned to run Divine Mercy devotions in church, it usually would not be proper to put a Divine Mercy picture on the altar. An altar cross is the decoration that belongs up there.

But putting a little table in front of the altar with the Divine Mercy picture? Fine.

Or making a beautiful “frontal” picture or cloth covering up the altar legs? Also totally fine.

Thank you, I thought as much. I’m looking to lead my students in the Divine Mercy chaplet in a chapel at my school (outside of Mass). A low table in front of the altar sounds like it will fit the bill. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Mintaka]

You’re welcome… hope I didn’t sound snippy!

And thank you for thinking about it and caring!