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Leonie
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| Posted: March 17 2009 at 7:01pm | IP Logged
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We have statues, religious art, our bibles and missals and Saints books on display, we celebrate the liturgical year, but we don't have an actual family altar. One quiet place to pray. I think, as a convert, I have found the idea difficult , thinking we can pray everywhere...Yet, last year in Lent I read Finding Sanctuary and the Abbot suggested an altar, a quiet place for prayer in the home. This year, I am reading Splendor in the Ordinary and I sense the same suggestion.
So, I think I am being nudged  towards setting up a family altar. What are your thoughts? Do you have one? Where is it? What do you put there? How do you "use" it?
Thanks for any ideas...
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Betsy
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| Posted: March 17 2009 at 7:50pm | IP Logged
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We have an altar that is in a small room in our house that share space with our piano. I think this room would be used as a small sitting room or home office by normal people. It's very nice. I have often sent the kids there to have quiet time or gone myself. We try to make this a special place and it's where we do our family prayers.
My husband made a "shelf" that we use as our Alter. It's up high enough to be able to see, but keep little hands from touching any thing. I have candles on each side. I keep little sacramental/statues/pictures on there as the season changes. On the wall over the altar have some beautiful pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary and have done a family concecration. In front of the altar I have two kneelers and on the wall opposite we have a small couch. On either side of the couch we keep our rosaries/prayers books/Bible, etc. I would like to add a holy water font as you walk in the door...but I haven't found the right one yet.
When I was attending spiritual direction my director was imperative that we have a prayer corner in our home, FWTW.
Betsy
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Jody
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| Posted: March 17 2009 at 8:55pm | IP Logged
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In our old house we had a prayer closet set up. It would hold two adults comfortably and was quite cozy when you added the kids.  We also had a kneeler, altar with candles, holy water font, holy pictures, plus rosaries and prayer books.
The kids absolutely loved going into that tiny room and saying their prayers. Actually I loved it too.  I miss it terriby. The house we are in now is much too small 
The kids and I would go in there in the morning for a quick morning prayer that we said altogether. Sometimes we said our night time prayers together in there too.
During the day when the little ones were down for their naps I would sneak in there for a few blessed moments. When The kids found out I enjoyed praying by myself quietly in that prayer closet, they couldn't wait to take turns praying by themselves. Talk about the power of suggestion!1 I pray we can eventually have our prayer corner again.
I wish you every success in setting up your own family altar.Even if a small room is unavailable, a prayer corner will do. It will be a blessing to your family.
Blessings,
Jody
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stellamaris
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| Posted: March 17 2009 at 9:18pm | IP Logged
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My children love our prayer table. It is low enough to allow them to light the candles (with supervision!) at prayer time. I keep picture Bibles, illustrated saints' lives, an examination of conscience, and a regular Ignatius Bible on the lower shelf with our rosary box and on the upper shelf are seasonal linens, pictures of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady, a statue of St. Joseph, and pictures of events in the life of Our Lord that relate to the liturgical season. The children often add small icons or even nature elements (I found a lovely heart-shaped pebble there one day). It is only a smallish table that I bought used and placed on one side of our family room, but it does serve all of us as a constant reminder to "pray without ceasing".
You can certainly pray anywhere and anytime, and you should!, but a prayer altar brings focus to family prayer life.
If you want a prayer place for yourself in your home, this could be the same place or a different place. I have a comfortable chair near a window that I use as a "prayer corner". Having a set location helps me recollect myself more easily and I always have everything needed for prayer-the Office, rosary, and Bible-handy. I also keep various spiritual books for reading there. Of course, if you can do it, the best "prayer corner" is in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 17 2009 at 10:31pm | IP Logged
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Leonie wrote:
| This year, I am reading Splendor in the Ordinary |
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I love this book! Really, it transformed my idea of 'ordinary'! I re-read it at least yearly and uncover a new gem each time and refresh my awareness of the supernatural veiled in the ordinary. Such an amazing read. I hope you're enjoying it as much as I do, Leonie!
We have an area we call our Family Feast Table. It's not really a family altar in that we don't have a kneeler there, but we do think of it as an "anchor" to our family prayer. It has always been located in the area of our home that we pray together as a family - so for us it is located in a place of prominence in our family room. We do gather around it (read: bounce around it...chase toddlers around it) for prayer.
Physically, it is a long, narrow table - the kind you usually find behind a couch with a lamp and a pretty, glossy-cover book arranged just so upon. I sewed a table skirt for the table - it serves to dress up the table a bit, and hide the things stored underneath. Our table sits against a wall with a special frame hanging above it that has a hinged door that allows me to change the liturgical art that hangs above my table any time I like. I love hanging sacred art above the Feast Table that coordinates with the liturgical year, so this is an integral part of our area.
I change out the display either monthly (during Ordinary Time) or seasonally (like for Lent and Advent, etc.) I keep a blessed candle there, always a Crucifix, Father Oak dressed in the appropriate liturgical colors and vestments, and whatever else is appropriate for the season and helpful in lifting the heart and mind to God. I also occasionally place a basket of devotionals or books on the Feast Table that supports the particular liturgical season. Sometimes we display a great deal there, sometimes (like this Lent) it is very simply and sparsely arranged.
I love the revealing, after moving the holy reminders and sacramentals on the table from Advent to Christmas in the middle of the night, and from Lent to Easter - the change is dramatic and noticed immediately by the family, and again serves as a visual anchor to Our Lord as the reason for our joy.
I like displaying the children's liturgical art/craftwork there.
I think it is important for the Feast Table/Family Altar to be accessible by the children, so while I might set up the original display, they are always given the freedom to interact with whatever is set out. An example might be the arrangement in May honoring Our Lady. We crown Our Lady and she is arranged in a prominent place in the center of the Feast Table, but there may be other items around her that different children feel look best displayed in a different way. I've always cherished walking into the room to find the Feast Table completely rearranged to reflect the way a particular child feels it honors and glorifies Our Lord best. Absolutely cherished memories I tuck in my heart!
Anyway, hope some/any of this is helpful.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Leonie
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| Posted: March 20 2009 at 11:52pm | IP Logged
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Thank you, everyone. We have a liturgical space but we kind of pray, especially the rosary, wherever seems most confortable or suitable at the time. Often in the car!  So, am still thinking about an altar...
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Family Altar
