As we move into the witchy energy of late October, veils between the worlds become paper-thin, boundaries dissolve, and we may find portals to other realms. It's a magical time that reveals life and death, light and dark, illumination and shadow. The play between the two. That liminal space. That threshold.Which is why, throughout time and across cultures, this has been a time of ancestor veneration. A time to honor and thank those who've gone before us and paved the way for us to be here.One of my favorite rituals is to create an ancestor altar. Ever since I made my first back in 2013, it has become one of my most cherished traditions. My first few altars, like this one from 2015, were very much in the Day of the Dead theme - brightly colored flowers, sugar skulls, and religious iconography. And this one from 2017 shows much the same vibe. It's only been in the last few years that I've brought in my own aesthetic - and that of my family lineage. We are not brightly colored Mexican folks. We are restrained and steady and staid folks of German descent. My ancestors were salt of the earth, midwestern farmers. And though, I will admit, I have at times longed for warmth and connection where there was a cool distance, it began to feel important to honor my ancestors as they actually were (at least in my perception) and not what I sometimes wished them to be. So the colors became muted and neutral and rustic. Fake flowers were replaced with dried greenery. Religious icons were kept to a minimum. Personal affects, like jewelry and journal pages and gloves were added. And crystals. Because, duh, crystals. And so this one from last year felt so much more like family to me. And in honoring my people as they actually were, I began to appreciate them in a way I hadn't before. Where I once bemoaned their lack of warmth, now I honored their strength. Where I once thought there was a lack of connection, I began to see we just connected differently. Instead of physical touch and deep conversation, we connect through shared activities. A day on the lake. Water-skiing. Doing puzzles. Playing cards. That's my family. So this is our altar this year. My husband's ancestors and mine. And their belongings. And their vibe. And it's been a tough one. And I knew it would be. The first year I've had to add mom to the ancestor shrine. I miss her so much. And I wish I could say I feel her with me, but the truth is I don't really. At least not yet. Right now, I just miss her. OK, onto some things you might want to consider as you put together your own ancestor shrine. 1. Gathering materials As you gather your materials - old photographs, jewelry, belongings - consider your family and your lineage. What qualities and characteristics did they embody? What have they passed down to you? How can you visually represent those qualities? 2. Choosing the space The space I chose is right by our front door, which felt like welcoming the ancestors in. But really I chose it mostly for the old steamer trunk that sits there, an heirloom passed down through the generations. It was the trunk that carried my ancestors belongings from Germany to America. Perhaps there is some symbolism in the place you choose. A mantle for the family that sat around the fire. A piano for a musical ancestry. A bookcase for a literary lineage. Within that space, consider how you can best use it. I like a lot of layers and height so I tend to use boxes - some are family jewelry boxes that hold special meaning, but most are just whatever I can find to create some depth and height - covered in antique doilies or fabrics. If your space is against a wall, you can attach photos and other ephemera to the wall. If it's in the center of the room, like on a grand piano or dining table, you can create a whole 360 degree display. You can even hang things from the ceiling. 3. Personal belongings In addition to old photographs, this might be my favorite element, and the one that really began to make things feel more personal for me. My maternal grandmother's gloves, locket, and pages from her journal. You could include a scarf, watch, pocket knife, army tags, silverware, eyeglasses, money clip, really the possibilities are endless. I am most drawn to those items used or warn on a daily basis. And if you don't have any actual items from your ancestors, not to worry, simply use an item as a symbol. A wooden spoon for the grandma who showed her love though her cooking. A deck of cards for that cardshark uncle. A quarter for the grandpa that would always pull one out of your ear. A journal for that poet great aunt. 4. Jewelry You will not be surprised that my favorite personal item to include is jewelry. There is something about jewelry - especially those pieces worn day in and day out - that feels so much like it carries the energy of those who once wore it. These rings - from my two grandmothers - are so dear to me. 5. Skellies, skulls, dried flowers or leaves, and other memento mori In Latin memento mori means
There are many types of altars for spiritual practices. They act as a physical manifestation of intent for those on their spiritual journey.
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Creating a home that reflects one's faith is a cherished tradition for many Catholics. The inclusion of religious symbols and artwork not only enhances the
Want ideas to set up Catholic home altars? Check out these 5 designs that can be set up just on one wall. You will be surprised!
When we got married, one of the first things Tom insisted on was that we create a home altar. I had seen such things at the homes of a few Catholic families we knew, but never really understood how they were "used," or why they had decided to dedicate a specific area of their house for one. I resisted for a while, not wanting to sacrifice any space in our tiny little duplex towards something that I felt we would never actually use. Tom won out in the end, though, and we set up a little altar. I'm glad he insisted on it, because I've seen the graces that the altar has brought to our family and our prayer life. So What is the Purpose of a Home Altar? 1. It provides a location for prayer in your home. A gathering place for the family to come together. The home can truly become the "Domestic Church." 2. It can serve as a focal point - or focusing point - in the house/room. When you pass by, it's a subtle reminder that your home life is to be centered around God. It calls your mind to prayer. "As we have altars and shrines in our churches, so a Catholic family would do well to keep a simple but dignified shrine in the home. It would be an appropriate symbol to all members that their lives belong to God; that religion and prayer are not merely a Sunday affair, and that the Christian home is a holy place." (Francis X. Weiser, S.J., The Year of the Lord in the Christian Home) 3. It a great place to live out the Liturgical year (especially if you remember to change some of the colors, images, etc. to correspond with the various seasons and feast of the Church). "Thus the pulsing life of Christ's love and grace, radiating from the visual representation, will imbue our children with the sweet and solid spirit of piety based on the liturgy of the Church. There will be no need of elaborate explanations; for what the children see at the shrine will impress their hearts and minds more eloquently than a flood of words could do." (ibid.) 4. It can serve as a statement to all who enter your home as guests that your household is one that strives to have God at the center. 5. This one is objectively less important, but it's one of my favorite parts of our altar: it provides storage! We keep many of our holy cards, medals, Rosaries, extra scapulars, and prayer books inside. It is always easy to find what we need for our personal devotions, or to change the items we placed out on top as the liturgical season changes. Creating a Home Altar Your altar can really be as simple or elaborate as you like, as long as it is conducive to prayer. The most basic requirements are just: a surface, and some sort of prayer aid(s) to place on it. Finding a good surface We used to have an old-fashioned console-style record player (which didn't work anymore) as our altar. When we moved into our current place, we replaced it with a nice $40 cabinet off Craigslist which has plenty of storage inside for all our "prayer stuff." Other possible surfaces for your altar are almost endless. Any sort of tabletop, a shelf, a mantle, a radiator cover....maybe just not on top of the television, as that doesn't seem to be very conducive to reflection and prayer! What kinds of objects might go on an altar? You probably have many things around your house already...a crucifix, images, icons, statues, candles, holy water, Rosaries, prayer cards, flowers, prayer books, incense, blessed objects, relics(!) ....anything that might lift your heart to God or help you to pray. Many people like to put down an altar cloth or linen of some sort. If you like, you could even find/make some in different colors, and switch them with the liturgical season, as they do at Mass. Where should the altar be located in the home? I'd say ideally in a common area such as a family room. But you also want it to be functional, so it's best to be in a place where the family will actually be able to comfortably gather around for prayer. This might end up being a bedroom or the dining room or some other part of the house. (Bonus points if you can orient it on an eastern wall!) Our Altar Pretty simple. I change out the cloth occasionally (I have a nice little stash of lace and embroidered cloths collected over the years from flea markets/thrift stores). At this point, I really just switch them as a way to change things up, and allow me to wash the dust off the old one - I don't yet have cloths in the appropriate liturgical colors. Anytime I get fresh roses (which is not often enough!) I hang a few upside-down to dry, and replace the most discolored ones in the little brass vases. St. Gerard is out on our altar now, since he is the patron of expectant mothers. The painting above cost me $1 at a church flea market. If your family has not yet enthroned the Sacred Heart in your home, I strongly recommend it! And the cabinet below holds almost everything we need for family prayers. When we have a special intention we'd like to pray for, we light one of the large votives seen on the right, and leave it burning for several days on the altar, carrying our intentions up to Heaven. Some More Resources The Domestic Church: The Catholic Home (Fisheaters) How to Set up a Home Altar (Catholic icing) Do you have a home altar? I'd love to hear what you place on it and how you use it! (feel free to include links to pictures or posts if you have them)
Want ideas to set up Catholic home altars? Check out these 5 designs that can be set up just on one wall. You will be surprised!
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Want ideas to set up Catholic home altars? Check out these 5 designs that can be set up just on one wall. You will be surprised!