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Author Topic: Home altars  (Read 870 times)

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Offline Vintagewife3

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Home altars
« on: September 13, 2019, 11:58:54 AM »
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    • I’m pulling together a home altar, and right now I have a Mother Mary statue that’s maybe 2 1/2 feet tall. We don’t have a ton of money (I’ve had the Mary statue since childhood) to put into a statue of Christ as big, but I saw a standing crucifix I loved, but it’s only 14”  tall. So, it’d be much shorter than Mary. Would it be weird to have Mary much Larger then Jesus? Or am I over thinking it?

    Also, if you have any ideas on where to buy religious statues relatively cheaply I’d love suggestions!
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    Offline Mithrandylan

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #1 on: September 13, 2019, 12:06:51 PM »
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    • Statues are expensive, and the cheap ones (in my experience) just don't look good.
    .
    I hope someone can help you find statues, but I have an additional suggestion: icons.  Icons can get expensive too, but a thirty dollar icon is in my experience considerably more beautiful and well crafted than a thirty dollar statue.  Even better, you can buy paper icons for only about five dollars each-- we have several of these around the house, they're made of a light cardboard/cardstock type paper and on the wall you can hardly tell a difference.  You can attach them to a nice piece of wood (or even cardboard, might be a fun project for you and the kids) to give them a little more body if you want. 
    .
    I used to not be a very big fan of icons, but they've grown on my quite a bit over the last few years. 
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    Offline Mithrandylan

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #2 on: September 13, 2019, 12:10:45 PM »
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    • Here's an example of one of those paper icons I was talking about: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lithography-RUSSIAN-ICON-St-Nicholas/183910967728?hash=item2ad1f2a9b0%3Ag%3A%7EOAAAOSwJTta6t1A&LH_BIN=1
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    ^^I actually have this exact one, from that seller, in my daughters' bedroom.  Glued it to a bit of cardboard when I put it on the wall so that it didn't bend over time.  Looks beautiful, as do all the other icons from that seller. 
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    "Be kind; do not seek the malicious satisfaction of having discovered an additional enemy to the Church... And, above all, be scrupulously truthful. To all, friends and foes alike, give that serious attention which does not misrepresent any opinion, does not distort any statement, does not mutilate any quotation. We need not fear to serve the cause of Christ less efficiently by putting on His spirit". (Vermeersch, 1913).

    Offline Vintagewife3

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #3 on: September 13, 2019, 12:16:15 PM »
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    • That’s actually a great idea, and I could move the Mary Statue somewhere else! Thank you for the suggestion! 
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    Offline Ladislaus

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #4 on: September 13, 2019, 12:25:52 PM »
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    • Quote from: Vintagewife3 on September 13, 2019, 11:58:54 AM
    I’m pulling together a home altar, and right now I have a Mother Mary statue that’s maybe 2 1/2 feet tall. We don’t have a ton of money (I’ve had the Mary statue since childhood) to put into a statue of Christ as big, but I saw a standing crucifix I loved, but it’s only 14”  tall. So, it’d be much shorter than Mary. Would it be weird to have Mary much Larger then Jesus? Or am I over thinking it?

    Also, if you have any ideas on where to buy religious statues relatively cheaply I’d love suggestions!

    Yes, I would find it strange to have Our Lady towering over Our Lord.
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    Offline Miseremini

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #5 on: September 13, 2019, 02:18:24 PM »
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    • A couple of years ago there was a thread here where members posted pictures of their home altars.  As we have many new members since then, maybe we could start another thread and show what our altars look like.
    Would certainly give you ideas.
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    Offline Viva Cristo Rey

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #6 on: September 13, 2019, 02:36:53 PM »
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    • Excellent topic, Vintage Wife.  :)
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    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #7 on: September 13, 2019, 03:07:19 PM »
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    • Quote from: Miseremini on September 13, 2019, 02:18:24 PM
    A couple of years ago there was a thread here where members posted pictures of their home altars.  As we have many new members since then, maybe we could start another thread and show what our altars look like.
    Would certainly give you ideas.

    It's more of a chapel altar, but it's on our property, and legally owned by us, so... :)
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    Offline klasG4e

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #8 on: September 13, 2019, 04:14:50 PM »
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    • Quote from: Matthew on September 13, 2019, 03:07:19 PM

    It's more of a chapel altar, but it's on our property, and legally owned by us, so... :)

    I can't recall what your thinking was on this subject so I want to bring it once again to your attention and to that of anyone else who may wish to give some input.  What is your (informed?) position on the subject of whether one can keep the Blessed Sacrament reserved in their home chapel?  If your position is that it is legitimate to keep the Blessed Sacrament reserved in one's home chapel during these extraordinarily perilous spiritual times please be so kind as to put forth the best you can the full basis of your position here.  Thank you much for your anticipated assistance.
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    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #9 on: September 13, 2019, 04:27:46 PM »
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    • KlasG4e,

    I'm glad you asked.

    Firstly, it's not up to the layman. It's not one of those we get to each have a "position" on. The priest is the one responsible for the Blessed Sacrament, so he (actually, his Bishop might have the final say) gets to decide which chapels are worthy to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved.

    We don't have the privilege of reserving the Blessed Sacrament at our chapel. We wish!

    1. The chapel needs to have enough activity/parishioners. We don't even get weekly Mass at the moment.
    2. The chapel needs to be secure (locked, alarm system, etc.) I think the expression is, "The Blessed Sacrament must be behind 3 locks" including the chapel building and the tabernacle itself, which functions like a safe. Our tabernacle's lock mechanism is actually broken.
    3. The chapel in question must be 100% dedicated to sacred use. Our chapel has a few shelving units for family storage (hidden behind tarps and wooden walls), and part of these shelving units are used as walls to enclose the Sacristy, confessional, etc.  In other words, even if we moved 100% of our stuff out of the chapel, we wouldn't gain much, and we'd actually have to replace many walls, tables, and shelving that the chapel is currently using!
    Thus we have donated over 95% of the 1200 square foot building to exclusive chapel use. But that isn't 100%.
    3. We have a tabernacle as you can see in the picture, but that was only used once for Holy Week services (including Adoration on Holy Thursday) and several times to reserve the Blessed Sacrament between the Consecration and Benediction right after Mass.

    I hope this answers your questions.

    We started this chapel (in this location, albeit with much less equipment) back in February 2013. We've been at it ever since. We hope that eventually we'll have the parishioners and the priests in the Resistance so that we can have weekly Mass again, and someday build up to the point where we can have the Blessed Sacrament reserved. Even if that means moving to a new building someday.
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    Offline jvk

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #10 on: September 13, 2019, 04:27:58 PM »
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    • What about purchasing a framed print of Our Lord to hang?  Or other holy pictures?  Oftentimes you can find these at flea markets or estate sales.  Same for statuary and crucifixes.  I've found several beautiful statues/crucifixes for good prices on EBay, too.  
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    Offline Nadir

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #11 on: September 13, 2019, 05:17:55 PM »
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    • Why not a crucifix on the wall behind the altar and Mary standing below, then the size would not matter?

    Secondhand shops sometimes have holy items. I had the privelege and duty to dispose of literally hundreds of holy items from my mother's when she went to her reward. I anounced it to her SSPX friends and they came in droves to collect. It was a great day and a great relief for me. NO one other home could have contained what she possessed.

    Pray to St Anthony to find you what you need. He will do your bidding in such a good cause.
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    Offline klasG4e

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #12 on: September 13, 2019, 05:45:14 PM »
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    • Quote from: Matthew on September 13, 2019, 04:27:46 PM
    KlasG4e,

    I'm glad you asked.

    Firstly, it's not up to the layman. It's not one of those we get to each have a "position" on. The priest is the one responsible for the Blessed Sacrament, so he (actually, his Bishop might have the final say) gets to decide which chapels are worthy to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved.

    We don't have the privilege of reserving the Blessed Sacrament at our chapel. We wish!

    1. The chapel needs to have enough activity/parishioners. We don't even get weekly Mass at the moment.
    2. The chapel needs to be secure (locked, alarm system, etc.) I think the expression is, "The Blessed Sacrament must be behind 3 locks" including the chapel building and the tabernacle itself, which functions like a safe. Our tabernacle's lock mechanism is actually broken.
    3. The chapel in question must be 100% dedicated to sacred use. Our chapel has a few shelving units for family storage (hidden behind tarps and wooden walls), and part of these shelving units are used as walls to enclose the Sacristy, confessional, etc.  In other words, even if we moved 100% of our stuff out of the chapel, we wouldn't gain much, and we'd actually have to replace many walls, tables, and shelving that the chapel is currently using!
    Thus we have donated over 95% of the 1200 square foot building to exclusive chapel use. But that isn't 100%.
    3. We have a tabernacle as you can see in the picture, but that was only used once for Holy Week services (including Adoration on Holy Thursday) and several times to reserve the Blessed Sacrament between the Consecration and Benediction right after Mass.

    I hope this answers your questions.

    We started this chapel (in this location, albeit with much less equipment) back in February 2013. We've been at it ever since. We hope that eventually we'll have the parishioners and the priests in the Resistance so that we can have weekly Mass again, and someday build up to the point where we can have the Blessed Sacrament reserved. Even if that means moving to a new building someday.

    Matthew, thanks much for your reply.  You state: "The priest is the one responsible for the Blessed Sacrament, so he (actually, his Bishop might have the final say) gets to decide which chapels are worthy to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved."  Assuming for the sake of discussion that this statement is correct, can you substantiate what exact references in Canon Law and or elsewhere that the priest would be compelled to go by in making a correct determination of whether or not a particular home chapel would be "worthy to have the Blessed Sacrament reserved."?

    I ask this question not simply for myself (and certainly not to give you a hard time), but for the possible help of a priest who may be quite hesitant to go forward in permitting the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament in a home chapel.
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    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #13 on: September 13, 2019, 05:57:13 PM »
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    • I don't know what canon(s) are involved; I'm not a canon lawyer. I might have got it from various books about the priesthood. It's one of his duties/responsibilities, inherent in his office since the priest confects the Blessed Sacrament during Mass. Obviously he *could* theoretically set up oratories and locations with the Real Presence all over the place. So there must be some laws or guidelines that he is bound by.

    I am also passing on some of the things I've been told about my own chapel, for example.

    I also read that (in normal times) it's up to the Bishop to decide which places, besides the various parishes, the Blessed Sacrament can be reserved. It's 100% up to him. How this applies to the Wild West of the Crisis in the Church I'm not entirely sure. That's why I would say (in the spirit of the rule in normal times) that it's still up to the priest, and his bishop if he has one.

    Sorry I can't be of more help.
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    Offline St Ignatius

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    Re: Home altars
    « Reply #14 on: September 13, 2019, 07:34:01 PM »
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    • Thanks Mathew for providing what information that you have.  We have a similar situation as to your oratory/chapel, although we're able to reserve ours for the sole purpose of being used exclusively as a chapel.

    We've been blessed recently with a priest who can visit us monthly, for 3-5 days at a time with daily Mass, Sunday inclusive. So, because of this great privilege/blessing to be able to host a priest for multiple consecutive days, it raised the question about being able to have the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The verdict, thus far, is as long as Father is visiting, the Blessed Sacrament may be present... I'm sure there'll be other details to work out, but I'll try to share them as our situation evolves. Currently our alter is not deep enough to facilitate a tabernacle, so I'm going to have to build a larger alter for starters. 
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