Why and How to Make a Catholic Prayer Corner at Home
Author: Maria Marshall, PhD
A prayer corner is a sacred space that invites us to lift our hearts in prayer and meditation. Anyone can create a prayer corner in their home. It is a dedicated spot or corner that serves as a visual reminder that we are not alone in our pilgrimage. It is functional and creatively designed space that helps to disconnect from the noise of the world to be able to focus on our relationship with God.
A prayer space is an intimate area of our home. Intentionally creating such a space can be an engaging process that can involve both the young and the old. All the elements can be chosen with care so that they convey reverence, marvel, esthetic or artistic beauty, through which we can lift our hearts in prayer.
A good place for a prayer corner is an easily accessible area of the house which ideally is not busy and not near devices such as a television, computer, phone or other utilities that can distract our attention or create noise. The designated place can be a table in a quiet corner of a room, or an area where family members can choose to stand, sit or kneel, and where there is enough space to gather. The prayer corner requires at least a minimum distinction from the rest of the space to stand out and extend a warm welcome.
A prayer corner is for personal use. It is not a church, which is dedicated by a Bishop for offering communal worship. Nor is it a chapel that is open to the public. Therefore, the type and the size of the items that we would find in a prayer corner are different from what we find at publicly accessible places of worship. Nevertheless, there are some fundamental items that we can place in a prayer corner to enhance our prayer life through devotion and meditation. These items are called sacramentals.
According to the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “sacramentals are sacred signs instituted by the Church to prepare us to receive the fruit of the sacraments and to sanctify different circumstances of our lives” (no. 1677; 2). They are, “…like sacraments…visible signs of God’s invisible grace, sanctifying daily life.” (1)
The content of our prayer corner can be very simple, containing a few essential sacramentals, or it can be more elaborate, containing several different types of sacramentals. A crucifix, a religious icon, or a prayer card placed in in the center, or a candle on a small table with an added plant, or flower for decoration, or a tea light candle, creates an elegant and warm, awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Sacramentals that may form part of a larger, more elaborate prayer corner may include a Bible, a prayer book, some religious literature, prayer cards, a statue of The Virgin Mary, a crucifix, an icon or holy picture of saints, holy water, holy oil, decorative candles or tea light candles, rosaries, and incents. Ideally, these sacramentals would not be displayed as decorations in the house. Rather they would be grouped together with the practical function to facilitate contemplation, reflection, and prayer, allowing a degree of privacy.
Everyone can add their own touch to their prayer space so that it will look its best and choose sacramentals depending on what they have available. Cultural elements or personally significant items can be added to make the space calm, appealing, and inviting.
Most parish centers have information about religious stores that carry Bibles and prayer books. Religious literature can be collected over time that helps us to learn more about the lives of the saints. Relevant literature can be purchased that enhances thinking about religious topics. Pilgrimage sites and Catholic stores carry some important volumes.
Holy pictures, icons, rosaries, holy water, small statues of Our Lord, the saints, and the Virgin Mary can be also purchased at religious stores, such as Liturgica in Ottawa. Cathedrals and Basilicas usually have a gift store which carries some of these items. For example, St. Patrick’s Basilica in Ottawa has an attached bookstore. Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa also houses a gift store in its basement. Drug stores and bookstores may carry some religious items. Amazon offers a wide variety of religious items to choose from at various prices.
Inexpensive but beautiful items can be prepared at home from framed quotations, photographs, or images. These can add distinction and significance to our sacred space. We do not need to worry about buying expensive items for our prayer space. Most important is the beauty of the connection that we experience through using this space as intended.
A prayer space does not need to be a finished product. Its design and content can change and evolve, just as its owner’s life of faith is a journey. Its purpose is to keep building and forming our soul, our “Interior Castle”. (3) As such, a prayer corner can be blessed by the parish priest during the blessing of our homes and visited as frequently as desired.
Works Cited
- Doman, R. (1996). Sacramentals: What Are They? Retrieved from www.ewtn.com. Accessed on: October 21, 2024.
- Nay, R. (2024). What are Sacramentals? (CCC 1677). Retrieved from: www.catholic-catechism.com. Accessed: October 21, 2024.
- St Theresa of Avila (1577-2007). Interior Castle. Dover Publications.