Creating A Prayer Corner

Create A Prayer Corner in Your Home

For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, It encourages meditation and promotes a call to prayer. It is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.

Aprayer corner is essentially any place where we choose to pray, but more private than a prayer corner. It might literally be a corner in a room, closet, or even a quiet shed. When it is set up with religiously significant items, it can remind the entire family throughout the day of the vital importance of using prayer in our daily lives. A prayer corner encourages meditation. It promotes a call to prayer. It is also a tool for family catechesis.

One family I know has a family “prayer corner” in the living room with a small lamp constantly lit in front of a religious icon — a popular tradition in some countries. The children said that when they get up at night and walk past the “prayer corner,” it reinforces God’s presence and is comforting and reassuring for them.

So, how can you create your prayer corner? Each prayer corner is as individual as the person who prays. It is unique like each family. But here are some guidelines.

Decide On A Specific Place

The first step is to choose the best location. Sometimes you have to try one place and then another before finding the most appropriate one. The children’s wishes may also lead to how you choose. Even in a small apartment, several possibilities may occur, and you should know that there is no ideal place per se: the “prayer corner” can be placed in the kitchen, in a bedroom, or family room. However, the following criteria are important to consider: • Assess your home and pick a quiet spot. Where is the best place within your home for you to pray? • Say a prayer and ask Christ for help in choosing your prayer corner location. • Pray in your prayer corner each day at the same time – even if it is for only five minutes. • Tell your family about your prayer corner and encourage them to create one of their own or use yours! • Ask your pastor or priest to bless your house and specifically your prayer corner! • Consider if it has enough room for the whole family to stand together. • A quiet place, which does not distract attention. If you stand in front of a window facing the street, the noise coming from outside may prevent quiet meditation. Be very selective of the space you decide to use. • Choose a beautiful area … or can be made beautiful. Avoid the proximity of the trash bin or a basket of dirty laundry. • Choose a place that you can frequently walk past during the day, not to be relegated to a place where nobody ever goes. • Create enough isolation to allow anyone to come and pray alone. This last criterion, of course, is only conceivable in sufficiently large housing. It is difficult — not to say impossible — to isolate yourself from the others when six or seven people live in three or four rooms. But even if that is the case, do not be discouraged. Any place that reminds us to pray and fosters peace and reflection is good.

H o w t o C r e a t e Y o u r P r a y e r C o r n e r

Here are some tips on how to create a prayer corner within your home: • Bring to your prayer corner those things that make it spiritual Place a chair, small side table, or kneeler in your prayer corner.

• Include spiritual items: reading, and/or a Rosary, and/or a cross, and/or a bible and/or a journal on a side table next to your chair or kneeler. • Surround yourself with your choice of holy images. This can help focus your prayer time by reflecting on the lives of Jesus,

Mary, and the Saints. • Develop The Space. Once the location is selected, the next step is to find a space within that specific place. Now that it is chosen, it needs to be developed. The minimum might include a small statue, a crucifix, or an icon. Choose something beautiful or meaningful. It is very beneficial for children to associate God with beauty.

Monasteries offer a large selection of images, for all tastes and at all prices. These images can be placed on a small table or hung on the wall, but always at the height of the smallest children. • Candles. Another important element is a candle or candles of choice. The flame speaks to us about the love of

God, the fire of the Holy Spirit, the light of Christ who guides us. Some families light three candles, one for each

Person of the Holy Trinity. (God, The Holy Spirit, and Christ). Others light as many candles as members of the family: each one his own and, when there are absentees, their candles are there to represent them. During Advent or Lent, the number of candles may increase from week to week. On the anniversary of their baptism, the children can also light their candle, with supervision of course. • Flowers (fresh and not faded). Live plants bring life and cheerfulness to a prayer corner. Children will be happy to find flowers outside on walks to place there. • Bulletin Boards. You might also consider a small bulletin board You can hang children’s drawings, Scripture quotes (that of the Sunday’s day), photos of people for whom you want to pray, especially godchildren, etc. Place it in your prayer area. • Other elements. Rugs, appropriate lighting, a small shelf with books and notebooks, stools or small benches, a speaker, and more can complete your prayer corner. Enjoy setting up this special space and let it evolve with time and inspiration.

P r a y i n g i s C o m f o r t

We can pray anywhere, at any time! And we don’t even need to utter a word. Sometimes the most beautiful prayers are tears of pain or sorrow, looking toward Heaven to find comfort (John 11:35). Our faith teaches us that we are able to communicate with our God, along with the Angels, and the Saints anytime and anywhere! What an incredibly beautiful and comforting reality this is. Beauty is also found when we imitate Christ. In the Gospels, we often read that Christ goes off by Himself to pray (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). We can create a space in our home where we can retreat to and find Christ. When we create a designated space for prayer, quiet, solitude, silence, and listening within our home it allows us to hear God’s voice in our life more clearly. Our connection to God strengthens.

W h y C r e a t e a P r a y e r C o r n e r i n Y o u r H o m e ?

Within our homes, we designate places for cooking, eating, socializing, sleeping, and bathing. Do you have a special spot for God within your home? A place set aside for Him, your Heavenly Father, who created and breathed life into you? The word “consecration” means “to set apart,” and you should consecrate a space in our home to God. We must give God our best space and our best time. When we order our hearts and homes correctly–with God as the head of our families–our lives transform, and we begin to experience true freedom and joy.

Making a prayer corner in your home is one way to create a special spot for you to spend time with God. It is essential for each of us to retreat with our Heavenly Father in silence and love. God has so many plans for your heart. He has so much to tell you, and so many ways that He wants to express His love for you. It is important that we take time for Him and listen to all He has to share with us.