In a large part to Fr. Deacon Robert Klesko's article in the National Catholic Register on our chapel, we thought it was time to do an update on the state of our home chapel. For some background, here are some past posts as we started this crazy project:
Beginning of the Chapel - 2018
Paschal Candle - 2018
Stations of the Cross - 2019
In which I draw Arches - 2019
First Batch of Stenciling - 2019
Infant of Prague - 2019
Family Altar - 2020
Chapel Tour - 2020
I think it is also worth sharing how we spent Easter 2020. I don't know that anything was new, but it was so meaningful to feel connected to the larger Church while worshiping in quarantine.
Journey East
Hannah and I have been aware of Eastern Catholicism for most of our lives. Long before Hannah and I started dating in 2005, she had already taken a class on Byzantine Spirituality at Benedictine College. Icons have always been a part of prayer corners in every home we have had together, and every classroom I taught in. While the story is too long for this post, somewhere between conversations with two Ruthenian Deacons, Fr. Dcn. Robert Klesko and Fr. Dcn. John Harden in 2018 and Christmas Eve of 2023 we made the switch from being Roman Catholic while embracing some of the practices of the East, to being Melkite Catholics, embracing some of the practices of the West. Our chapel reflects that.
While we still use many of the Chalice Veils that we had made years ago, for festive days we use the Byzantine style Aer (Ἀήρ) to cover the chalice from our wedding.
The spot where I set my books while praying the Divine Office has gone from 1 edition of the Four Volume Set of Liturgy of the Hours to 1 Horologion, 12 Menaia, 4 Octoechos, 6 volumes of the Triodion, 3 volumes of the Pentacostarion, 1 Psalter, 2 Euchologia, and 1 outdated Liturgikon. Hannah bought me a bookshelf to hold them all.
In so many ways, the driving force behind what goes into the chapel is how the kids feel comfortable praying. For them, lighting a candle when they get to church is what gets them into the mode for prayer. The design behind our sand candelabrum was "safe and stable"... now if we can start calling it something other than "the sand pit"!
Our Lady, More Spacious than the Heavens
The Icons
Menaion Icons - One for each month with images of each Saint commemorated on their Feast Day.
April
We moved all the kids' Patron Saint icons lower, and near the benches, so that the littles can kiss them whenever they want.
Angels and Bodiless Powers
This is a better picture of the two kissing icons we put on the baby gate. As seen in the very first picture above... the baby gate is there to keep some control of the space, but the adjoining living room is where the toddlers spend most of their day, so they run up and kiss Jesus and Mary.
Paintjob
The biggest change is the new paint job. I spent almost five years debating with myself about the color scheme. Hannah was patient and told me that whatever I decided would be beautiful. It was definitely a family afare with all hands on deck.
While it turned out gorgeous, I never want to do a stencil in a corner ever again!
Finally
In the end, whatever space you choose to pray in, the more you use it, the more you make it your own, the more beautiful it will be!
I still think the icon corner in the Girls' room is one of the most beautiful prayer corners I have seen... they did it themselves, and it is a reflection of their prayer life.
Resources
Seraphim Shop: I no longer buy icons from anyone else. Period. Jessica has the best prices and is willing to find anything you need. Most of the gold-gilded icons in the pictures above came from her.
Farrow & Ball: While their paint is expensive, and I tend to take their color shades and get them made in Benjamin Moore paint, I think sticking to a limited palette is really helpful. All their paint fits on one color card, they are all complementary, and they are all well saturated. Main walls are "Cook's Blue", Lower Wood Panelling is "Beverly" Green, and the red is "Incanadine".
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