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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Little Oratory + prayer journal + Sheenazing!

So tell me you read Like Mother, Like Daughter. You do, right? It's one of my favorite blogs and you all know how excited I was to meet Auntie Leila a few months ago.

I bought her book when I met her, and ever since then, I've been trying to think of a way to make the kind of little "home altar" she talks about. Tricky when you're as tight on space as we are. But on Saturday when we were (fiiiiinally) taking down our Christmas decorations, we put away the Nativity set that had been on the table next to our front door and suddenly it sat empty. And I looked at that open tabletop right next to Frank's icon wall and I went "Ah-ha!"

So this happened:


I wish we could have the table UNDER the icons but Frank says that it crowds the door too much, so this will have to do. I also wish we didn't have the printer and all that other stuff under it, but there's no where else to put them so it's working for now. Hey, I'm just so excited we finally have the beginnings of a "little oratory"!

Here's a closer look at the table:


We've got a picture of Popes Benedict and Francis that Frank and I purchased when we went to Rome on our honeymoon (shhhh... it's actually a postcard), we've got an image of a saint's funeral (can't remember which saint) that one of our artistic friends painted, we've got our nicest Bible, a candle... and see that little white envelope poking out of a vase on the far right? That, my friends, contains a relic of St. John the Baptist, a gift from a former professor. So cool, right?! We're hoping to get a nice icon of St. John the Baptist that we can attach the relic to.

And see that little red notebook underneath on the right side? I got the idea from Mrs. Lawler's book to start a family journal of prayer intentions and keep it with the little altar.

On that note, I have a question for you. Lately I've seen several people mention on social media that they use "prayer journals" as part of their spiritual life. I will be honest, I don't exactly understand what a prayer journal is, but the concept sounds fascinating! If you use a prayer journal or know someone who does, would you mind sharing a little bit about what it is and how you use it? Thanks!

Finally, here is Frank's beloved icon wall, the inspiration for this whole thing:


Guys. This is only part of his icon collection. Yesterday he said, "It's lucky for me that you like icons," and I was like YUP.

Finally, I'm so honored to share that some kind soul nominated me for the Sheenazing award for under-appreciated blog! I've admired these awards from afar for several years so it's a HUGE honor to be included. Thank you so much to whoever nominated me, and please go check out the other amazing nominees!


Update: And now I'll be sharing our (very preliminary) Little Oratory on Leila's "my Little Oratory" page. Link yours up too!

20 comments:

  1. Somehow I don't remember seeing this up at your apartment before. Maybe I was too distracted by the baby ;) Anyway I LOVE the whole display, it's so artsy! And comparable to my own crowded decorating situation right now, lol.

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    1. Aw, Kathryn, you're the best. :D Glad you like it. That baby is pretty darn distracting!

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  2. LOVE the altar, especially the icon wall. So beautiful.

    I had a prayer journal for a while and really want to start it up again. For me, I was just journaling my day and writing down specific prayer intentions and needs. I started every entry with "Dear Jesus...". I also have friends who have thankfulness journals and write down 5 things they are thankful for every night before they go to bed.

    P.S. I totally voted for you :)

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  3. I use a prayer journal! Or, used to use...haha. I think everyone's is probably a little different but mine was basically a combination of journaling and prayer together - so I'd spend time in Adoration writing about my daily goings-on but in a prayer form, with special intentions and things weighing on my heart thrown in. I liked it because it could be whatever I needed - a place to vent, a space to do some Lectio Divina, or just a quick list of prayer intentions. I highly recommend it!

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    1. Oh I like that idea of using it for Lectio Divina! The combo of regular journal + prayer intentions doesn't sound TOO hard. Hey, maybe even I could do that. ;)

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  4. I also use one -- mine is largely personal reflection and homily notes, with some intention and intercession reminders for myself.

    Also, you totally deserve the nomination and votes! Love reading the blog.

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    1. Aw, thanks, Brigid!! That means a lot to me.

      Wow, it's actually never occurred to me to take notes on a homily. And I've heard some good ones that would be well worth remembering! Do you bring it with you to Mass?

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  5. I use a prayer journal :) For me, it involves writing down intentions, so that I remember to pray for them (often in a list, and I might then pray for that particular list for a week or a few weeks), but mostly the journal is filled with reflections on my walk with Christ. This can include little or big revelations that come through prayer or thought or just general "ah-hah" moments, it can be filled with details of struggles or joys in my relationship with God and others, and it can be graces that the Lord has given that I need to remember, in order to store them up and let them grow. I was taught that by keeping a record of my walk with God, I can see the "line" of the Lord through my life and where He is leading and what He's doing. It's helped a lot. One example is that once, after I made a big decision, I was able to look back through the journal and see how clearly God had lead me to that point ...

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  6. I use a prayer journal for my time in Adoration. My mind tends to wander a lot. I am able to focus much better when I write. So that is how I talk to Jesus. I used to be so frustrated during holy hours because I felt like I wasnt "accomplishing" anything. Now I really feel like I'm connecting better with God using my journal. I'm still trying to make it a daily habit. But that's how it has worked do me!

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    1. Oh man, that feeling of not "accomplishing" anything in prayer. I know it well, my friend. What a great idea to channel that into making a tangible record of your prayer life and relationship with God!

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  7. I started keeping a prayer journal in college, and I usually journaled in adoration after some spiritual reading or meditation. In looking over my writing, I'm amazed sometimes by what comes out on paper! The Holy Spirit's words definitely flow from the pen, not mine. I struggle with keeping up with it now, and even avoiding journaling because I'm apprehensive about what God wants to tell me! That's awful, isn't it? Anyway, I have to be more disciplined about it, it's a very good spiritual exercise for me.

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  8. I use a prayer journal. Mine is filled with different prayers, saint quotes about prayer, lists of prayer intentions, and the like. I am really cool and mix up all the words of Catholic prayers, so I need the Apostles Creed and Hail Holy Queen in there to pray the rosary. Basically things that I should have memorized, but I don't! No reflections on my life or anything like that.

    So where did Frank get all his icons? They are gorgeous! I am hankerin for an icon wall.

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    1. ha!! Girl, even though I grew up praying the Rosary with my family, I ALWAYS mix up the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds and forget part of the prayers at the end. And it's so much easier to read the mysteries off a piece of paper then play the mental game of trying to remember which one comes next! I'm right with you in preferring to have it written down—makes the whole prayer experience flow so much more smoothly. I had been just looking it up on my phone, but I like this idea of using a prayer journal for it!

      Great question about the icons. He bought some of them at the Catholic Information Center in DC or at other Catholic and Eastern Catholic bookstores, and he bought some of them online (several monasteries sell icons on their websites). Several of them have been gifts—let your family and friends know that you like icons and you will be amazed what comes pouring in. :)

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  9. Our "little oratory" is also our board game/movie storage, so you're not alone! It's just the way things go when you live in a small space.

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  10. Wonderful! Well done.
    Would you be interested in linking this post to our "Your Little Oratory" page? We'd love to have you there!
    Lots of love!
    http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/your-little-oratory/

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    1. Great suggestion! I'll add it! Thanks, Leila!

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  11. Tess! How precious!

    About prayer journaling, I think the idea is that people write down their prayers, and perhaps answers to prayers as well. I'm not really a writer by nature, and often my "written" prayers come out as doodles. So when I read a book called "Praying In Color" it was kind of a game changer.

    --Becky

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  12. Love your little oratory, it's beautiful! I use my prayer journal as a Lectio Divina/prayer intention journal. I like the idea of having a specific family prayer intention journal!

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  13. I love the icon wall! Such a great creative idea for a small space. Most of our religious art is hanging too.

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  14. Thanks for linking up on our page! And it was lovely to meet you as well, Tess! Thanks so much for coming out for the talk. God bless!

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