Private Chapels Brought to Light by Social Distancing

The Book of Job famously teaches that "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" but He also gives back again and in the light of the cancellation of so many public Masses, many priests have taken to live-streaming their private Masses to help keep the faithful connected in these times. Some of these liturgies are streamed from within their normal churches and chapels of course, but many are also choosing to stream these Masses from the intimacy of their private (in many cases presumably house) chapels. This has given a rare opportunity for people to see these private chapels from far and wide.

As I saw some of these pass through the digital ether that is social media, I made certain to capture some images of those which most piqued my interest and I thought they might be of interest to some of our readers -- especially priests who are looking to either refurbish or establish their own private chapels, or even to serve as inspiration for families who are seeking to erect a home altar. With that in mind, let's take a look.

Our first example comes from St. Mary's in Greenwich, Connecticut and includes a simple but noble altar with a small tabernacle and gradine. It is covered by a beautiful canopy and is also furnished with a rich red brocade. From what I can see of the rest of the room, it certainly makes for a very fine chapel and has a very Roman character to it.

St. Mary's, Greenwich, Connecticut

Next we have an altar that we have shown before, coming in relation to Abbe Franck Quoex. This particular private altar is situated in Lyon, France and is of the "portable" altar type that utilizes a kind of wardrobe-like structure that allows the doors to be closed to conceal the altar when it is not in use. As in the previous instance, we see the usual features of a traditional Latin Rite altar. This particular arrangement also includes antependia in the different liturgical colours and has the red and gold tasseled canopy that is so indicative of the Roman liturgical tradition.  The inclusion of the predella like platform is also pleasing.

FSSP, Lyon, France

Similar in its design and features (excepting the wardrobe of course) is this example coming from Bordeaux, France.

FSSP, Bordeaux, France

We turn now to the New World and to the apostolate of the Institute of Christ the King in Chicago. This particular chapel is located on the lower level of their rectory and it is one you do not see very often; it includes some very nice features.

ICRSP, Chicago

Quite similar to the wardrobe altar shown from Lyon, here is yet another coming from the Institute of the Good Shepherd (Institut du Bon Pasteur / IBP) in their Roman house, Casa San Clemente:

Institut du Bon Pasteur, Casa San Clemente

While we are on the IBP, the following comes from one of their houses in France:

Institut du Bon Pasteur, France

And finally here is one from Brazil: 

Institut du Bon Pasteur, Brazil

I am certain that there are a great many more of these that would well worth sharing, but these were the few that crossed that path over the past week that I thought might be of interest to our readers. Certainly if there are others that readers' feel might be worth sharing of this nature, please send them along to LAJ for consideration.