We all know that a church is the proper place for the celebration of prayer such as Masses and Eucharistic Adoration, but in this week when we’re learning more about the family as a Domestic Church, it’s useful to know what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about the home as a place for prayer:

The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer. Based on the sacrament of marriage, the family is the “domestic church” where God’s children learn to pray “as the Church” and to persevere in prayer. For young children in particular, daily family prayer is the first witness of the Church’s living memory as awakened patiently by the Holy Spirit.  CCC 2685

” Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and “a school for human enrichment.”  Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous – even repeated – forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life. CCC 1657

The choice of a favorable place [for prayer] is not a matter of indifference for true prayer.   For personal prayer, this can be a “prayer corner” with the Sacred Scriptures and icons, in order to be there, in secret, before our Father. In a Christian family, this kind of little oratory fosters prayer in common. CCC 2691

Tomorrow:  more about setting up a prayer corner in your home.