How to Create a Sacred Space

At first, this information was included in my outline on the Ecclesial Method of catechesis, but it made the outline too cumbersome. As a result, I decided instead to devote a separate post to this topic.

What Is a Sacred Space?

• A sacred space is a prominent place in the room that draws the attention of the students, through various signs and symbols, to the mystery that is being proclaimed
• It typically involves a small table on which is placed a crucifix, a bible, a candle (real or battery-powered), and any other sacramentals and visual cues that pertain to the catechesis for that day
• Families can also have a sacred space in the home, to give family members a place to pray together or to facilitate celebration of the liturgical year. In this case, a shelf or a fireplace mantle can also serve as a lovely sacred space.

How Do I Create One?

• The crucifix should be the largest object on the table, so as to emphasize the singular importance of what Christ did for us.
• It is the crucifixion that makes every catechetical endeavor even possible.
• Ultimately, catechesis is about a relationship with this Jesus who died for us
• Everything we believe as Catholics is Christ-centered
• The Bible is displayed in order to communicate the significance of God's Word.
• It also tells them: this is the place where the Word is proclaimed.
• The Bible can be placed in a book stand, so that it is presented to the students and they can see what type of book it is.
• It can be closed, or turned to the first passage you will be citing in your teaching
• Make sure the Bible you display is a nice, regal edition.
• It is good to use this Bible throughout your teaching, unless placing and removing it from the stand is too awkward
• The table cloth should be the color of the current liturgical season
• This keeps the students oriented within the liturgical year
• Green for Ordinary Time, Purple/Violet for Lent and Advent, White for Christmas and Easter and All Saints' Day, Red for Pentecost or the Feast Day of a martyr, Rose for Gaudete Sunday (third Sunday of Advent) and Laetare Sunday (fourth Sunday of Lent), Black for All Souls' Day
• Cloth should be of fine material, nice, and not wrinkled.
• Include great works of art
• Paintings, icons, and sculpture communicate what is beautiful about a teaching
• Children in particular learn a lot more from beautiful illustrations then from your own words
• Examples: Michelangelo's God Creates Adam for a catechesis on Creation, his Pieta for a catechesis on Mary as the Mother of God, Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper for a catechesis on the Eucharist or the Paschal Mystery or the Mass, a statue of St. Michael the Archangel for a catechesis on Sin and Temptation or the Fall of the Angels or the Communion of Saints
• For more on the importance of injecting beauty into your teaching and your sacred space, see Beauty and Catechesis

Final Thoughts

• Teach from your sacred space.
• As you proceed to various points in your catechesis, utilize any objects from your space that would help to illustrate or communicate that point.
• For works of art, you can even do a mini-catechesis on what is going on in a particular painting, and how it illustrates your teaching
• At home, a sacred space isn't always feasible if you have little ones crawling and climbing around. In that case, create a portable one! Place your sacred space objects in a box and bring it out whenever it's time to pray together as a family
• Children could also create their own sacred spaces in a corner or table in their rooms.
• Be creative! What you can do with your sacred space is limited only by your imagination (and these guidelines, of course!).
• God gave you your imagination, and He loves it when you use it to pray.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic