Here's an interesting story about the Catholic Faith in America:
The Blessed Mother and her various titles certainly have the monopoly on the names dedicated to these tiny houses of prayer. However, chapels under the patronage of Sts. Anthony of Padua, Hubert or Odile also reflect the devotions of the local community.
Inside, the focus is the altar, which is often two- or three-tiered. These altars are typically filled with religious artifacts, statues of the Blessed Mother and a small container of holy water. Flowers and perhaps a picture of a deceased family member can also be found. Front and center on the top tier typically is a statue of the chapel’s saint or a crucifix.
The chapels usually contain just a prie-dieu (kneeler). The side walls are adorned with religious images and family certificates that commemorate a marriage or a first Communion of the family. Some of these certificates are over a century old and inscribed in French. Thus, these chapels, some of which were established in the mid-1800s, serve as a living history for the families who have maintained them over the decades.
Read the whole article here: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/belgian-roadside-shrines-serve-as-prayer...
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