Prayer and Meditation

Where, when, and how did individuals pray at home? What tools and devices did they employ to aid their practice of prayer? How were such tools and practices shared between family members and other networks? Via the study of a range of different sources, including archival records, printed books and pamphlets, and images, this chapter roots out domestic practices of prayer that were often far removed from any kind of official guidance. It considers the different stages of preparing to pray, including identifying an appropriate space and time in the home, and the different forms that prayer might take. First-hand accounts demonstrate domestic prayer in action. The final section of this chapter explores the distinctive forms of meditation that were practised within the home.