An important part of stewardship is being generous and always growing stewards of prayer.
This Wednesday night, October 3rd, all of our parishioners were invited to gather as Generations of Disciples to "Pray It!". This prayer learning experience focused on a method called the labyrinth. It is a method of prayer that involves meditation, repetition, and following a physical path as one prays. In our case, we had two large labyrinth paths that were laid out in our parish facilities for adults and children alike to walk through while listening to portable music devices or simply their own thoughts.
The Labyrinth can be completed in many fashions. It symbolizes a prayer journey and a conversation with God. Some labyrinths are mowed into the grass. Other churches and organizations use sheets of paper for finger labyrinths. One of the original labyrinths was built in a Cathedral in Chartres, France around 1200. It is actually laid into the stone floor!
Click here for a finger labyrinth you can print for your own prayer. We recommended to those our Generations of Disciples that they print a copy and keep in on their desk or in their locker!
http://www.lessons4living.com/Finger%20Labyrinth.PDF
In addition to being a physical path for the prayer process, it was also created as a way of recreated and representing a pilgrimage for those individuals who might not have the opportunity to pilgrimage to a designated holy site. It gives each of us the experience of a journey toward God and with God. We encourage each of you to try this experience if you haven't already and send us your feedback!
This Wednesday night, October 3rd, all of our parishioners were invited to gather as Generations of Disciples to "Pray It!". This prayer learning experience focused on a method called the labyrinth. It is a method of prayer that involves meditation, repetition, and following a physical path as one prays. In our case, we had two large labyrinth paths that were laid out in our parish facilities for adults and children alike to walk through while listening to portable music devices or simply their own thoughts.
The Labyrinth can be completed in many fashions. It symbolizes a prayer journey and a conversation with God. Some labyrinths are mowed into the grass. Other churches and organizations use sheets of paper for finger labyrinths. One of the original labyrinths was built in a Cathedral in Chartres, France around 1200. It is actually laid into the stone floor!
Click here for a finger labyrinth you can print for your own prayer. We recommended to those our Generations of Disciples that they print a copy and keep in on their desk or in their locker!
http://www.lessons4living.com/Finger%20Labyrinth.PDF
In addition to being a physical path for the prayer process, it was also created as a way of recreated and representing a pilgrimage for those individuals who might not have the opportunity to pilgrimage to a designated holy site. It gives each of us the experience of a journey toward God and with God. We encourage each of you to try this experience if you haven't already and send us your feedback!
3 comments:
Tell us about your experience with the prayer labyrinth.
I had an opportunity to pray the Labyrinth in the basement of the parish hall. What a prayerful, calming experience it was. It allows time to think about your relationship with God and then to rid yourself of some of the negative you are feeling and thinking. You walk away refreshed and eager to move forward in a very positive way. God speaks to you very clearly and in a calm voice. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who likes to pray in a quiet, calming atmosphere.
As I walked into the labyrinth I was struck by how many twists and turns there were in the path, but I kept breathing in/out, in/out and calming myself. I thought I was all calmed down until I started to walk the return path, when I began to think, "I can't take this long to walk out!" But I did, and I relaxed, and I learned patience and acceptance for those really few minutes it took. Life is so fast; I needed balance, and found it as I walked & prayed the labyrinth. I will visit the outdoor labyrinth at St. Norbert Abbey soon.
Michele
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