Christian Meditation

Prayer of the Heart

PART I IN A SERIES ON MEDITATION and FAITH

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We are all born meditators. Recall how absorbed young children are gazing in awe at the magic of the Christmas Tree, how coffee tasted better as you sat wrapped in a spectacular sunset, how peaceful the sound of the waves rolling onto the shore made you wish for more, how time stopped as your baby gazed silently into your heart.  Events like these are timeless and profound and full of peace. These experiences of wonder, joy and peace are the result of taking the attention off yourself and looking forward and beyond to the mystery of God at the core of all human existence.

Unfortunately, as we mature the pace of life blots out some of these precious memories replacing them with stress, hurry, and countless demands on a busy life. You may ask, is it possible for a busy professional, homemaker or retail employee to bring a modicum of peace to a stressful life?   Unless you become like little children you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Matt. 18:3.

Having had the privilege of learning from children/students for the better part of 10 years listen to what they say:

  • I like to connect with Jesus because it makes me feel calm. - Kevin, 5

  • When I meditate it is as if I’m in another world, feeling at ease with the silence.  - Lily, 13

  • I like Christian Meditation because it feels like peace and harmony, and it feels like a warm hug. -Maggie, 7 

  • It gives me a sense of peace within myself and the world around me. - Chelsea, 16

  • I can forget everything that happened during the day. I can come back after connecting with God and feel good.  -Grace, 11 *

Stay tuned as we continue this faith journey.  

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj     

Sister Ann Marshall works on Christian Meditation in the classroom, in partnership with teachers in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.            

*Excerpts taken from the book, Christian Meditation Reflections by Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board Students. This book is dedicated to Sister Ann Marshall, CSJ, for her commitment to spreading the practice of Christian Meditation throughout the Hamilton-Wentworth School Board and in so doing, enriching the lives of countless students and staff by helping them to establish and nurture a genuine relationship with Christ.

Contemplative Prayer and Christian Meditation

Confronted with the question ‘what is prayer’, most adults initially hesitate, shrug, or say something like – well it’s talking to God, asking for a favour, sharing a serious concern. Children inevitably say it’s talking to God.

But what if the question is, ‘what is contemplative prayer’?  Most Western type people would say that it is the prevue of monks, priests or religious persons. However, every religious tradition has practiced some form of meditation for eons. Insight meditations are much favoured in Buddhist practices.  Mantras such as ‘Om padme’ of the Eastern tradition, or ‘La ilaha ill Allahu’ of the Islamic tradition are classic examples.

For the past several years the students at St. Brigid’s Elementary School, in Hamilton, have practiced Christian Meditation, or contemplative prayer, and look forward to these quiet moments in their school day.

Father John Main, a Benediction monk, reintroduced this ancient form of Christian prayer in 1975. It is a prayer of silence, simplicity, and discipline supported by a mantra or prayer word.   

Recently, I began Christian Meditation with students in some Catholic elementary schools in Hamilton. Children from Kindergarten to grade 8 have embraced this form of prayer whole heartedly. Comments range from: I feel so peaceful, happy, relaxed, I feel God loves me, I’m surprised when it is over, can we do it again.

The struggles most often noted are: it is hard to keep my eyes closed, to sit still, and to keep stuff out of my mind.  At the end of an initial period of meditation a 10 year old boy said quite spontaneously and obviously pleased with his insight, ‘now I know what I’m going to do when I get mad’.

Teachers notice a positive difference within the class, and the way the students are with one another.  In talking with a grade 3 class about meditation, for the first time, and explaining about listening with the ear of your heart, one student asked me ‘ how did God talk to your heart about becoming a Sister’.

Children get contemplative prayer, and will ask their teacher to make time to meditate. One grade 8 student volunteered that he prays with his family at home.  

For further information on this form of prayer visit The Canadian Christian Meditation Community

Ann Marshall CSJ