Reflections

Christian Meditation for Children

Several times a year, the Religion Consultant for the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) sends out an invitation to educators to attend an overnight silent retreat for twelve teachers to learn the art of Christian Meditation for children at the home of the Sisters of St. Joseph in London, Ontario. In early February, twelve eager participants arrive to learn and practice the simple steps of Christian Meditation as taught by the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM).

Following a delicious dinner, comradery, and basic instructions, the group enters a world of silence and stillness in preparation for meditation. Cellphones and outside distractions are set aside to fully enter the retreat experience. Three Sister facilitators and their consultant companion, amid candlelight and stillness in a prayerful atmosphere, explain the age-old practice of the desert fathers and mothers.  As early as the third century, these early meditators fled the noise, chaos, and commerce of their society to live a prayer-centered life. Similarly, teachers today know the noise, distraction, anxiety, and turmoil that surrounds our youth. Educators see that learning the art of Christian Meditation could be an antidote to present chaotic ills. Placing Christ at the centre of meditation raises simple meditation as a wellness to a spiritual encounter.

One by one, our retreatants shed their coat of fatigue and distraction to embrace an aura of silence. It is time to breathe deeply and experience the world of meditation. Step by step, a quiet, reverent voice leads the group in the rudiments of Christian Meditation. She instructs: “Sit still in your chair, your back straight; feet flat on the floor; place your hands quietly on your lap; gently close your eyes; notice your breath; slowly repeat the mantra, ‘ma-ra-na-tha’”. This word, in the language Jesus spoke, means, “Come Lord Jesus.”

A chime indicates that fifteen minutes of meditation have elapsed. The meditators quietly leave and peacefully proceed to their rooms for the night’s repose.

Throughout the following day, the participants begin with meditation and learn the background of World Community for Christian Meditation which Fr. John Main established in France in 1927. It is now a global movement with a centre in Montreal. Today, there are thousands of adults and children practicing Christian Meditation throughout the world.

At retreat’s end, the teachers leave looking forward to introducing Christian Meditation to their students. They know that pausing during the workday to embrace Centering Prayer is bound to bring personal and communal peace to the classroom and hope to our shaken world. As we wave goodbye to one group of educators, another one is waiting in the wings to join us in prayer and Christian Meditation.

-Sister Jean Moylan, CSJ

About Family

In Alberta, it was noted that February was a month without a day to have a holiday celebration.  Alberta passed the first Family Day Act in 1990.  The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta—Helen Hunley—established the third Monday of every February as Alberta Family Day.  Other Provinces adopted the holiday over the next twenty years.  Saskatchewan founded “Family Days” in 2007, and Ontario followed in 2008 then British Columbia in 2013.  British Columbia is the only province to choose the second Monday of the month instead of the third Monday. Other Provinces have adopted similar holidays in February.

Family Day is meant to provide an opportunity to spend quality time strengthening family relationships.  I’m reminded of the scripture from Exodus 20:12, that reads

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you”.

You may recognize this as the Fourth Commandment given to Moses on Mount Sinai.  It’s rather curious to note that this is the only Commandment with a condition attached, with a ‘provisio’.  Respect, esteem shown your parents merits long life wherever God is leading you.  This could be one interpretation of the Fourth Commandment.

I believe the Indigenous Community live instinctively their love, respect and esteem for their elders and merit to live long in this God-given land.

Perhaps we should focus on our families showing the members love, respect and esteem, so that we too can live long and peacefully in this land we call Canada.

-Sister Elaine Cole, CSJ

A Valentine's Day Prayer

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

- 1 Corinthians 13

Do you remember writing out Valentine’s cards for everyone in your class?  Cutting out hearts of construction paper and coming up with cute messages that would let your friends know that you cared for them?  Did you tell your parents that you loved them before you went to bed every night?  Or did you kiss them goodnight?

Let us pray this reflection on love attributed to Pedro Arrupe sj

“Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything. “

From Finding God in All Things: A Marquette Prayer Book © 2009 Marquette University. 

God of love, you bless us every day with goodness and love.

Remind us to make every day a day of love and affection.

Let us give the person in front of us our full undivided attention.

Help us be a conduit of your love to those we meet everyday.

Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

-Created by Sister Pat Carter and the Federation Vocation Animation Committee to commemorate both Valentine’s DAY and Family Day.

Images: Diana Polekhina /Brigitte Tohm | Unsplash

The Lost Doll and the Tooth Fairy

As somewhat of a reluctant “Facebooker,” a friend, aware of this, emailed me the link to a story she thought I might enjoy. Curious, I clicked on the link and found myself reading a moving account about a sympathetic middle-aged man and a crying girl who had lost her doll. I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s a brief (266 words) post that’s worth experiencing for yourself. Read it here.

The girl’s unexpected encounter with Franz Kafka reminded me of an experience of my own.

““Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way.””

As a primary school teacher, I too, had a memorable encounter with a sobbing child. I had just entered my Grade 1 classroom when I was immediately met with the sound of crying. I soon discovered one of my students, in tears. When I asked her what was wrong, she explained through sobs that she had lost her baby tooth and wouldn’t be able to place it under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy. I knew the day would be ruined for her, and maybe even for all of us, if I didn’t find a way to solve her dilemma. Then, inspiration struck.

I suggested that the Tooth Fairy would probably accept a letter from her teacher, explaining the situation and requesting the fairy accept the note in place of the missing tooth. The sobs stopped, the tears dried, and a smile returned to the girl’s face. I quickly wrote the letter and asked her to carefully tuck it into her book bag.

The next day, she came into class bubbling with excitement and handed me a thank-you note from the Tooth Fairy. It turned out her mother had played along, showing her gratitude for my creative solution.

Did this article spark any memories for you?

-Sister Nancy Wales, CSJ

Franz Kafka was a German-speaking Bohemian writer born in Prague in 1883, and he is widely considered one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

The Gift of Music

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a Herman’s Hermits concert in Niagara Falls with three others. One of them had won the tickets, which made the experience even more exciting! A Herman’s Hermits album was one of the very first I ever owned, and I have always loved their sound.

For days after the concert, I found myself listening to their songs on repeat—singing along, of course! This experience reminded me of what a gift music is to all of us and what a true blessing it can be. No matter what genre one enjoys, music has the power to uplift, reflect our moods, or even shape how we feel. The melodies can touch our hearts, and the lyrics can speak to our minds.

Someone with a deeper appreciation of music could likely describe this phenomenon better, but all I know is that music has a way of reaching our souls like few other things can.

Thank you, God, for the gift of music and for all those who bring it into our lives.

-Sister Nancy Sullivan, CSJ

Image: Kari Shea/Unsplash