St. Bernard’s Church
Yesterday I took my students to meditate during Theology class. When I tell my students we get to meditate they get so excited! Some of them use the time to take a “prayer nap” and zone out or fall asleep. The majority of my students try to go where I take them during the meditation.
I write all the meditations. First we always go through some relaxation exercises to try to help them eliminate their stress. Then they concentrate on their breathing for awhile. When they are in a good comfortable and peaceful place I take them on a journey. This time I took them to an empty church. It was quiet, empty and inviting. They walked through the church to the beautiful stained glass window and eventually knelt down to pray. I brought them to church in a peaceful, lovely environment and gave them the space to hear God speaking to them.
Many of my students do not attend Mass regularly and I want to give them a reason to go back to church but I think they need to feel comfortable with church first. I want them to feel drawn to church. My students who transcended to the church felt at peace and prayed while they were there. I pray that this experience will help them feel a call to go back to church.
We can and should experience God anywhere and everywhere. However, church is a great place, free from distraction to listen to the word of God, celebrate the sacraments and be with a community of believers. Now, that I have taken them to church I hope they decide to go again.
