As part of the plan for the renewal of our park and gardens at the Villa Lante, we created new outdoor prayer spaces, including a meditation garden with a labyrinth in the shape of a heart, surrounded by benches, trees, cactuses, roses, hydrangeas, lilies and other flowers. On May 2, we will pray and reflect as we walk into this labyrinth, joining the World Labyrinth Society and people all over the world as they “Walk as One at 1pm” and pray for peace.
Centuries ago, labyrinths were created for people who could not make the long pilgrimage to Rome or to the Holy Land. A labyrinth is not a maze that one walks for fun, making choices about turns and getting lost, but rather is unicursal, with one path leading to the centre and out again, a form of walking prayer. One way of walking a labyrinth is simply to pause at the entrance, breathe, then slowly walk the path, letting go/releasing as you spiral into the heart, pausing in the centre to receive, then allowing yourself to simply return as you are spiralling out. Release, Receive, Return.
I am inviting all of us to walk for peace at 1pm in our own time zone. For more about this initiative, see the World Labyrinth Day website to find your nearest labyrinth having a peace event.
I shall walk the heart labyrinth today, as I do most days, and pray for you and pray for peace.
Mary Finlayson rscj (USC)
Section |International News
Province |United States and Canada|Villa Lante
