Holy Family Episcopal Church ”“ Fresno’s only remaining Episcopal congregation ”“ has cleared the way to build a community labyrinth….
“It’s a very meditative and contemplative tool ”“ and can be used by people of all faiths and walks of life,” says the church’s pastor, the Rev. Michele Racusin, adding that the church hopes to complete the labyrinth by Easter, which is April 8. “That’s what the Episcopal Church is all about.”
“That’s what the Episcopal Church is all about.”
Wow! That says it all!
Jean Houston would be proud of them. The labyrinth was the symbol of her mind science weekends.
See, here’s the problem. I don’t think there is anything wrong with a labyrinth, if you understand it in the Christian context to be a pilgrimage towards Christ for those who cannot make a pilgrimage to another holy place. I get that. Much like praying the rosary, or mediating on the Jesus prayer, or doing the stations of the cross, it is a nice, traditional form of contemplation and prayer. Prayer gardens are also traditional – most monastaries have them. So again, nothing really that weird.
That having been said, it seems like in both Episcopal world and in RC world, it has been adopted by folks who really want to make it something “new agey.” It use seems inherently suspicious because its the same people that advocate such things as mandalas and open communion for the non-baptized. So the labyrinth gets labeled as a “not-good thing” as well. However, if I can separate my baggage from what they are actually doing, what these folks want to do is build an ecumenical prayer garden. Since it is being built by a Church, I’d rather it be understood as a Christian prayer garden where all are welcome. That would certainly be better. And the statement of “that’s what the Episcopal Church is all about” is deeply troubling. However, I can’t fault anyone for wanting to build a prayer garden. If it becomes truly a place of prayer, then it has to be good – yes?
If I’m in a contemplative mood, and especially if happens to be in the late evening, I use my Anglican Rosary and pray the prayers that go with it. Very calming and personally comforting to know that I’m communing directly with the Father.
Can we have a general conversation here about the appropriateness of labyrinths? I’d really like to know more about them, why some Christians use them, and whether it really is or isn’t appropriate for the Church to promote. Thanks.
Fr. Ian, it is my understanding that the Christian labyrinth was created back when there was a understanding that one needed to go on pilgrimages for spiritual benefits (or indulgences, but let’s not open that can of worms). Anyway, the Church realized that there needed to be some way for those who were elderly, physically infirm, or otherwise unable to travel to experience the benefits of a pilgrimage. So they were created for the spiritual benefit of those that could not go to the more traditional places of pilgrimage. That is why the Cathedral of Chartres has a labyrinth in its floor. They are meant to be walked slowly while praying or contemplating. They are totally Christian and very old (1100-1300s).
Thank you, advocate. I don’t understand the oftentimes knee-jerk reaction (as New Agey and ridiculous) that I see to labyrinths. It’s been my understanding that they are rooted in traditional and sound practice. Many sects of Christianity use them for prayer and find them helpful.
Also, I could very well be wrong but I thought the “that’s what the Episcopal Church …” quote referred to Easter and the prayer journey surrounding Easter.
Ian+, your points are good ones, and I must admit to having used the labyrinth at my former parish church. I understand how important and helpful they are to many people, and if they help people connect spiritually to the Father, then that’s indeed good. I was merely saying that the Anglican Rosary has been helpful to me.
Go on Google and look around. The Labyrinth Project which has its roots in Grace Cathedral brags that the the good thing about the lybrinth is that it is not Christian. Then there is the ying yang thing and the fact that the labrinth represent the vagina of the eternal female. I think the stations of the cross were for folks who could not go to Jerusalem. The labrinth itself goes back to the bull cult of Minoan Crete and not Chartres.
Start your search with the Labyrinth Project, Lauren Artress and Jean Houston. Also, check out Veraditas.
Thanks, everybody. Sounds like medieval Chartres Cathedral managed to “evangelize” a pre-Christian, pagan practice. But modern Grace Cathedral has paganized it again. So if one walks it as if walking toward the Triune God, it’s good; otherwise… Is that a fair nutshell assessment?
I’ll stick with my Anglican Rosary.
I think that’s right Ian. It was a pagan practice that got Christianized, but it was long ago. Now there are those crazy groups that are doing their level best to make it something “other.” However, if one is praying to the triune God having prepared yourself to grow closer to him along the way – this is not a bad thing. We just hope that maybe any others that are praying to whatever they pray to might have a Paul experience and get knocked off their…um…path, and find Christ along the way. 😉
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth]This Wikipedia article[/url], if you want to trust Wikipedia, indicates that the “pilgrimage” image for labyrinths dates no farther back than to the 17th century in Europe. There are not records, so far as I can find, for how these were used in the medieval cathedrals, or whether they were simply, like the windows and paintings, symbolic designs, nor are there any records of early Christian use of labyrinths as they are being used today.
So while they can be used in a Christian way, what concerns me about this as quoted is that this labyrinth is not being promoted especially as a Christian meditative tool but is rather for “all faiths” because “That’s what the Episcopal Church is all about.”
Some have said the Labyrinth craze is the problem with the progressive/heretical offshoot of Christianity. Really it’s a symptom and a symbol of the problem that folks have forgotten (or chosen to ignore) the straight (pun intended), narrow, hard, sacrificial way that Jesus Himself said leads to eternal life.
You may want to book mark this for future use. Read the Layrinth sections for new age thinking. http://fatima.freehosting.net/Articles/Art7.htm
As I commented on a past labyrinth thread, the danger is not so much from the labyrinth but from the people and their beliefs you are likely to meet while walking in one!