The labyrinth at Saint Mary’s
The Saint Mary’s labyrinth is located in a tranquil
garden setting surrounded by flowers and trees. This sacred, meditative space is accessible to the Saint Mary’s College community and
the people of South Bend.
What is a labyrinth?
A labyrinth is a complex and circuitous walk, a winding pathway
that serves as an aid to meditation.
| Labyrinth
patterns are universal. They are found in ancient cultures in basket
weave designs, paintings and drawings all over the world. In the
Middle Ages, labyrinths were made with colored paving stones in the
floors of cathedral naves. People walked the labyrinth as a symbolic
pilgrimage to Jerusalem. |
|
To walk a labyrinth can be a journey,
which leads to sensing the mystery of God at the very center of one’s
being. Walking the pattern of the labyrinth seems to help people get into
a meditative state very quickly – to find one’s center.
How to walk a labyrinth
Walking a labyrinth can
model the three-fold spiritual path:
|
|
1. |
Purgation. This implies letting go of what blocks us in life.
It is a way of emptying or releasing. Pause at the entry to allow
yourself to be fully conscious of the act of stepping into the
labyrinth. Allow yourself to find a comfortable pace and to stop and
rest for a bit.
|
|
The
labyrinth at Saint Mary’s |
Illumination. This is usually found at the center of the
labyrinth. After quieting the mind during the first part of the walk,
the center can present a new experience. It is a place for meditation
and prayer. Here you may receive an insight into a situation or
clarity about a certain problem. - Union. This begins as you leave the center and start back. In
communion with God you go back to your ordinary life renewed and
empowered to act. You bring your gifts to the service of the world.
The labyrinth is an ancient tool. Not only can
we walk it in faith with others around the world today, but we are also accompanied in our desire for transformation and holiness by
those who have gone before us. While walking the labyrinth may be a private or a
personal experience, it is also a global venture and a walk across time.
|
