Taize and Labyrinth Prayer

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What should every Catholic know about taize and labyrinth forms of prayer?
 
MichaelsWarrior said:
What should every Catholic know about taize and labyrinth forms of prayer?
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Nothing. There is nothing inherent that every Catholic should know concerning these things. Catholicism has all manner of prayers and rituals, and I’m sure these are sufficient unto the needs of Her faithful.
 
The reason I ask is because I know of a Catholic Diocese-sponsored Church camp that was/has been teaching Taize and Labyrinth prayer.

Would it then be my duty to report this to the appropriate Bishop?
 
MichaelsWarrior said:
The reason I ask is because I know of a Catholic Diocese-sponsored Church camp that was/has been teaching Taize and Labyrinth prayer.

Would it then be my duty to report this to the appropriate Bishop?
Click to expand...
I’m not familiar with Taize, but the use of labyrinths for praying is a long-standing custom, with labyrinths even being located in some cathedrals.

While they are also commonly used by other groups, there is certainly nothing contrary to their use by Catholics.

Peace,
 
MichaelsWarrior said:
The reason I ask is because I know of a Catholic Diocese-sponsored Church camp that was/has been teaching Taize and Labyrinth prayer.

Would it then be my duty to report this to the appropriate Bishop?
Click to expand...
Taize is just a form of chant. It’s not Gregorian chant, but it is chanted prayer nonetheless. What is there about it that you think is wrong?
 
I guess I can’t help being skeptical. I want to be sure it’s not some kind of New Age-Catholic hybrid (e.g. “centering prayer”)… in which case I would want nothing to do with it. If someone could reassure me that it’s not in any way in conflict with the Roman Catholic Faith, I would feel the issue is resolved.
 
this is an old topic but the labyrinth has affected my parish lately and was even in the Religious Ed Congress in 2006, so I’m gonna give it my 2 cents.

I want to clarify that the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco is actually an episcopal church and since the advent of the labyrinth spirituality at this cathedral, a lot of new age programs popped up there as well.

There is, however, a labyrinth in a Catholic Cathedral in France. More can be read about this place in the link following shortly.

Pls survey this balanced and informed analysis about the Labyrinth and it’s recent promotion in Christian circles:

Maze Craze

I would discourage participation in a Labyrinth since it’s not church teaching and definitely not from Christianity but actually a Mandala which is Hindu Occult.

Definitely: Make an informed decision before becoming involved in the labyrinth. I have encountered the common argument that it can be used for spiritual benefit because it all depends on how you use it. But you can use the same reasoning with a Quija board but my church teaches me to stay away from things that come from the Occult.

If your parish is also affected by it, bring it up with your pastor. Most likely he trusted whoever organized it’s arrival and was unaware of it’s incompatibility with our faith.

Here are some sites I have found that have been helpful:

Gives a Quick explanation, sites scripture, notes occult and new age, Keyword: “labyrinth new age”

crossroad.to/articles2/04/labyrinth-muse.htm

very Long article, includes female god quotes from main promoter Houston and Artress, Keyword: “labyrinth new age”

letusreason.org/Nam30.htm

Anglican objection to the Labyrinth, first hand experience sounds scary, Keyword: “labyrinth new age”

www3.telus.net/st_simons/arm08.htm

Bloglike reporting by Rosemary Gerard from San Diego News Notes who rendered a descriptive log of her visit. This article features a New Age ministry by “catholic nuns” who use the labyrinth and notes their distinct ministerial services, keyword “labyrinth new age woman god”

sdnewsnotes.com/ed/articles/1999/0999rg.htm

god bless!
 
also just want to give Taize a great big thums up!

i’ve never experienced it in another way but with live instruments.

violins, cello, harps, flutes, drums, and of course, our lungs!

Praise God!

👍
 
MichaelsWarrior said:
The reason I ask is because I know of a Catholic Diocese-sponsored Church camp that was/has been teaching Taize and Labyrinth prayer.

Would it then be my duty to report this to the appropriate Bishop?
Click to expand...
report what? they are forms of prayer and devotion. they may not be your prefered forms, but that does not make them unorthodox. yes there are new-agers who abuse, misuse and pervert the ancient labyrinth prayer. there are also new agers who pervert, abuse and misuse prayer beads and rosaries, and statues. Should we abondon their use in orthodox Catholic prayer because of a few nut cases?
 
Dear Puzzleannie,🙂

I appreciate how instinctive you are. You caught onto exactly what my concerns were!👍

[SIGN]… and I sincerely thank you for appeasing them.[/SIGN]

Thank you also, Puzzleannie, for placing an exclamation point at the end of the long list of helpful, charitable and edifying replies offered by:
cheddarsox
ncjohn
SuscipeMeDomine
diligamus
bcastro1980

I could not possibly agree with you more wholeheartedly.
**Taize and labyrinth prayer are legitimate and nothing that should be of overwhelming concern.
**
I will paraphrase Puzzleannie’s counsel because I think she put it so well… perhaps the statements found below are those that a devout Catholic should take home:

1. Taize and Labyrinth are forms of prayer and devotion.

2. Whether or not Taize and Labyrinth are an individual’s preferred forms of prayer does not make them wrong or inherently “new age.”

3. Indeed, there are new-agers who abuse, misuse and pervert the ancient labyrinth prayer… just as there are also new-agers who pervert and misuse prayer beads, rosaries, and statues. As Catholics, we do well to take note of this, as it is our duty to defend and protect the faith at all times.

4. As Catholics, we should NOT feel that we must abandon any form of orthodox Catholic prayer just because others choose at times to abuse it.

What does everyone think?
Does this wrap-up the topic, or have any vital take-home points been omitted?
 
On mazes, I used to see them with great suspicion for the same reasons that some have expressed here.

However, I tried it to walk one while I meditated on my spiritual life. It as on a retreat and I had been doing the same while walking in the woods at the same retreat.

Comparing walking a maze with walking in the woods, I’d say that walking in the maze an be less distracting. At least to me, who am used to paying while walking, as it helps me to remain focused on my meditations on Scripture or on other spiritual texts.

My conclusion was that, as anything Catholic, it’s a mere helper to the true goal which is to pray, growing in closeness with God. If I’d make an analogy, it’s akin to walking the beads of a Rosary.

:blessyou:
 
I would only add that any time spent criticizing someone else’s spirituality or mode of prayer is time taken away from one’s own prayer and spiritual growth, and for that reason, should be avoided.
 
grotto said:
Time wasted by promoting such pagan practices is also time taken away from meaningful, Roman Catholic prayer!
Try the real deal and stay away (far away) from the bogus!
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Your “pagan practice” is my “meaningful, Roman Catholic prayer.”
 
A good article on the labyrinth.
catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=3440

Although the Cathedral at Chartres has a labyrinth design in the floor, there appears to be no evidence that people actually did some sort of labyrinth prayer in it.

My parish is promoting a labyrinth, centering prayer, and some other unusual things I’ve not heard of, so I’m doing a little research. What I’ve found so far is not making me happy. Not surprising, seeing as the priest openly promotes women in the priesthood.
 
MichaelsWarrior said:
What should every Catholic know about taize and labyrinth forms of prayer?
Click to expand...
first that they have no connection with each other. and neither one is in any way related to centering prayer. the only other thing to observe is that just because a method of prayer or spiritual practice is unfamiliar to you, or uncongenial, or helpful, does not automatically render it heretical, dissenting, new age, or taboo. sorry did not realize this was a resurrected thread, possibly in honor of the season.
 
JU2 said:
A good article on the labyrinth.
catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=3440

Although the Cathedral at Chartres has a labyrinth design in the floor, there appears to be no evidence that people actually did some sort of labyrinth prayer in it.

My parish is promoting a labyrinth, centering prayer, and some other unusual things I’ve not heard of, so I’m doing a little research. What I’ve found so far is not making me happy. Not surprising, seeing as the priest openly promotes women in the priesthood.
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Taize,
Labyrinth Prayer
Women Priests

These are three separate issues.

I am interested in Taize.
I know nothing about Labyrinth Prayer.
I definitely agree with the Church’s position on not having women priests.

There is no reason to tie the three together - no matter what a wayward priest might try to do.
 
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