While in Tucson, AZ, at their catechetical conference last week, I spent some time at a booth in the exhibit hall sponsored by The World Community for Christian Meditation. There, I found some very nice resources for teaching Christian meditation to children. The WCCM traces its contemporary roots to London, 1975, when John Main established the Christian Meditation Centre. It considers itself a “monastery without walls.” Recently, Bishop Michael Putney of the Diocese of Townsville (Queensville, Australia) has introduced meditation for children in the diocesan Catholic schools, pre-school to Year 12.
I personally picked up the following resources: Coming Home – A Guide to Teaching Christian Meditation to Children and Open Our Hearts – 9 Minute Meditations for Children.
I also purchased something I’ve wanted for a long time: a meditation chime! These are inexpensive and can be used to call people to prayer or to signal the end of group work or the end of a guided reflection or even just the start of class! It beats shouting to get attention! It is about 7 inches long and weighs less than half a pound.
Also, be sure to look at these resources for leading guided reflections from Loyola Press.
When I looked around for meditation chimes and bells, I found the price a bit steep. Instead, I found an Iphone app that does a decent job and is very inexpensive. The added advantage is that one does not have to be concerned about looking at the clock since there is a built in timer.
App Store – Insight Timer – Meditation Timer http://bit.ly/HrF2xM
Gilles, it is amazing what can be found digitally these days!
One more comment… I have used Christina Meditation with high school students and they responded very well to it, but now I think I would prefer Centering Prayer instead because Centering Prayer integrates scripture in its approach (lectio divina) – a dimension I feel is somewhat lacking in Christian Meditation. See http://www.centeringprayer.com/
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and links, Gilles!
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.
Thank you very much and looking forward for more informative articles in the future. Bookmarked!
http://www.meditationdirectories.com
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been using meditation with my daughter to help her get to sleep for many years now. I make up new ones incorporating her favourites places, foods, animals and people and try and include the five senses. I often ask her to imagine God’s loving presence around her. It works so well and is such a lovely way to drift off to sleep.