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Introduction

Welcome to the Our Lady of Lourdes Sacred Space 2019. We are coming to the end of the Year of Prayer but this does not mean we stop praying it is so important to have a dialogue with the Lord and allow him time to speak to us. Our prayer stations are a tool to allow you to do that and I hope that you find some inspiration in them. It is not a competition to get around each station. Choose a station and stay with it as long or as little time as you need. The notes and items are only tools to start a dialogue. Come back as often or as little as you like. Enjoy being with your Lord.

Prayer and meditation

Christians describe prayer as a conversation with God. Prayer can be silent or said out loud. It can use set words, or a person's own words. In prayer, Christians lift their minds and hearts to God.

There are many different kinds of prayer, including:

adoration - praising God for his greatness and admitting dependence on him

confession - owning up to sin and asking for God's mercy and forgiveness

thanksgiving - thanking God for his many blessings, eg health or children

petition - asking God for something, eg healing, courage or wisdom

intercession - asking God to help others who need it, eg the sick, poor, those suffering in war

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Nature and importance of prayer

Most Christians believe prayer deepens a person's faith. Praying can help the believer come to a greater understanding of God's purpose for their lives. Christians interpret the response they might get to their prayers in the following ways:

God answers prayers, but not always in the way the person wants. When a prayer is not answered, it may be that the person asked for something God thinks would not be good for them, or that their prayer will be answered later.

Sometimes God answers their prayer in quite spectacular ways. They may see this as a miracle.

For some Christians, meditation or contemplation is a way of trying to reach a higher spiritual level.

Others, especially Orthodox Christians, use the 'Jesus Prayer', Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. They may chant this prayer over and over to clear their minds and achieve inner peace.

Copied from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwkjpv4/revision/3

For me without prayer I feel lost, I miss having that conversation, the rapport and the love that you find.

We hope that by having the prayer stations available here at Our Lady of Lourdes you will find a way of praying that will help you on your journey with the Lord. The prayer stations are planned to be open for a two weeks, Please come and make use of the time that they are available to you but this leaflet you can take home with you and continue your journey with the Lord, using the information that we have put together. It is your journey, have a quick look around at all the images and think which one is calling out to you. Take the time to sit with that station for as long as you like, the station are available for a fortnight, come as often as possible to sit and be.

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1. The Water of Life

John 7:37

If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,

‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’

Our first prayer station is where Catholic bless themselves from the font

to remind them of their baptism. But we are reminded the spirit flows

like a river from each of us.

Is Jesus asking you to come and drink?

Is he asking you to come and spend time with Him?

Are you baptised, do you want to be share all this with Jesus.

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2. Priest Prophet King

This is towards the right hand side of the church.

A priest fosters holiness, bridge builder

A prophet is a bearer of God’s truth

A king directs the community towards God.

Acts 10

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is

that God does not show favouritism but accepts from

every nation the one who fears him and does what is

right. You know the message God sent to the people of

Israel, announcing the good news of peace through

Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Sit and look into the Mirror – you are priest, prophet and king. You are the tabernacle of God.

How does this make you feel?

Receiving communion you receive the Holy Father, the Holy Spirit, and

the Holy Son within you, can you see him in your reflection?

Ponder and be with God and ask him to help you reflect him in your

community.

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3. Mary – Our Lady of Lourdes

In front of the statue of Mary you will find on separate sheets a number

of names used in reference to Mary. Choose one that calls out to you

and sit with it. Let God speak to you through those words.

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4. Jesus – Saviour and Lord

In front of the Altar there are a selection of images and words that may mean something to you. Perhaps words speak to you, or is there an image that stays with you.

What is he saying to you?

Who is he for you today?

Can you feel his love reaching out to you?

Are there any that surprise you?

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5. PIETA (add where this is going to be back

room or at the side)

Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She

wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a

manger, because there was no room for them in the

inn. There was no room at the inn at the start and a borrowed tomb at the end. Sit with mother and Son; think about his short life, ask God to help you with this space. He was there with Mary and he will be with you.

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6. EMPTY TOMB

This station can be seen from a window of the church where you can sit, as if looking into the tomb or you can be like Peter go straight up to the clothes and see if they are real.

John 20 1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark,

Mary Magdalen went to the tomb and saw that the stone had

been removed.

4 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there

but did not go in.

6ThenSimon Peter came along behind him and went straight

into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there as well as

the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.

Who do you think you would be like?

As you meditate on this image, where does God take you, what

do you think God is saying to you.

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7. NATURE

Genesis 1:31

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

He created everything?

How does this talk to you?

As you touch and feel the things in this display, God’s hand has designed

them.

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8. CRUCIFIXION

On a bright day I hope that you are able to stand before our cross in the front of church. The journey is nearly at an end take time before Christ.

John 19: 25-27

Near the cross of Jesus

stood his mother, his mother’s

sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalen.

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple who he

loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your

son,” and the disciple, “Here is your mother”. From that time

on, this disciple took her into his home.

Before Christ pause and think about the pain and sacrifice that Christ

took on for us. Maybe you could imagine being in the crowd hearing Jesus talking to

his family. You could imagine yourself as one of those people, or an onlooker

for example a soldier, a priest from the synagogue, someone from

the market nearby, or just someone who God took to that position at

that time. Oh what a sacrifice.

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9. ADORATION

This is the final station and is open when the office is open only.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9-12 ish

Ephesians 6 The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full

armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s

schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the

rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put

on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be

able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to

stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your

waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that

comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can

extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the

Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be

alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak,

words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an

ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should

You will find adoration in the upper room in the office

block.(I am afraid it means stair, but this is all part of

the journey)

Come and be with the Lord, sit, there will be leaflets

and booklets to look at but just be.

May the work of the Lord inspire and give you peace.