- Today we are witnessing the beautiful impact of Christian meditation within our faith communities and in our schools. This prayer of stillness, simplicity, and silence is certainly having a great impact on all its participants. It holds the potential to deepen one's relationship with God and to nurture the growth of our Catholic faith. Christian meditation is a way of becoming present to God and entering into a prayer of the heart. Christian meditation helps us to enter into the actual experience of praying, and enables us to fully attend to God while we pray. Christian meditation is about being rather than doing. It requires concentration and commitment. It involves the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. Meditation can be described as living in the present moment. Prayer has three major expressions found in sacred, scripture, and tradition. It is vocal, meditative, and contemplative. Prayer plays a fundamental role in the Ontario Catholic schools. It is specifically linked to our Ontario Catholic school graduate expectations and our elementary and secondary religious curriculums. Certainly all of us can meditate, but Christian meditation deepens our personal relationship with God. It can initiate faith conversations and bring people closer to God. Meditation leads to increased self knowledge and self-acceptance. Meditation increases the desire to build community with others. People who engage in Christian meditation often share it with others. And this is the case with our adults and with our students. Christian meditation also helps to balance the busyness of our everyday lives. There are different types of meditation. There is Lectio and Visio Divina, Taize prayer, adoration of the blessed sacrament, the Rosary, guided meditation, as well as Christian meditation, silent meditation. Christian meditation in our schools has become very popular. It was implemented successfully across our school boards in Ontario. It is a component of the new religious education policy document. It is supported by the Institute for Catholic education and it is a rediscovery of the ancient way to pray to God. And it also helps to teach life skills. Students and teachers have recognized a great need both personally and as a school community. It is a moment out of their busy day to refocus and enter into a time of great prayer, reflection, and relaxation. A great do to, students describes meditation in the following way. Meditation is like giving a hug to yourself and getting in touch with the awesomeness of God. A final thought when it comes to Christian meditation, be faithful to the practice and your practice will be faithful to you.