Monday, August 01, 2005
SMUDGING CEREMONIES
We have seen pictures of John Paul II sitting quietly during a smudging ceremony, and wondered what it was all about. This article sent in by a reader about a Catholic hospital in South Dakota gives a clue:
Sherman Iron Shield used to sneak his son behind some elevators at St. Alexius Medical Center so he could burn sacred herbs to chase away evil spirits without setting off the hospital's fire alarms and sprinklers.
He believes that the practice, known as smudging, along with modern medicine, helped his son, George, recover from a gunshot wound in his head more than 10 years ago.
"My son is still alive," Iron Shield said.
Now he and other members of the region's large American Indian population can follow their traditions without worrying about the fire alarms.
On Thursday, the Roman Catholic hospital dedicated a $350,000 solarium and meditation room that may be used for such things as burning sage, cedar or sweetgrass and for singing or drumming.
At the present time the hospital is maintaining a separate chapel for Christians. Will it continue that way, or will the multi-religious meditation room become the hospital chapel of the future?
IF spirits really do permeate a worship space, what will that mean to a Christian who worships in the company of non-Christian spirits? Multi-culturalism raises more questions than provides answers.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!
