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The Heart Room
Nearly everyone at St. Barbara Church is familiar with The Heart Room. The Heart Room is a simple prayer format that originated with Fr. Chuck Palluck who was pastor of the parish for 34 years starting in 1975. The Heart Room concept has been taught in the parish since about 1980. Most parish children are introduced to The Heart Room in the second grade. Everyone else discovers (or rediscovers) The Heart Room several times a year when it is appropriate to bring it up during the Sunday homily.
What is The Heart Room? Here is how Fr. Chuck always explained it: "When we are born, God places a special room in our heart. Everyone has a Heart Room even if they do not know it. Your Heart Room never changes. It will always be the same and no one else will have one quite like yours."
When describing his own Heart Room to young children and adults, Fr. Chuck told his listeners that his Heart Room was a warm, misty place without walls, ceiling or floor. In the middle of it was a fountain that had a low wall around it. The fountain didn't make any noise - there were no sounds in Fr. Chuck's Heart Room. However, the water in the fountain leapt and sparkled in the misty sunlight that filtered into the Heart Room, much like the sunlight on a lightly foggy day. The best thing is that Jesus was always standing there as he will be in everyone's Heart Room no matter how different each person's Heart Room is.
One thing for sure, The Heart Room is a safe, loving place to be. It is always peaceful, no matter what anyone says about you, especially if it is hurtful. Whatever life visits us with, in The Heart Room you will know that Jesus loves you and that you are his friend.
Whether a person is alone or in a group, the same general format can be used to enter The Heart Room. Here is the process that several generations of young children at St. Barbara have used to go to The Heart Room during their Religious Education Classes. The setting, which is in the church, can be adapted to one's home or wherever a person is when they decide to enter their Heart Room. The children are met at the front door of the church by the priest or whoever is the leader of prayer for that particular class. The only lights on in the church are the golden lights that hang above the altar. The altar candles are also lighted. Since quiet is very essential, the children are asked to not even talk while they are approaching the church. At home, extraneous sounds such as television or music should be turned off. Quiet is a very big part of contemplative prayer life. Once in the church, the children take carpet squares and sit on the floor in front of the altar. At home, a person should sit in a comfortable chair, but not one that is overly soft! Adults who are present with the children sit on the floor as well. No one is a spectator when entering The Heart Room.
Once everyone is situated on the floor in front of the altar, the leader of prayer takes his or her place, sitting on the altar steps facing the children. Everyone is asked to shut their eyes and to be sure that they are sitting without touching anyone else. At home, of course, one would do the same - eyes shut, creating a soft, quiet inner space. The leader of prayer tells the children that our eyes are like elevator doors. When the doors are shut, the elevator automatically starts slowly going down. This slowness is on purpose since contemplative prayer is not a rushed kind of experience. The "elevator" goes down behind one's nose, then one's mouth, neck and chest. The elevator finally comes to a stop right about in the middle where one's heart is. The elevator doors open. Then, in one's imagination, a person takes a single step out of the elevator and into The Heart Room. Remember that one's eyes should be gently shut during this entire time.
For those who have never been to The Heart Room, it is important to take a moment to enjoy one's own Heart Room before continuing the prayer. Probably, like the story given above, the praying person will discover that their Heart Room is rather simple. And, Jesus will always be standing there waiting for you. At this point, it is important to take yourself to Jesus. The children are encouraged to go to their Heart Room every day. If you are happy, tell Jesus about your happiness. If you are sad, or confused or angry or whatever it may be, take it to Jesus. Sitting with Jesus in The Heart Room and sharing one's innermost thoughts and feelings is an extraordinary healing experience. There should be silence, too. After sharing one's thoughts, it is good to turn off all thoughts and just sit in silence. It is in that silence that Jesus is able to speak to our heart.
Of course, one can't stay in The Heart Room indefinitely. Just opening one's eyes and getting back to some task is not the best way to conclude a Heart Room session. Whether in a group or by oneself, the process of leaving The Heart Room should take the same steps as entering it. The leader of prayer, when it is a class in church, invites the kids (with their eyes still shut) to take a step backward into their elevator. The elevator doors automatically shut, The prayer leader quietly says how the elevator is going up - behind the chest, up the neck, behind the mouth and nose "and it comes to a stop right behind your eyes." A brief moment and then "gently open your eyes." And we are back in the church or our chair at home or wherever it was we entered The Heart Room.
St. Barbara Parish children get very excited about going to their Heart Room. They joyously talk to others about their eager anticipation. Afterwards, many of the children speak with a kind of wonder to their parents. Many years of Religious Education teachers and staff also speak affectionately about The Heart Room as being one of the highlights of the faith formation year. It is interesting to note that even in High School, a leader of prayer, using exactly the same format as that given above, can easily bring a group of teens to the same wonderful place with Jesus. If you are reading this on the Internet, do not hesitate to adapt the simple Heart Room format given here to your own living situation. Go to The Heart Room every day if possible. In Jesus, life is worth living.
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