The origins of a prayer shawl find its roots in the Jewish tradition. In the book of Numbers 15, God tells Moses, "Speak to the Israelites, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord on the tassel of each corner. The garment worn by the Israelites was done to follow a command of God and was God’s reminder to his people of the law and commandments.
The shawl worn by our Jewish brothers and sisters was also worn by Jesus during his time as a Jew himself. In the synoptic gospels (Mathew, Mark, & Luke), a woman with hemorrhages in search of Jesus finds him and touches a piece of his clothing and was immediately healed.
In the gospel of Matthew it says,
“If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”
Inspired by the scriptures, Catholics and Christians of different denominations began ministries in their local churches and parishes to create ‘prayer shawls’ for those in need. Using their skills and talents in knitting and crocheting, those in ministry hope to create shawls by hand and offer them as an act of charity to those in need. As a symbol of compassion and love, the gift of each shawl is a reminder to those who receive it that God is present.
The prayer shawl team shares with each recipient of one of its shawl gifts the following:
“May this shawl be for you a sign of God’s loving, healing presence. May it warm when you are weary. May it surround you with encouragement when you are discouraged. May it assure you of God’s care and comfort when you and your loved ones are troubled. May it remind you that you are always safe in teh arms of Jesus, and that you are surrounded by the prayers of others.”
The Cathedral prayer shawl ministry meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 10am in the St. Joseph room in the Pastoral Center. The gifts of their labors during their time are given to those at the St. Joseph Senior Residence in Wood Bridge, patients St. Peter’s University Hospital, those at Villa Walsh, and any Cathedral parishoner who is in need.
If you have gifts in crocheting and knitting, or would like to learn how to create a shawl, please contact Mrs. Eileen Swan at eileenswan@verizon.net or you may call the Pastoral Center at 732-548-0100