An Evening Of Reflection, Song And Prayer

Imagine what the world would be like if all of us - everyone on the face of the earth - treated each other as we are: created in the image of God?

Composer and recording artist ValLimar Jansen posed this question during “An Evening of Reflection,” an Aug. 26 event at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville that featured songs, gospel stories and inspirational prayer. Jansen’s appearance was part of the diocesan observance of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.

Jansen brought the crowd to its feet as she led attendees in song and prayer, and encouraged them saying, “when you can’t hold onto anything else, hold onto your faith.

“Whenever we come into the house of the Lord, we should find hope in this house ... God’s house,” Jansen said. “We should feel good.  It brings us to a place of connection, a place of community and a place of love.” 

Jansen has performed at some of the largest Christian gatherings in recent years, including World Youth Day 2016 in Poland, the March for Life and the National Catholic Youth Conference. 

“Wherever I go, I love to ask the trick question, ‘How many of you sing in the primary choir when you go to Mass?’,” Jansen said. “Who is the primary choir at Mass?  We are! We are commanded to sing over and over again in the word of God. It says ‘Sing to the Lord’ over 122 times.  And ‘sing’ is mentioned over 345 times.  Singing and music must be important to the Lord.”

She remembers the first time she truly believed in the power of God.  At four years old, after seeing a rainbow, she ran to her mother and shouted, “God is painting for me!”

Jansen has a long history of singing sacred music, starting at age 5.  As a young girl being raised in the Baptist faith, she felt drawn to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  She begged her mother to take her to Catholic Midnight Mass at Christmas so she could have the “smells, bells, sprinkling...everything!” After converting to Catholicism, she began sharing the word of God through her music.

Jansen told the crowd that while singing and music are important to God, sacred silence is equally significant.  After leading attendees in The Lord’s Prayer, Jansen reflected on the word Amen.

“When we say Amen, we think the prayer is over; but the prayer is not over,” she said. “Prayer is communication with God.  Prayer is made up of two main components:  transmission or speaking, and receiving or listening. Every day it’s important that we spend some quiet time; we turn off the phone, and we silence our bodies, and do nothing but just sit in his presence.  I believe it’s time for all God’s people to place some sacred silence in their everyday life.”

Jansen encouraged the crowd to take just three minutes a day to quiet themselves. “One for the father, one for the son, one for the Holy Spirit, so we can sit and just listen.”

Bishop Charles C. Thompson began the evening by leading the opening blessing.  Diocesan Director of Catechesis Kathy Gallo offered her thanks to the donors who made the evening possible, including the St. Mary’s Foundation, the Koch Foundation and Jim Muhlbauer, Dean and Karen Bosler, Greg Hoffman and Ziemer Funeral Home.

A free-will offering was taken during a break in the middle of Jansen’s presentation. Proceeds will benefit three local organizations: Catholic Charities, Birthright and United Caring Shelters.