Every year, an oratory handbook includes special prayers for youth known as oratory animators. These prayers are recited daily before the oratory begins, aiming to foster teamwork and a closer connection to Jesus as the center of the Oratory. 

This year, Urban Gartner, SJ, a young Jesuit, was invited to join the prayer preparation team. Together with Tinkara Čerin and with the assistance of Jure Babnik, a Salesian, and a group of young people, they developed an innovative project to create prayers specifically tailored for high school and college student animators. 

Their prayer project took the form of a guided meditation based on Bible stories. Unlike traditional prayers, this meditation encouraged active participation by guiding participants to imagine themselves within the scene being prayed upon. Through vivid sensory descriptions and contemplation of the characters' words and actions, the aim was to engage participants' emotions and deeper spiritual impulses. 

The purpose of this guided meditation was not solely to evoke emotions but to connect with inner impulses such as desires, fears, and attractions that arise during prayer. By conversing with the characters in the scene, participants could feel the presence of the Lord speaking to their hearts and be encouraged to seek personal growth and gratitude. 

The meditation concluded with a discussion about the experience and a prayer request specifically related to the prayer encounter. This practice drew from the concepts of meditation and contemplation proposed by St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises, emphasizing the importance of focus, devotion, and silence in prayer. 

The adapted version of guided meditation used in the oratory aimed to provide young people with a more interactive and engaging prayer experience compared to traditional methods. Its guided nature made it accessible and suitable for teenagers and young individuals. 

The hope was that this work would help individuals open their hearts, deepen their conversation with God, and inspire greater enthusiasm for giving and receiving both within the oratory and in life. 

Urban Gartner SJ