Unfortunately, it's not a joke. I myself was present when this very...uh..."prayer???" was recited by three Sisters of St. Joseph at the beginning of a Parents' Guild meeting at my kids' school.
If it happens again, I will speak to the monsignor about it.
Regards,
I would complain like all heck, and anybody who knows me knows I don't do this alot, but this is an occult formulation...how dare they, earth goddess worshipping pretending to be catholic people....I
I have heard it two times. The first time I didn't complain. The second time I blew my stack! Unfortunately it was in two different locations. Too bad the first one didn't get a piece of my mind also.
I also blasted the second group on using centering prayer.
Ahhhh, the Sisters of St. Joseph! They wandered off the path, when they began contemplating God in nature. One of their Provincial Houses is just up the block from where I live. During Lent, they open the House to anyone who wishes to attend (for a fee), a series of Lenten reflections. While I attended the mattinee showing of The Passion of the Christ on Good Friday, the Sisters of St. Joseph were reflecting on new life springing from a seed in the garden. It should come as no surprise to anyone, except the Sisters, that their ranks are shriveling up. Perhaps this year, they can spend their Lenten retreat contemplating a 'goose egg' and how it relates to vocations ;-D.
If it happens again, I will speak to the monsignor about it.
Why wait? Strike while the iron is hot! You have other witnesses to this chicanery but be prepared. The monsignor may very well throw his support to the Sisters. Last year, my (now former) pastor, who serves as chaplain at the Provincial House, told me how the Sisters dance at their liturgies. He enjoyed it so much that he decided to introduce liturgical dance to the parish. An exchange of letters with the Diocesan Office for Divine Worship, backed up with solid references, was all it took to stop him cold in his tracks.
It was a prayer, all right. You might take this line: "But who are these spirits? I have never heard of them, so why are you inviting me to pray to them? You pray to them as though they have power -- why?"