“Why do you praise?” 

This question can draw a variety of responses from Franciscan University students.  In the words of freshman Willow Pecek: “Praise and worship music saved my life.” 

Praise and worship is a unique form of prayer, brought into Catholic circles through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the 1970s. When Rev. Michael Scanlan, TOR became president of Franciscan in 1974, he brought the charismatic movement with him, a movement still prominent on campus today in its students. 

When asked about her experience with praise and worship, Pecek recalled: “I was at Damascus, where we were able to go face to face with Jesus in the monstrance, and there was the praise and worship song, ‘Hero,’ by Damascus Worship,” she said. “It was in that song that I realized that Jesus was truly present in the Eucharist. And without that conversion, I wouldn’t be at Franciscan, I probably wouldn’t be as devoutly Catholic as I am now, and my life would just be a whole lot worse.”

In conclusion, Pecek said that “I like to continue to listen to praise music as often as possible, so that I never forget that I am saved, I am His, I’m His beloved, that everyone around me is as well.” 

“I think God speaks to us in so many different ways, and I think one of those ways is through music,” said sophomore Zoey Mundt. “Praise music, specifically the song ‘Waymaker’, was what was playing during my personal conversion during a Steubenville Conference a while back. Praise and worship is what reminds me of my continual conversion.” 

Other students, such as freshman Ava Tirone, spoke to the healing that praise can bring them. 

Tirone said, “When I worship, I feel like God is closest. I can close my eyes and forget about all of my problems and praise the God who can sort out all of those problems. It reminds me of Psalm 100:4: ‘Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!” 

Various opportunities for praise and worship are all over campus. Not only is it the style of music used at most campus Masses, but the Office of Evangelization hosts Tuesday Night Praise, an hour of praise and worship, every Tuesday night at 9pm in Christ the KIng Chapel. All are invited!