Dear Catholic Exchange,
My name is Emily Reser and I am in the eighth grade at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Bucyrus, Ohio. Every year it is required that each student, grades six through eight, present a science project to a pair of judges at our school science fair.
Being an eighth grader, I now have an understanding of what to do when it comes to thinking of a experiment to perform. For the past two years, it has served me well to only do experiments I am particularly interested in. For this year’s science experiment, I checked the Internet as well as books for some ideas. Nothing struck me as interesting, so I did what any person would do, I asked people smarter and wiser than me. My parents gave me many good ideas but none seemed to stick, until my father mentioned doing a project on prayer.
My mother, being a nurse, suggested that I to do an experiment with blood pressure and heart rate. After a few minutes went by, my father proposed doing a project on the effects of prayer on the body. At first, I dismissed the idea, coming up with reasons why it wouldn’t work. But after my father and I had thought it through and we had discussed it, further details of the project just seemed to fall into place. My father and I explained the project to my mother and older sister. I had found my project: “The Power of Prayer.” I would be looking at the effects of Eucharistic Adoration on blood pressure and heart rate.
To do the experiment I first talked to my advisor, Mrs. Penry, and she advised me on what I should do. I called the person in charge of scheduling people for Eucharistic Adoration, Mrs. Dolly Butterman, and asked for the names of the people who usually went to first Friday Eucharistic Adoration. After receiving the names, I began calling the people on my list and explained my experiment to them and asked if they would participate in my experiment.
One problem that presented itself was the taking of the blood pressure since I was not trained to use an actual blood pressure cuff. My mother bought an automatic sphygmomanometer, so I could have consistent readings and wouldn’t have to worry about my lack of training. I printed posters and placed them on the church doors, telling anyone coming to Eucharistic Adoration where I was and what I was doing. I set up my experiment in a room just behind the Adoration Chapel.
Before the experiment started, I recorded my test subject’s sex and age. I then took an initial blood pressure and heart rate and recorded the time that each person entered Adoration. When the test subject finished Eucharistic Adoration, I took another blood pressure and heart rate reading as well as jotting down their exit time. I then asked them to fill out a survey that I had written. It consisted of questions about the physical environment that they were in (too hot? too cold? etc.). Nine hours and 21 test subjects later, I finished the experiment and reviewed my data. All of my test subjects showed a decrease in systolic pressure (when the heart is pumping) and 12 out of 21 test subjects showed a decrease in diastolic pressure (when the heart is relaxed). Sixteen test subjects showed a decrease in heart rate.
My test subjects had different reactions to my experiment. Some were puzzled about it while others were interested. One of my test subjects even gave me new ideas about my project. My science teacher gave me lots of places I could look for information. She was very supportive and wanted to see me do well.
Before this project I hadn’t thought about the impact Eucharistic Adoration had on people. If it has this much impact on a person’s body, think of the wonders it is doing for the soul. Prayer is important to a healthy and growing relationship with Jesus. This project may open some eyes to the power of prayer.
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