“My daughter, this retreat will be an uninterrupted contemplation. I will bring you into this retreat as into a spiritual banquet. Close to My merciful Heart, you will meditate upon all the graces your heart has received, and a deep peace will accompany your soul. I want the eyes of your soul to be always fixed on My holy will, since it is in this way that you will please Me most. No sacrifices can be compared to this. Throughout all the exercises you will remain close to My Heart. You shall not undertake any reforms, because I will dispose of your whole life as I see fit.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 1327
Have you ever made a retreat?
Some are privileged to take time away from the busyness of life so as to spend an extended time listening to our Lord and being in His merciful presence. Others find it hard to find even a day to enter such a retreat. Regardless of whether you have or have not had this opportunity, know that you need time alone with Jesus.
I’ve been blessed to have attended an Emmaus men’s retreat at least twice a year for the past 14 years (until Covid). The great benefit of this retreat is time away from the world to focus on Jesus and brotherhood. More so in this retreat because the timetable and coming events is not shared with first time retreatants. Big shutdown of expectations within the world. Since Covid this retreat has been paused but God has been moving my wife and I into a different space for His Will in our life – more to come on that in the next weeks. I’ve found a new daily retreat in my own home. Most has come from reflecting on my blog reflections on THEROADOFFAITH.net. But, just sitting early in the morning with my Bible is a great retreat.
It is not possible to speak to Him only during your busy day and maintain a proper relationship with Him. The depth of the relationship desired by Jesus requires time set aside solely for Him. Seek these opportunities and do not neglect them. It is through moments of extended prayer and reflection that life is clarified and the Will of God is made manifest. It is during this ‘retreat’ moments that God can speak directly to the soul and guide it along its road of faith which ends with unity with God.
When is the last time you spent an extended amount of time alone with our Lord? Perhaps it was only an hour in the chapel or in your room, or perhaps it was longer.