Reading one of my meditations for the day there was a quote from St. Francis de Sales, “[Prayer] is the water of blessing which by its watering causes the plants of our good desires to become green and to flower, washes our souls clean from their imperfections, and quenches the passions of our hearts.”
This seemed to be so appropriately timed. I believed I needed some water to help my good desires to green and flower again.
At the time I was feeling like there was something missing during my morning prayers. As if I was distracted and not fully with God. After I had a nice conversation with my Mom I started to get this feeling of excitement. This idea came to me that I needed to get a little help and guidance to slow down and refocus. It worked out that on the last weekend of January there was a retreat happening at St. Anthony’s, one of the Silent Theme Retreats. I had a quiet weekend then and thought what a wonderful way to get that jump start watering I was needing.
It is interesting the way things work out when God agrees with your plan. Especially when you want to get back to being closer to him and just need that time to get away. God works in mysterious ways to help us realize what we need and where to find it. It always makes me smile when I finally realize what God is trying to tell me and I let go and let it happen.
The retreat presented different ways to pray and allowed time to experience them. They also had an introduction to three different Mystics. When I am on retreat the part I usually look forward to is the quiet, reflective and journaling time. This retreat had this and more, just what I needed. I have found that especially at this time of year with the cold, gloomy skies and darkness a retreat helps me to focus on the incredible possibilities there are during the winter time of year and life.
If you have made a retreat before you probably understand what I am talking about with the quiet time to take care of yourself. It is definitely something most people do not do enough of, taking care of themselves. The retreat was a great start to what I needed, time to get back to being with God and his amazing unconditional love. If you have not made a retreat I recommend that you take a look at what programs retreat centers are offering in your area and take the next step – register for one.
Remember God is waiting for you to stop and take some time with him.
-Sister Barb Knauf
As one of the three presenters of this retreat, I felt a profoundly spiritual, intimate connection to our Lord, the retreatants, and the three mystics. Sharing this weekend with the retreatants left me with a delightful warmth that still remains glowing within me. I heartily thank those on the retreat for their priceless contributions to the success of this mid–winter retreat.
Thanks for sharing your insights, slowing down and refocusing is a gift. Thanks for being a gift to St Anthony’s.
So true. Retreat is a time of growing in God’s love and taking time to Be Still and know that God is God.
A time to reconnect in a deeper way to the rhythms that bring balance in our lives.
a time to slow down and become more aware of the endless gifts that God offers us daily
A time to grow in appreciation and to give thanks to the God who embraces us in love daily.
A time to grow in awareness so that we are taking car e of ourselves to better radiate God’s love by the gift of who we are.
I too , in January, had a retreat that I needed and to remember to take care of myself to better be an instrument of God’s love to others
It was a graced weekend Retreats are a gift we give to ourselves to be better gifts to others.
Your description of the benefits of a silent retreats are so absolutely true. I always look forward to my annual silent retreat (30+ yrs of silent retreats) and now I am seriously considering increasing the frequency of retreats. Your description of your recent retreat sounds like the one I attended in November at St Anthony Spirituality Cntr – I think it was repeated in Jan.
Yes, Tom the retreat you took in November was the first offering time and the late January was the second. The third one is coming up in April on Palm Sunday weekend that is open to women only.
I am so glad you enjoyed the retreat and felt refreshed by it.
Thank you, Sister Barb, for this personal reflection on your January retreat experience. As Thich Nhat Hanh would say, “you watered the seeds of kindness and compassion” while lighting a path for others.