In a recent thread, I mentioned the three-day silent retreat from which I had just returned. If God is able to get through to this stubborn Irishman, think what He can do for you! Hopefully, some of the blessings I received can be an encouragement for some of you. The format for the retreat was St. Ignatius' 30-day Spiritual Exercises. Fortunately, this long-winded spiritual dud kept his lips zipped. To make things interesting, it wasn't a Jesuit that guided the retreat, but a Legionary, and it took place at a Carmelite monastery. How's that for a winning combo! The framework for the retreat was a series of thirteen meditations that focused primarily around the life of Christ, and in particular, his relationship with Peter. Ample time was given after each meditation for prayer and reflection. Time was also set aside for Confession, personal spiritual direction, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, and of course, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The whole pace of the retreat was geared to producing an interior silence in which the Lover can speak to his Beloved. Well, there's the background. One mostly stayed indoors that weekend as (oh no, more snow) Niagara Falls, Ontario, got socked in with over two feet of the white stuff! More to come! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Looking forward to hearing about it, Terry, I understand this kind of retreat has changed whole lives...
Follow-up 1. Padraig, I feel quite the novice when venturing into the pathways of prayer and mysticism. You have blessed us with much knowledge and experience. One aspect of my spiritual walk that was reinforced on this retreat is the sovereignty of God. His work in the soul of his child cannot be prodded, enhanced, or even necessarily perceived by little ol' me. However, I am awesomely privileged to stand in his holy presence, to cry out to him in anguish as well as joy, knowing that he walks with me throughout the day and guards me through the night. I am free to surrender, as best as I'm able, my heart, mind and will. Though I am son of the Father and brother of Jesus, Christ is also my Lord. I am called, even commanded, to lovingly put in practice what he and his Church teaches, plus his Will for my life. Therefore, the cultivation of silence on this retreat was a love offering to Jesus: "Come and speak to my heart and direct me through whatever means you choose, and whenever you choose. Father, make me conform more closely to the image of your Beloved Son." Of course, that is prayed on my better days. Usually, I'm not so pliable! As in my last retreat, God spoke powerfully to me through the Stations of the Cross; once again, through the 7th Station. I often get hung up spiritually relative to my falls, thinking that by now, I should not trip up so easily. The Lord spoke clearly through the reflection: "Why think of your abilities so highly, it is time you should acknowledge you are but a useless servant!" What does propel me forward is the love of Christ, only this. He is my High Priest, who knows me inside and out, who takes a personal interest in me, and intercedes on my behalf to the Father: Lk 22:32 ...Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, that he may sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail, and when you have returned, strengthen your brethren. Do you see the heartfelt and personal love of Christ toward Peter? Toward me? He carves out a "chunk of time" for each of us, alone, and goes to Abba! And Jesus is the One who points out that Terry is a useless servant. Praise God!
Follow-up 2. So once again I discover myself waltzing with what appear to be two competing beauties: (1) bringing joy to the Sacred Heart by striving to obey God's will, and (2) resting in his mercy when confronted by my failure. Both are jewels when they serve to draw my heart to Christ, yet JoeJerk aims to reduce me to a state of wallowing in discouragement. What to do, what to do? Well, the retreat happened to be at Canada's National Shrine of the Little Flower. This had a wonderful impact on the weekend, though I'm only now realizing it. There were amazing artifacts and treasures there by which Therese inspired me and reminded me of her role in the O'Loughlin clan. I found it so easy to pray in the midst of such relics; it was like doing a backfloat on a sea of sacramentals: very peaceful and relaxing (Isn't it great to be a Catholic!). Therese, herself, had hoped to be a missionary to far-flung lands; instead, she ended up promulgating and inspiring millions with her Little Way of Love. Like Paul's great hymn of love in 1Cor13, Therese reminds me that what I accomplish matters little, but how I love in the doing, does!. This is how this useless servant can waltz rejoicingly to my heart's content with either of the above dance partners. It is all grace. BTW, I don't believe I've shared on this forum how the Little Flower was planted in my family's life as sort of a patron saint: We have a picture of my Grandfather Dan standing at Therese's gravesite in 1909, just 12 years after her death, and 16 years before her canonization. He was blessed to receive a lock of her hair at that time (location now unknown), and quickly developed a devotion. In 1948, he published a book of religious poems dedicated to her; he had great confidence in her friendship. Here are some other interesting holy coincidences: I was born on Jan. 2, her birthday, and named Terrence (not Mario). Near the end my years of rebellion, the Lord planted me in a parish named in her honor; it is there that my conversion took place in 1977. In 1979-80, I shared an apartment with a Little Flower devotee, who introduced me to, Story of a Soul, which touched me deeply. She had such a love for Scripture, as do I. Our oldest son, Benjamin, a religious now in Italy, was born on Therese's feastday, Oct.1. A few days after learning Geralyn was pregnant with our sixth child, my guardian angel told me it was a girl and that we should name her Therese. ...and so many other roses, half of which I probably haven't noticed. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
One of the Churches in our Parish is called after Saint Therese, Terry, They have some nice stained glass windows of various prats of her life, for instance where she met the Pope to ask to get into Carmel early. But the thing that always moves me in that little chapel is a grotto to her at the back. It is always covered in the most beautiful flowers, especially roses that folks place there. I always recall that when she entered Carmel as a young girl the one thing she missed and prayed for was flowers. Every time I see the heap of flowers at her state I think, 'Woo did you ever get your prayers answered!!'
