A private retreat is easily organized. Just contact the monastery of your choice and precise you would like to be accompanied by a nun/monk.
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tafan2
Guest
Do some research online, you can get an idea of what ACTS retreats are like. I have said before the insistence of secrecy is very strange to me. I have heard all of the explanations, none of them hole water.
I do not believe an ACTS or Curscillo would be for me. Put me down for a good silent, traditional retreat.
My thoughts on the matter is that an ACTS retreat can be really good for someone who needs an emotional push to kick-start their faith. I don’t do good with emotional programming type of settings, OTOH there are a lot of very good priests who I know who encourage ACTS retreats.
I do not believe an ACTS or Curscillo would be for me. Put me down for a good silent, traditional retreat.
My thoughts on the matter is that an ACTS retreat can be really good for someone who needs an emotional push to kick-start their faith. I don’t do good with emotional programming type of settings, OTOH there are a lot of very good priests who I know who encourage ACTS retreats.
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Horton
Guest
Then you don’t know anything about a Cursillo. They are NOT Charismatic in their spirituality in any way. Having a couple do their Cursillo back to back is strongly encouraged but not required at all. Of the five women in my room, none had a husband who had done a Cursillo.
I can’t fathom where you get the idea that this is all about weepy women and emotion. Probably from someone else who hasn’t done the retreat and “thinks” they know what goes on. The retreat is very structured and organized, the participants are asked to give up control for 72 hours and relax. Having to control every aspect of our lives shows a lack of trust in God. This retreat gives an opportunity to practice letting God be in control.
As far as the love bombing, I’ve been involved in several Cursillos and have never seen this happen.
I am in no way saying you should do one or that anyone should do one, however since you have never done one, and you don’t know what happens during one, quit speaking negatively about it.
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Limoncello4021
Guest
I hope someone here might recommend a good retreat place in the US. I would love to make a good, orthodox, no-nonsense retreat. Frankly, though, I’m wary of them given the few I attended way back in the bad old days of touchy feely, values clarification, poster making, feel good schlock. I remember once where the major exercise was describing to the group what kind of tree you’d be, if you were a tree.
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Horton
Guest
There are no “surprises”. It’s is about letting go of controlling every little aspect of your life and letting God take over. There are times of silence, times of reading & reflection, times of listening to speakers, times of fun, times of activity, meals, adoration, prayer, Mass, and most things you will find in many other retreats. You just don’t get that piece of paper in your hand telling you what will happen five minutes from now.
There are no secrets.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
Both the head of the Charismatic Renewal in my Diocese and the leaders of Cursillo in this part of the State are very open about it.
The Catholic Renewal literally grew out of Cursillo
Ecclesial Movements: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal - Vocation News - Vocations - Catholic Online
Renewal for the Springtime of the Church God sovereignly drew many Duquesne University students into the chapel at The Ark and Dove Retreat Center. Some were laughing, others crying. Some prayed in ...
www.catholic.org
Where did I say that? I said that the Cursillo and ACTS retreats are for those who would benefit, feel comfortable with, a more emotional form of spirituality.
I have personally written “love bomb” letters for those on ACTS or SEARCH (the teen version) retreats.
Cursillo explains the “love bomb” sort of letters:
"What do we mean by “sending palancas”? In the Cursillo Movement, cursillistas often make known their palancas in a letter to the participants of a cursillo. They also express, in that letter, their friendship and wishes for the success of the cursillo.
This is what we call “sending palancas”
http://www.ghrcursillo.com/Palanca.php
I am not saying these are bad, or weepy women, I am saying it is a sort of spirituality that does not appeal to everyone.
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TheLittleLady
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PatK63
Guest
I guess you like being that way. Why not ask the Holy Spirit to heal you?
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tafan2
Guest
Ok, likely just semantics. Lets just say you can’t get much detail ahead of time. My experience is that its like pulling teeth to get someone to tell you what will happen.
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Horton
Guest
That does not mean Cursillo is the Charismatic in nature. I’ve been to Charismatic retreats and do not care for them. You have not done one so have zero personal authority to say doing a Cursillo is like.
I know very well what Palanca is, having written or created hundreds of cards & gifts. Palanca is not love bombing unless you think knowing someone is praying for you is love bombing. If that is true it must be difficult to be part of the Catholic Church where that is a major part of what we do, pray for one another.
It was very much implied.
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Horton
Guest
Why is it so important to know what will happen every minute of every day? This isn’t some ritualized retreat where you have to go outside at 2:00 am and dance naked around a tree with candles lit, cut your hand and share your blood with the guy next to you. 
See my post #48. It gives a good idea of what goes on during a Cursillo. I’ve never done the ACTS so I can’t speak to it except I’ve heard it is similar to Cursillo.
See my post #48. It gives a good idea of what goes on during a Cursillo. I’ve never done the ACTS so I can’t speak to it except I’ve heard it is similar to Cursillo.
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tafan2
Guest
Fair enough. I don’t want to discourage anyone from going on an Acts/Cutscillo retreat. You are right, I have said too much.
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Divine3
Guest
If my mother’s sister hadn’t encouraged my mother to go on a retreat, I would not have been born. Because of a retreat, she had the courage to break off her engagement. In time she met my father and she married a wonderful man.
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Anne1964
Guest
I share the same reservations about ACTS or Cursillo retreats others have voiced here.
I will not go on any retreat where I don’t have a good idea of what will happen. I don’t need a daily schedule but I do need to know what kind of activities are planned.
As for a dislike of letting go of control being equivalent to not trusting God, I find that to be a judgmental and insensitive statement. It’s like someone is saying they are better than, or have a stronger faith than, someone who doesn’t find this type of retreat appealing.
I have PTSD from my childhood and I know what types of situations will induce anxiety for me. Frankly, just thinking about going on a retreat where I do not know in advance what is going to happen makes me feel anxious.
I will not go on any retreat where I don’t have a good idea of what will happen. I don’t need a daily schedule but I do need to know what kind of activities are planned.
As for a dislike of letting go of control being equivalent to not trusting God, I find that to be a judgmental and insensitive statement. It’s like someone is saying they are better than, or have a stronger faith than, someone who doesn’t find this type of retreat appealing.
I have PTSD from my childhood and I know what types of situations will induce anxiety for me. Frankly, just thinking about going on a retreat where I do not know in advance what is going to happen makes me feel anxious.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
When any devotion, attachment, or group requires such a heated defense, it makes me less inclined to participate.
One can get to heaven and never do Cursillo, one can be a vibrant Catholic and not do ACTS retreats.
One can get to heaven and never do Cursillo, one can be a vibrant Catholic and not do ACTS retreats.
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TheLittleLady
Guest
This is uncharitable, and contrary to Catholic doctrine.
We may ask for healing, however, we are not “name it and claim it” people. We pray “if it be thy will”.
We may ask for healing, however, we are not “name it and claim it” people. We pray “if it be thy will”.
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Horton
Guest
What does God ask of us?
I don’t really care if you do a retreat like this, if it’s not for you, then don’t do it. However, coming here and discouraging others from going on a retreat they may really benefit from is uncharitable and controlling.
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Greenfields
Guest
Hi OP,I remembered you had the same titled thread earlier in the year ,with lots of replies.
Retreats are well worth the effort,I hope you try one out some day soon
God bless.
Retreats are well worth the effort,I hope you try one out some day soon
God bless.
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Horton
Guest
No it requires correction of all the errors you claimed about the nature of a retreat you’ve never done.
What if it is God’s will that a person attends a Cursillo or ACTS retreat and you’ve expended all this effort to discourage them because you can stand the idea of giving up total control for a few days? Is that not uncharitable?
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PatK63
Guest
Little Lady,
I think it is a good idea if you don’t go on a Spirit lead retreat. I don’t think you would get anything out of it. If I was uncharitable, I apologize! Certainly that was not my intent. As far as being against Catholic Doctrine you will have to show me what I said. I said nothing about name in and claim it. Do you think asking for healing is wrong? It is certainly not against Catholic Doctrine!
I think it is a good idea if you don’t go on a Spirit lead retreat. I don’t think you would get anything out of it. If I was uncharitable, I apologize! Certainly that was not my intent. As far as being against Catholic Doctrine you will have to show me what I said. I said nothing about name in and claim it. Do you think asking for healing is wrong? It is certainly not against Catholic Doctrine!
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