How to do a retreat

[AnneTeresa]

Can someone explain to me how to do a retreat? I called a local spiritual retreat center and they have rooms you can rent out, but you are pretty much on your own there.

How do you plan what to do? Is it better to go a planned retreat and how do you find them if you are not part of any group? Any information is appreciated. I am in Wisconsin in case that helps for ideas of places to go.

 

[Joannm]

There are several types of retreats. You can go on an organized preached retreat where you are pretty much with other retreatants and attend conferences and are given things to do or reflect on. You can go on a directed retreat where you either meet with a director alone once a day or with a small group, and then the rest of the day you reflect on what the director leads you to reflcect on. Or you can go on a private retreat. That is where you have no director and just let the Holy Spirit guide you. That kind is the most difficult, especially if you have never been on a retreat before. I have been on all kinds of retreats for years (I prefer 8 day silent retreats) and this summer was the first time I did a private one without being directed. However, I met with my regular spiritual director before I went to get some guidance on what I should focus on. He basically said “Let go and let God.” I had a wonderful retreat and found lot to meditate on. I also met with him when I got home to “debrief.” I would not recommend this type of retreat for beginners or you might not last through the first day of silence. I would look for a preached retreat for the first time.

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

This looks good

Endorsed by EWTN hosts Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, and Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, this do-it-yourself retreat combines the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius with the teachings of Sts. Therese of Lisieux, Faustina Kowlaska, and Louis de Montfort. The author, Br. Michael Gaitley, MIC, has a remarkable gift for inspiring little souls to trust in Jesus, The Divine Mercy. As Danielle Bean, editorial director of Faith & Family magazine, puts it, “The voice of Christ in these pages is one that even this hopelessly distracted wife and mother of eight could hear and respond to.” Includes practical helps in an appendices.

 

[PattiDay]

This looks good

This is a beautiful book. It’s written to be read in a single weekend, but that’s not necessary if you don’t have that much free time all at one sitting. Once you’ve read it, you can go back to review sections to refine what you’ve learned. There is a very simple “breathing exercise”, if that’s not too profane a way to describe it, that reminds us that we are to pray constantly. I think it’s time for me to read it again.