Yes! Several! Treat yourself to a weekend retreat at the Capuchin Retreat Center! www.capretreat.org. This year’s theme is “Sacred Listening.” Nancy Clancy and I are part of the extended preaching staff there and she wrote this beautiful piece for our retreats this year…What a wonderful family prayer and discussion this would make!!! A little mini-retreat at home!
The gift of the Rosary as a way of prayer has survived many centuries. It is meant to be a sort of mantra prayer, the repetition of familiar prayer releasing us to focus on the life of Jesus. The Church has established four traditional sets of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous). For our theme at the Capuchin Retreat this year, we offer you this combination of mysteries.
The Mysteries of Sacred Listening
The Annunciation – how quiet Mary had to be in the depths of her being to hear this strange and unexpected message from God. How willing am I to be that open? What might God be asking of me today? Let us pray this decade, asking for the virtue of Spirit filled openness.
The Baptism of the Lord - Early on, Jesus learned to listen to His Father’s words of love and tenderness. Those words, once heard, transform all relationships. That same God speaks to me today…you are my beloved child. Let us pray for a listening heart.
Jesus visits Martha and Mary - Within each of us lies a Martha and Mary personality, sometimes we scurry about doing, much too busy to sit and the feet of Jesus to listen. Then there are times when we must stop, slow down, and pay total attention to what the Lord is saying to us. Let us pray this decade seeking balance in our lives.
The Agony in the Garden – To hear God’s Will is hardly ever easy; in fact there are times that it is absolutely agonizing. Let us find strength in Jesus’ surrendering to His loving Father. We pray this decade asking for the virtue of surrender.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit - How important to be able to listen in the midst of noise, confusion and excitement! The results of our openness and surrender to God are always meant to result in bringing the Joy of the Gospel to the world. Let us pray for a renewal of the energy given to us at our Baptism…an energy which comes only from God’s Holy Spirit.
Manresa Jesuit Retreat House also offers wonderful silent retreats. https://www.manresa-sj.org/.
"Nothing approximates the language of God so much as silence." - Meister Eckhart
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