In a couple of days, I will finally have what I so desperately need: some time off to pray.
Going on a retreat is radically different from going on vacation or visiting some place. Going on a retreat means to remove oneself from daily activities and cut off from the world as much as possible. There is no television to watch on retreat, no stereos blasting out music. There is nothing but silence, prayer, and Mass.
Can I get silence, prayer, and Mass here at the parish? Well, yeah. However, after them, I have to get back to the office and to my job. A retreat removes the office and the job and leaves time for myself and the Lord.
What typically happens on a week’s retreat? I can tell you, the first couple of days usually include an inordinate amount of napping. When you remove yourself from everything, fatigue often hits and napping helps to meet and defeat that fatigue. Prayer is usually much more intense as you create space for God to speak to you. Usually our prayer is just a quick talking to God rather than a communication with God.
All these things will begin to happen after my Sunday morning Masses. I’ll be leaving for southern Indiana (St. Meinrad) and spend next week at the Guesthouse at St. Meinrad Archabbey.
I can’t wait.
