Why Go on Retreat?

[Michie]

Have you ever been on a retreat? The word may call to mind a quiet monk’s cell or a sunny beach. If not, perhaps you think you do not have the time nor the money to take a retreat. This kind of time away might just seem like something meant only for religious people.

Not only are retreats meant for everybody, but going on one has never been easier. A retreat is a wonderful way to spend dedicated time “out” of the world to reset, even during virtual retreats in daily life.

Going on retreat refreshes the soul

Whether you realize it or not, your soul is tired. Unless you already live in a quiet, cloistered monastery, chances are the daily demands of life wear you down to some degree. You must take time to refresh. After all, God mandated one day a week to rest – Sunday – because rest is good for us.

Think about all of our daily distractions, more than at any time in history: we commute and work, we are inundated with notifications, we turn to mindless technology habits (see doomscrolling) to fill our time, we respond to constant texts and emails, we look after our family, and we try to make time for ourselves. All of these activities add up to the mental, and also sometimes literal, noise that crowds out inner peace.

Continued below.

Why Go on Retreat? - Catholic Stand

God may be calling you to take the effort to separate yourself from the world and be open to what He wants to show you.

catholicstand.com

 

[Pioneer3mm]

The picture (Cabin)..reminds of..
- the retreat place..I used to go.

 

[fide]

The word "retreat" is used for many different things these days. For many, at least a few decades ago, a retreat is what religious people call a vacation - a "time to refresh" as this article phrases it. This was the sober experience of a retreat master who became for me my spiritual director for many years. There were sometimes a few "on retreat" whose hunger for the deeper things of God made "retreat" for them a time of "advance". That remains possible today - often not so easy to find, but possible. Good retreat leaders are not so easy to find - as also men and women of profound spiritual depth are not so easy to find. It remains true that all who seek, find! Few do seek - really seek! - but those who do will find, thanks be to God. He provides the Bread for the day that we need - even when we are so blind that we do not know of our true needs.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I made many religious retreats over my years as a devote Christian.

At first, it was at a directed retreat at a retreat house run by the Passionists.

Then, I began making retreats at a Trappist Monastery nearby. COVID and my
own health issues put an end to my annual retreats, but I'm looking at going
again.

All I can advise is, make a retreat and let it be between you and God.

Don't look to have an experience like someone else has shared as this is
your retreat and each person experiences Christ as Christ knows what the
individual needs.

 

[Joined2krist]

I think I need one

 

[mourningdove~]

I love spiritual retreats! I've been on a number of them.
For many years, I was blessed to live in an area where there were many opportunities to attend weekend retreats.

My favorite was my first, a silent retreat at a Benedictine Abbey.
That was back in the 80's. Imagine trying to be silent now ... no cell phone, tv, or internet! lol
The Abbey use to annually hold a silent retreat, but stopped doing so, years ago.
I'm guessing maybe because not many persons want to be silent for a weekend?
But for me, the silence was golden ... a wonderful experience in learning to listen for God ...

And there have been others ...

If persons are in need of post-abortion healing, a Rachel's Vineyard weekend retreat can be a very healing experience.
I was blessed to participate in several of them. RV retreat weekends are a wonderful place to encounter the mercy and love of God.

For me, spiritual retreats are all about leaving 'the world' for awhile, to focus one's attention on God and the things of God ...
be it individually or corporately with like-minded others ... for the purpose of healing, restoration, spiritual growth, a deeper pursuit of God ...

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
~ Jeremiah 29:13