Thursday, May 20, 2010
A Beehive of Activities
Every year our Senior Sisters gather at the Motherhouse for three days of conferences, fun and community. It opened May 19th this year. The Motherhouse has been buzzing with people and activities, with everyone at Avila getting occupied with their respective assignments. To top it all, we are also hosting an evening of reflection and music with Dan Schutte, singer and composer of songs like "Here I Am. Lord", "City of God", and many others. It will start at 7 pm tomorrow. I signed up, along with two other Sisters, to run the Vocation table, and to administer First Aid, if needed (pray everything goes well). The event is open to the public with free donations only. I look forward to being home for four days after the concert. Isn't that wonderful! I'm hoping for nice weather to allow me to work outside. My first month went fast and before I know it, I'll be going for my Solitude Retreat in June! I am looking forward to that.
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sister.... where are you going on silent retreat? will there be a speaker? or is it just totally you alone with God?
ReplyDelete:) thanks
The place is called Bethlehem Hermitage located in Chester, NJ. There will be no speaker. I will be in Solitude in a cottage and will join the hermits for vespers.
ReplyDeletewill you take something to focus on? something to read? will you have a theme of your own and a direction you want to go in?
ReplyDeleteThe only reading material permitted is the Bible (they send you a list of what to bring.) No tapes, no other books. The Carmelite tradition of prayer is a practice known as lectio divina or divine reading. It is not exclusive to Carmelites. In this way, one basically reads a passage (in this case the Bible) and "chews it" untilone is moved to meditation. One continues doing this until a specific passage captures your attention. I do not have a specific theme at this time. The Spirit will take me in whatever direction He chooses. Solitude retreat does not always have to b full of new ideas. There is a power in silence which rejuvenates the soul and feeds it without the use of words or thoughts.
ReplyDeletei am very courious... i have been on weekend guided silent retreats... but never a week of silence and solitude as you are talking about. i can't imagine what that would be like for me? so use to being stimulated by so many things in life, people, books, computer, getting in the car and going somewhere... i just can't imagine if i could stay in such silence for so long? it amazes me to try to imagine such??? would like to try sometime yet fearful?
ReplyDeleteTry it for a short time (maybe three days). Solitude retreats are not for everyone. Some people find God in many ways and souls receive God differently. But you'll never know what you are capable of doing if you don't try. You might surprise yourself! There is nothing to be afraid of! The worse that could happen is that you'll get bored. In that case, do what you find helpful to you.
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