How to Choose a Spiritual Retreat
The Catechism of the Catholic Church invites us to develop our bond with God: for example, number 44 tells us: “Man is by nature and vocation a religious being. Coming from God, going toward God, man lives a fully human life only if he freely lives by his bond with God.” A spiritual retreat is a great time to develop your union with God. So how can you choose a spiritual retreat, among the hundreds offered?
Preached or not? Retreat for a weekend, a week, thirty days? Let's take a look at the main criteria to consider when choosing your retreat with Hozana. At the end of this reading, we invite you to discover other great questions about christian life.
The type of retreat
There are different types of retreats:
· Preached retreat with a preacher: this is the best known. The retreat has a topic with two to three lessons per day.
· Silent (contemplative) retreat: this is a retreat that is not preached, where the participant decides what theme they want to give to their retreat.
· Ignatian retreats: these often consist of doing the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. There are one-week retreats, which are preparatory to the big 30-day retreat.
· Inner healing retreats: this is a time to relive one's personal history under the gaze of God's Love and mercy and sometimes, granting forgiveness to people who may have offended us. These retreats have different names, depending on the organizers, such as Agape, Agapetherapy, anamnesis, etc.
· Discernment retreats: these are retreats aimed at making an important decision, such as about your vocation (marriage, spiritual life), concerning a professional reorientation, a move, etc.
· Couples’ retreats: a time for fiancés and couples, married or not.
· Retreat to review for your exams
· and more!
So, it's up to you to choose which one is best for your situation!
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Silent or spoken?
There are retreats that are silent and others where you can talk. So it's up to you to identify your need. The question is, what are you looking for?
For example, someone who wants to make a vocational discernment, to reread their life under the gaze of God, will have more to gain in choosing a silent retreat.
Your spirituality
Some retreats can be part of a specific spirituality: for example, Ignatian, Carmelite, Dominican spirituality, charismatic renewal, etc.
A retreat carried out with the Emmanuel Community will be totally different than a retreat carried out within a Carmel. The first will certainly be more focused on mission and evangelism, while the second will be more focused on prayer and the interior life, after the example of the Saints of Carmel.
Alone, as a couple, in a group?
Do you plan to do this retreat alone, as a couple, or in a group? If you want to do it alone, you will have a wide choice of abbeys, monasteries and other places. On the other hand, if you are looking for a couple's retreat, your choice will be more limited: there are not many spiritual centers that have expertise in retreats for fiancés and couples.
The format of the retreat
Do you want 1 or 2 lessons per day? No teaching? Do you want to have the most time for yourself? To be independent throughout your retreat, or have the opportunity to benefit from spiritual support?
The retreats can have very different formats that are not suitable for all people: before choosing a retreat, ask about the format of the retreat, the program and the terms, by contacting the host.
The topic of the retreat
Is there a specific topic of the retreat? Does this topic meet your needs? For example, a person who needs to strengthen their union with God can choose a retreat related to prayer or prayer in a Carmel or an abbey. Someone who loves charismatic renewal can opt for a topic related to charisms, the Holy Spirit or healing.
The preacher
A preacher can help the participant choose a spiritual retreat. Through social networks and word of mouth, some preachers can be more sought after than others by participants.
The duration
Are you available on a weekend, 5 days, 7–10 days, or 30 days? Your availability in terms of days is another criterion to take into account when choosing your spiritual retreat. There are those that are designed especially for a weekend, others especially for 7 days, or even 30 days. For example, a discernment retreat will usually last 7, 10, or 30 days.
Your budget
Although some hosts facilitate access to people with more limited financial means, your budget remains a criterion to take into account when choosing a retreat.
The price of the retreat will be mainly influenced by the number of days you plan to participate, whether or not there is a preacher, whether you are willing to do volunteer work to reduce fees, the policy of the host in this regard, etc.
The availability of the retreat
Some retreats only take place on specific occasions, during the summer, or during specific liturgical times. Others can be given all year round, such as for couples. It is up to everyone to find out beforehand.
Discover online retreats with Hozana
Hozana offers retreats online. For example:
· This long retreat with Saint Padre Pio!
· And so many more!
· Or perhaps you’d prefer a shorter one torediscover God’s mercy
