Retreats Page - Sisters of St. Francis, Denver, CO

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Two Minute Retreats

Take a verse from Psalm 46, "Be still and know that I am God." Very slowly pray the verse. With each successive repetition you leave off a word/phrase. Reverently, slowly , gently give yourself to this phrase.
Be still and know that I am God (take a big, deep breath)
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know
Be still
Be...
The next millennium will be the Age of Light due to use of photons. We're moving from emphasis on electrons (electronics) to photons (photonics). This mini retreat uses light and your baptismal call Begin this retreat with the Sign of the Cross (if you have Holy Water handy, use it!)

Recall the reality of your Baptism. Imagine yourself being clothed in a white garment, holding your baptismal candle. See yourself surrounded by the Light of Christ. Feel you skin oiled and anointed by the sacrament. Allow the Light of Christ to permeate your mind, your heart, your entire being. Repeat gently and slowly "Light of Christ, fill me."
Jesus said, "I leave you peace. My peace is my gift to you." Spend one minute accessing that peace deep within you. For the rest of the time see that peace of Christ go out from you to troubled hearts and places in the world that are in turmoil. See it spiral out in the throbbing rhythms of your heartbeat
St. Catherine of Siena compared our life in God to a fish swimming in the sea. You are called to be so at home in God that you are like that fish, surrounded by God's ocean of love. Visualize it and accept this reality of being immersed in God. Repeat "Just as the fish is in the sea, so I am in God."
St. Teresa of Avila suggested that one way to pray is to imagine Jesus sitting in the chair next to you. Imagine Jesus is right there in front of you. What do you say? What does He say? Spend a couple of minutes with this awareness.

You need a Bible for this one! Read John 14:1-4, 12-21, and 25-31. As you read these verses slowly, imagine that Jesus is speaking personally with YOU right here and now. If a particular word or phrase strikes you, stay with it and do not continue reading. At the end make up a short prayer that summarizes exactly how you are at this moment.
Take some colored markers or pencils and "doodle" or draw in symbols one of these: - How much God means to me? Color your response to the question, "Who God is for me? Doodle your personal sacred symbols.
Print an inspirational page and meditate on it for ten minutes. Spend five minutes writing, drawing, sculpting, singing or dancing your response to this particular inspiration page.
Take one of the following psalms (Psalm 23, 27, 16, 32, 34, 40, 62, 84, 103, 121 or 139) and read it slowly. Stop if any word or verse touches your heart. Stay with the word that moved you.

Create your own spontaneous psalm at the end.
Take a ritual bath. Beforehand put lit candles around the tub, choose a mellow, reflective piece of music, tape or CD, and choose fragrant oil for the water. When you are ready, turn off the lights; get into the tub and soak. Thank God for your body from toes to the crown of your head. Wonder at your body and all that it does. After you dry off , use some fragrant lotion to "anoint" your body. Give thanks to God for having designed this incredible body.
Have some ear plugs (now inexpensive-used for airplanes), and possibly eye shades. With your ears plugged and eyes closed, go inward to a quiet spot. Use a favorite word or image as a focal point for any time you get distracted. Be still there and just wait. One image would be a deep forest, or sitting by a still lake. Allow yourself to be calmed and refreshed by the stillness. You might want to set your watch or a timer for fifteen minutes so you are not worried about losing a sense of time.
Make an appointment with God in your calendar. Plan to stop on the way home from work, school at a church, park or quiet spot. Have a conversation with God for fifteen minutes. Don't forget to listen!

Go online and read the Scriptures for the Mass of the day. Meditate on them. Imagine how you would teach or preach these scriptures. What is God saying to you through these readings? http://www.universalis.com/
Go to lunch in a small cafe, coffeehouse or take your own bag lunch somewhere quiet. Read a chapter from the Scriptures or spiritual book, journal, sketch - whatever feels timely. Be spontaneous.
Go for a walk in your neighborhood or near your place of work. Imagine you are a six-year-old child. Become as a little child. What do you notice? What do you see? Hear? Wonder about? Walk with no goal - speed or time. Take a souvenir back to your office, home or school. Give thanks to God.
Sit outside on a summer's day. Feel the sun warm your skin , Feel any breeze caress your face. Listen to nature's symphony of that of the city. Fast from any thoughts about work or school and just sit with the One who loves you the most.
Write down a recurring dream you've had in your sleeping hours. Write the dream in present tense, using first person, "I." Read it aloud to yourself. Give it a title as if it were a movie or a book. What is the dream telling you? How does it make you feel? End with a reverent gesture to God.
Imagine having a conversation with one of your favorite saints. If you like to journal, write down this dialog. Tell this saint what has inspired you about him or her? Recall if there are any similarities between the saint's life and yours. Ask the saint to intercede for you and what you want the saint to pray for.
Walk through a Farmer's Market or fruit store. Praise God for the varieties of color, shapes, textures, and flavors. Walk in awe of the lavish generosity of the Creator God. Buy a fruit and enjoy eating it slowly.

Retreat for the Soul
Ahead of time, reserve a bed at a retreat house , an inexpensive motel, or a religious community. Even if you can't afford to do this you can make this retreat any quiet place you choose.

Fast for 24 hours from TV, movies, magazines, radio, pager, e-mail, phone, fax and any other leashes life has you hooked up to!

Morning: sleep as long as you are able. Then pray Psalm 63.
Exercise: make a gratitude list of all of those thing you are grateful for in your life. Pray Psalm 103.

Afternoon: take a nap if you need one. Do some daydreaming. Perhaps it helps to walk for this exercise. What would you like to change about your life? Daydream about the possibilities. What one thing do you will at this time of your life? Do you know your top two priorities? Write a letter about these possibilities, priorities or plans to a friend or to yourself.

Night: Walk under the stars or if you are in a cold climate commune with God indoors, possibly by a fire. Read poetry or listen to music. If you are artistic, draw, paint or sketch. Use some art form to help you transcend the nitty gritty details of your daily life.

You might like to do the ritual bath listed under the 15 minute retreats.

Before you go to sleep, pray Psalm 103, giving thanks to God for taking care of all your needs. As you fall asleep, imagine your life folded into God's so that you awake with an awareness of God's presence.
A Shopper's Retreat
Choose a mall or shopping center. Arrive before the stores open and take a thirty minute walk around the shops.

Plan to spend a modest sum. The rule is: you can't but anything for yourself. Think of someone else's need.

Stop for lunch at the food court and eat a food you have never tried before. Pray before you eat, not out of formality but with sincerity.

Walk around the mall for 30 minutes after lunch praying for the people present. Notice each person as you pass and offer a prayer for him or her.

Go to a card store. Go through the selection of cards. Think of someone in your life who needs an encouraging word. Buy them a card. Sit down and write them a meaningful message.

Go do something for yourself (a haircut, manicure, etc.) Imagine God's loving care as you receive this service. Before leaving, pray a blessing on the shopping center , the employees, and all the patrons. Pray that honesty and peace would reign in this marketplace.