Introduction: The Meaning of a Retreat

Objectives of the talk:

1. To make the congregants understand the meaning of a RETREAT.

2. To point the Biblical origins of a Retreat.
3. The purpose of a Retreat.
4. Retreat as a necessity to the life of a Christian.
5. Questions for REFLECTION.

1. Meaning of a Retreat

 A ‘Retreat’ is a time to look back in one’s life and see the progress that one has made in relating
to God – a moment of nourishing the spirit of God in a person.
 It is a time to make smooth the paths (ways) of God – putting order in one’s life both spiritual
and life in the world.
 It is a time to dig in the treasure of eternal life (i.e. the Word of God) to find out the meaning of
life.
 A moment of journeying with the Lord at a closer range than one always does in other days of
life – it is also a moment of freeing oneself from his daily duties and be with the Lord.
 A time to respond to the love of God – internalizing one’s faith, since faith can be understood
as a response to God’s love.
 It is a time to have a deeper conversation with God – praying with zeal.
 A moment of re-awakening the Spirit of God in one’s life – as a way of bringing one’s
awareness that God is present in his/her life.a

2. Biblical origins of a Retreat

 Though many people think that the tradition of having retreats is alien to the Bible, I beg to differ
with them since it is actually from the Bible that we encounter its origins. If one reads the
Gospels analytically, one comes across some similar incidents where Jesus Christ would call his
disciples/apostles to ‘come away or retreat’ from the crowd: For instance,
Mark 631 Jesus is inviting his disciples to come away of the crowd…
Mark 646 Jesus goes away on his own to recollect and pray.
13 - 19
Matthew 16 Jesus takes his apostles aside and made them to recollect.
  Though there could be many examples in the Bible, I shall take Matthew 1613 – 19 as an example
to explain the biblical origins of the aspect of a ‘retreat’: this gospel passage brings to our
attention many things that we may learn from a retreat.
 Apart from the above explanations, a retreat is being with Jesus and one has to ask himself if
he has grown enough in knowing Jesus.
o Matthew 1613 – 19 Peter declares the identity of Jesus Christ after Jesus had
posed the following questions:
o Who do people say that I am? (vs. 14) Some say you are John the Baptist, others say
that you are Elijah, Jeremiah, or some other prophet.
o Jesus then asked them: What about you? Who do you say that I am? (vs. 15) You are
the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
o This was Peter’s declaration that earned him a reward in the form of grace from Jesus. So
shall it be with our declarations after this Retreat.

3. The Purposes of a Retreat

 Though there could be many purposes of having a retreat, we may also borrow some of the
purposes from a passage from Luke that I consider as Jesus’ last Retreat or Recollection (Luke
2239 – 46) at Mount Olives. Some of these purposes are:
a) To help one to Pray – that he/she may not enter into temptation. (Luke 2240)
b) To help people to Encounter God and discern His Will. (Luke 2241)
c) To gain more Strength from God to do His Will. (Luke 2243)
d) So as to get Protection against temptations. (Luke 2246)

4. Retreat as a necessity to Christian life

 One can ask this kind of question: “Can an experienced disciple say that I no longer want to
journey with Christ (or Recollect with him)? Not at all, for even the apostles thought as much.
But they were wrong because when Christ encountered them at one occasion and asked them
about his IDENTITY; they could not give a satisfactory answer, except Peter.
 A retreat is necessary because it keeps us focused on Jesus Christ, the true image of the Father. It
helps us to know who God really is. The apostles having stayed with Christ for almost 3yrs
thought that they knew Him only to be taken by surprise that they did not know Him as such.
Reflection Questions (Matthew 1613 – 19)

1. Who do people say that Jesus is for them today?

2. Who is Jesus Christ to you?
3. Are you ready to know Him (Christ) or are you ready to meet Him?
4. Who people say that you are?
5. Who do Jesus say that you are?
6. Can Jesus say: on you I will build my Church?
1st Talk: The life of St. Alois as a Mirror to OUR life as Catholic Youths

Objectives of the talk:

1. Introduction
2. To present the life of St. Alois – LIFE HISTORY OF ST. ALOYSIUS
3. Pointing out the QUALITIES found in the life of the saint
4. To use the life of this Saint as a MODEL to Christian life of the youths
5. Conclusion: taking few qualities that belong to the life of the saint and encourage one another to
make them theirs.

1. Introduction

 As you seek salvation in the world full of sin, sometimes you need to look at how other people
have managed to live as God wants. That being the case, we shall take up the life of Saint
Aloysius and use it to explain how this can be possible.

2. Life history of At. Aloysius

 Aloysius was born in a royal family on the 9th of March 1568. His parents were Ferrante and
Marta Tana Santena. His father wished that his son would become a soldier. This saint
experienced a spiritual growth and a sudden development of his religious faculties.
 Aloysius went for his daily morning and evening prayers since his boyhood and he used to recite
the Office of our Lady.
 He went to Florence in 1577 where he was made Governor at the age of 11 in 1579 by the Duke
of Montua.
 He later suffered from a kidney disease. He spent most of his time in prayer and reading the
lives of the Saints. Later in his life, he chose to follow an austere life. He fasted for three days a
week on bread and water, scourged himself with his dog-whip. He did not forget to rise every
mid-night to pray.
 He later became a Jesuit with the approval of his mother but not his father. In 1584 on the 25 th
of November, Aloysius went to Rome and joined the Jesuit Novitiate at St. Andrea. Due to ill
health, he was forbidden to pray or meditate except at stated times.
 He detached himself from worldly things. With this detachment, Aloysius was able to help those
who suffered from different diseases by giving them a bath and doing their beds. Besides, he
performed his duties with zeal even the lowest offices he held at the hospital.
 Though he was sick, he used to rise at night to worship before his crucifix and would kiss his
sacred pictures.
 Aloysius had St. Robert Bellermine, who was a bishop, as his confessor. He asked humbly
Robert Bellermine if one could go to God without passing through Purgatory. Bellermine
affirmed it and encouraged him to embrace the grace to go to God without passing through
Purgatory.
 Aloysius went into ecstacy that lasted the whole night and from it he learnt that he was to die on
the octave of Corpus Christi. His death came while he gazed at the crucifix on the 21 st of June
1591.
 His relics have been put in the Altar in the Lancellotti Chapel of the church of St. Ignatius in
Rome and he was canonized in 1726.

3. The qualities of the saint

 He was able to discover and experience his spiritual growth at a tender age and developed it.
(In other words, he was able to experience God at an early stage because he used to pray while
was young).
 He had good Leadership qualities that is why he was chosen to become a Governor in 1579.
 Spent most of his life in prayer.
 He was able to choose his vocation even though one of his parents (his father) was against the
idea of becoming a priest.
 Prayed even though he was sick most of the time. And was interested in the sick.
 Loved confession.
 Lover of the crucifix – Devotion to the cross.
 Was a chaste young man.

4. Saint Aloysius – Model to Christian life of the youths

 So dear brothers and sisters, we actually take the life of St. Aloysius Luigi Gonzaga as a model of
Christian life regardless of his position as a patron saint of the guild of St. Aloysius. The above
 qualities found in the life of Aloysius can help us live our “Youth-hood” in a more Catholic
way.
 That being the case, one has to ask oneself whether he/she has ever experienced being closer to
God or not. St. Aloysius did. What of you? And if you are to have this experience, how should it
happen? Be people who spend much of your time in prayer.
 As a youth, one ought to learn to be a Responsible person who can be a good leader in future.
Aloysius was such a young man. If you look at your life can you say you are a responsible
person in your life? Most of you do not care what happens in their lives to the extent of abusing
their bodies. Today, I challenge you to look at St. Aloysius’ life and learn from him who was a
chaste young man. He remained a faithful and chaste man even when he entered a religious life.
Are you a faithful person during this stage of life as a YOUTH?
 Many youths do not care whether they make a right decision or not. Aloysius was able to
DISCERN his vocation. How far are we in discerning our vocations? Some of you if asked
they wouldn’t know what they are up to in life. What do you want to do for God? Do you want to
offer your life to God as a married person or as someone who enters a religious life? I want you
to learn from Aloysius and DISCERN WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE this is the time.
 How many times have you been at service to God by helping others? I want you to choose, like
Aloysius, a particular work of mercy. Aloysius chose to do that as he helped the sick. We can
also be interested in the sick if we emulate this saint.
 Another aspect that we can learn from this saint is that CONFESSION is important. Let’s ask
ourselves how many times have we visited the priest to have our confessions? Some can even
count none. Yet confession is another way to keep us holy and closer to God. Let us be lovers
of Confession.
 One last thing, Saint Aloysius died while gazing at the crucifix. This may mean that he had a
Devotion to the cross. What devotion do we have in life that shall keep us closer to God?
May be some of us have none. Let us do something in this retreat to have some Devotion. Be it
devotion to the cross, the rosary, the Eucharist, or even to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

5. Conclusion

 It is certain that one might not take all the above QUALITIES of the saint, but I encourage you to
make it a resolution that you are going to borrow and make it yours any of the qualities. Are you
going to be concerned with the sick, or are you going to be a chaste person from today
 onwards, or a lover of the cross, or a lover of going to confession, are you going to detach
yourself from worldly things and be able to discern properly so as to become a good leader?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

 Am I a good youth in the Church or not?

 If I am not, what should I do to improve?
 Do I have a devotion or I do not have?
 Read Matthew 513 – 16 = “You are the salt of the earth…”
2nd Talk: Using the Bible as the source of prayer

Objectives of the talk:

1. Why should we use the Bible as a source of prayer?

2. How do we use the Bible to pray?
3. The Seven Steps Method – ‘Lectio Divina’
4. Conclusion

 This talk shall help us to fulfill the requirements of our theme of the retreat: Seeking
salvation in the world of sin. Salvation comes to a person who honours the Bible and reads
it. So, if one implements the method of prayer I shall teach you, one may easily attain
salvation from God. Since embracing the Word of God is like embracing the Son of God.
Thus, knowing the Word of God is like knowing God, Himself.
 St. John, the evangelizer, says in 1 John 4 8 “Whoever is without love does not know God, for God
is love.” Thus, the Bible helps us to know God and live as people who have received God’s grace
and love. Let’s see how we can help one another to do this.
 In this talk am going to help each one of you to come to understand that Bible sharing helps
Christians to experience the presents of God among men. Besides, Bible sharing helps people to
live in the Love of God and in communion with God. This being the case, the Bible can be a true
source of prayer because prayer is entering into conversation with God in a mutual way.

 There could be many methods of using the Bible to pray, but in today’s session I am going to
dwell on The Seven Steps Method of prayer. This method contains seven steps that can be used
to help a Christian to pray in a more effective way.

 THE SEVEN STEPS METHOD: Use Matthew 1916 -22

1. Read the Bible for the 1st time
- Everyone has to be very attentive when the bible is being read. Preferably, eyes closed.
2. Read the text slowly
- As the text is being read, one should try and look for a word/phrase that he/she feels is
striking his/her heart.
3. Pick up a word or phrase that has touched you and repeat it twice
 - The word/phrase that one picks should be kept and be remembered by the one who feels
the word/phrase have some inspirational sentiments.
4. How does this word or phrase that you have picked help you?
- Say out the significance of the word and how it provides the bond between you and God.
5. Read the text once again – slowly
- Internalize the word/phrase of inspiration.
6. Using the same word or phrase that you picked the 1 st time, say how this word/phrase
can help the community.
- Can the inspired word/phrase be of any help to the growth of the community? Yes,
indeed.
7. Ascertain the meaning of the whole text and make it a prayer intention
- Find the theme of the whole reading.

 Conclusion: The purpose of “Lectio Divina” or The Seven Steps Method is to help an individual
to grow spiritually in an endeavor to know God better. Besides, the method is also used as a way
of motivating the whole community to live by the dictates of the Word of God.
3rd Talk: Liturgy and Spirituality – How to Pray?

Objectives of the talk:

1. A brief introduction to the question: How to Pray?

2. The meaning of Liturgy
3. The meaning of the word Spirituality
4. How can we use prayer to proper GROWTH?

1. Introduction – How to Pray?

 The question of how to pray in life is a relative issue. It varies from one person to another and
from one church to another. However, in the Catholic Church the quest can be answered and
summarized in two ways: one as Catholics we pray together through what we call the LITURGY
and secondly, we pray as INDIVIDUALS. Thus, we have what we call personal prayers and
communal prayers. In Liturgy we pray as a congregation but each person participating in his
or her unique way. Yet in Individual prayers, one uses any form of prayers that one may feel
like using as long as the way is acceptable by the Church.

2. The Meaning of Liturgy

 LITURGY: In its original meaning is a "public work" or service done in the name of or on
behalf of the people. Through the liturgy, Christ our High Priest continues the work of our
redemption through the Church's celebration of the Paschal Mystery by which he accomplished
our salvation. Liturgy entails worshipping the Lord in public (or a number of people are
gathered). Thus, in liturgy we give adoration and honor to God, which is the first act of the
virtue of religion. As such, public worship is given to God in the Church by the celebration of
the Paschal Mystery of Christ in the liturgy.
 So, when talking of How to pray, we are simply talking of how to perform at communal
prayers in the Church. Thus, as Catholics, we celebrate this way of praying in the Liturgy of the
Eucharist (the Holy Mass).
 Let’s talk briefly of the celebration of the Holy Mass: Mass is the re-enactment of what happened
at Calvary where Jesus was crucified. The Eucharist is also understood as the sacrifice of the Body
and Blood of Christ offered on the altar under the species of both bread and wine, and it is
offered for both the living and the dead.
 MASS or the Eucharist is the principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by
Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of our salvation through participation in the
sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished. The Mass renews
the paschal sacrifice of Christ as the sacrifice offered by the Church. It is called "Mass" (from
the Latin missa) because of the "mission" or "sending" with which the liturgical celebration
concludes.
 In connection with our theme, the Mass helps us to seek salvation in the world of sin.
 Besides Liturgy, we also have private prayer that strengthens our relationship in a unique way as
well. This form of prayer can be done verbally or non-verbally. When using this type/form of
praying is not bound by environment in order to determine the place of worship. Since Liturgy,
encompasses the aspect of prayer: what is prayer?
 PRAYER: The elevation of the mind and heart to God in praise of his glory; a petition made to
God for some desired good, or in thanksgiving for a good received, or in intercession for others
before God. Through prayer the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the
Church.
 With the daily liturgy, prayer builds up those who are in the Church, making of them a holy
temple of the Lord, a dwelling-place for God in the Spirit. At the same time it marvelously
increases their power to preach Christ and thus show forth the Church.
 We should always know that God is present when the Church prays and sings, for he has promised
"where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them" (Mt. 18:20).
 But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects it is necessary that the faithful
come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds be attuned to their voices, and that they
cooperate with heavenly grace lest they receive it in vain.

3. The meaning of the word Spirituality

 It is life lived within the religious ethical norms and all actions are directed by such norms. Rupenyu
runoraramwa mumutemo yaMwari uye zvose zvinoitwa zvichitungamirirwa nemutemo iyoyo.
 Spirituality is a life in Christ expressed in various forms through apostolates or guilds.
 Guilds help us to pray together as a family of God. Thus, The liturgy and spirituality are inseparable.

4. How can we use prayer to proper GROWTH?

 I want us to remember the following 8 steps:

 G = go for Daily Prayers and Mass

R = read the Word of God always

O = obey God by going for Confession

W = witness God by sharing problems with others and grow in virtue

T = trust God and have devotion to Mary

H = Holy Spirit source of strength

Reflection Questions – Exodus 178 - 16

 Ask yourself if you do pray as an individual?

 Do you help others to celebrate at public worship?
 Are you able to do both private prayer and public worship?
 Read Exodus 178 - 16