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 If
your life is busy one,with many cares and concerns, then
you would probably benefit from a time of quiet prayer
and reflection. Many find that they return home
from a retreat in a more peaceful and consoled frame of
mind.
You may well just want time for yourself and your God.
Time to devote to prayer, tell your story to a retreat
guide who is an open and accepting listener.
Many people who come on retreat find that unresolved issues
stop them from being as happy or fruitful as they could
be. Many of us keep troubles at arms length with
liberal doses of television, computers, work and other
distractions. On an individualy guided retreat
you leave television, telephone, computers, and other
distractions aside and allow what is more important to
surface.
At St Beuno's we believe in a God who wants to show his
love for each one of us. Love is shown in an acceptance
of who we are with our personality and our history.
We find that people who come on retreat invariably experience
God in a positive way and return home lighter, rejuvenated,
consoled, more confident in doing God's will.
An individually guided retreat
is an experience of prayer, over a number of days. There
is a daily personal meeting with a retreat guide, usually
lasting up to 45 minutes, to reflect on each day's prayer
and offer guidelines and resources for the next day.
It is usual for each participant to spend some time each
day dedicated to prayer and reflection. There are no hard
and fast rules for times of prayer: most participants
will do between three and five periods of prayer a day.
The retreat is above all a time of listening to God at
work in the experiences of your daily life and in the
prayer of the retreat. The director or retreat guide is
also there primarily to be a listener and companion on
your journey.
Individually guided retreats at St Beuno's
follow the inspiration of Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual
Exercises drawing on some of the approaches, methods
of prayer and ways of reflection they suggest. They do
not however follow the Full Exercises in a compressed
way.
Eucharist
There will be a daily Eucharist that all are welcome to
attend. Usually too there is a half-hour, silent evening
prayer that people are welcome to join in the Chapel.
Art
and Creativity
There is an Art Room which is available to all who wish
to express themselves visually.
Silence
These retreats are conducted in a prayerful silence
both during the day and usually at meal times when some
quiet music helps foster a reflective atmosphere. Participants
are expected to remain silent around the house and respect
the silence of others. The silence enables participants
to move deeper into prayer and meditation and not be distracted
by the concerns of others.
6
or 8 day silent retreats on St Beuno's programme
are conducted with the help of an trained retreat director.
Full Spiritual
Exercises
This is an individually guided retreat, so all the details
above apply. However, participants follow the meditations
and contemplations given by St Ignatius Loyola in his
Spiritual Exercises. There is a degree of flexibility
built in, so the guide and the participant will make decisions
about when and if it is appropriate to move on in the
Exercises. Other details like whether to use a modern
adaptation or a more traditional version of the Exercises
will usually be discussed.
In the month of the Exercises there are two break (repose)
days during part of which the exercise of silence will
be relaxed and participants are usually encouraged to
leave the Centre.
At St Beuno’s the Exercises themselves last 30 days,
with preparation and reflection days at either side.
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