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Twenty-two attend silent retreat By Yrene Lewis Twenty-two women spent the weekend of April 18-20 in quiet introspection during a silent St. Ignatian retreat conducted by the Miles Christi Religious Order. Held at the Diocese of Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center, the women from Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Nebraska, participated in the Spiritual Exercises, a well-proven method of St. Ignatius of Loyola and an excellent means of conversion and sanctification highly praised by popes and saints. The weekend included spiritual talks, time for personal meditation in silence, spiritual conferences, and confession. Additionally, the women participated each day in Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration. The Spiritual Exercises proved even more efficacious than they had hoped. “I arrived at the retreat with an expectation of being spiritually and personally refreshed. I came away from the retreat a new person—more deeply in love with God and our Catholic faith,” said one retreatant. “The Spiritual Exercises allowed for grace to move my soul and make change. Through the inspirational direction of our priest, Father Xavier, I encountered profound insights into my relationship with the Lord, myself, and my neighbor.” Another retreatant stated, “I was amazed that this, my second Spiritual Exercises retreat, was even better than my first! It raised me to a whole new level in my spiritual journey to holiness. I look forward to the next retreat in 2009.” The combination of talks, meditations, prayers, and spiritual direction during the St. Ignatian Spiritual Exercises presented retreatants with an opportunity to examine their spiritual lives in a serene, holy setting. The women then ended the retreat by forming private resolutions for their daily lives to increase in fruitful service to the Lord. “By the end of the retreat, I could see my weaknesses more clearly and had gained keener insight into how God wanted me to grow,” said one of the women. Another retreatant noted, “I was humbled by the exercises related to sin, but I found hope on the meditations on Divine Mercy, the Eucharist, and in making resolutions to increase my spiritual life.” The Priests of Miles Christi (soldiers of Christ), based in Plymouth, Mich., are part of the Archdiocese of Detroit and have been in existence since 1984. The priests travel around the country conducting silent Ignatian retreats; they are devoted to the sanctification of the laity for the greater glory of God. Entirely in accord with the Magisterium of the Church and based on solid Catholic spirituality, the Miles Christi order distinguishes itself through apostolic zeal and service, setting hearts aflame. “Wichita is certainly blessed to have the presence of Miles Christi,” remarked another retreatant. “We hope to spread the word of their authentic apostolate and encourage more faithful to take part in the silent Ignatian retreats to let the fire of Divine Love spread.” (Lewis is the editor of the Spanish section for the Catholic Advance.) Need silence? The next Miles Christi Spiritual Exercises retreat will be for men Sept. 26-28 at the Spiritual Life Center. To reserve space contact the center at (316) 744-0167 or email them at slc@slcwichita.com | |
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Father Xavier, left, led the retreat at the Spiritual Life Center, Wichita, for 22 women.