A retreat can be a silent weekend at a monastery, a parish men’s or women’s retreat, a youth retreat, an eight-day Ignatian retreat, or an afternoon alone with a Bible. The point is the same: step out of normal life long enough to hear God more clearly, then go back changed.
Historical Context
In 1922 Pope Pius XI named St Ignatius patron of spiritual exercises and retreats.
An Opening Prayer for a Retreat
Lord, I’ve stepped away from my ordinary life to be with you.
Quiet the noise I brought with me.
Open my heart to whatever you want to say.
Show me what to let go of and what to take home.
Holy Spirit, be my guide these days.
Amen.
For Retreatants
Lord, bless everyone on this retreat.
Meet each one where they are.
Heal, challenge and renew them.
Amen.
In the Silence
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
A Closing Prayer
Lord, thank you for these days.
Help me carry what I’ve received back into my family, my work and my parish.
Don’t let it fade by Wednesday.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- On the drive to a retreat.
- At the opening and closing sessions.
- For a parish team leading a retreat.
Scripture Connection
“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” — 1 Samuel 3:10
Samuel heard God in the quiet of the night. A retreat creates that kind of quiet on purpose.
Related prayers
For praying together, see the Communal Prayer. For surrender, the Prayer of Surrender, including St Ignatius’s Suscipe. For contemplative practice, the Mindfulness Prayer.