Inner Peace in Darkness and Light
This six week long retreat is made in a group and focuses on the God who can lead us from darkness into the light; the God who offers love, reconciliation, freedom and healing. The retreat is appropriate for those who have made the Inner Peace in Divine Love retreat.
What are the 1st Spiritual Exercises?
In the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius Loyola suggests that the Exercises could be made in two ways: the Full Spiritual Exercises (made over a thirty day period or nine months) and the First Spiritual Exercises (made over a shorter period of time). Inner Peace in Darkness and Light is the second of four retreats in the First Spiritual Exercises.
This retreat is for those living with some form of darkness – a serious disorder in life, a long period of suffering, sinfulness, chronic illness, or a driven lack of freedom. It awakens retreatants to the God who can lead them from darkness into the light; the God who offers love, reconciliation, freedom and healing. This retreat begins by reflecting on God’s love for us, then God’s mercy on us, and eventually provides exercises for healing.
How the retreat works
The First Spiritual Exercises are integrated exercises that work powerfully together – each day builds on the next and each week builds on the previous one so that the whole four week retreat is a single, progressive, and powerful experience of grace. Ignatian Spiritual Exercises are real exercises in the sense that they require energy, repetition, trust, patience, and a strong desire to see them through to the end. It is therefore important that your willingness and ability to adhere to the commitments requested be carefully considered before registering.
Commitment requested
Attend all six sessions on Sundays: March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9
- We will meet in the Upper Room from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. The graces individuals receive on this retreat often benefit the group. We ask for a commitment to the community and request that you only sign up for the retreat if you can make it to every session.
- Dedicate 30-40 minutes for prayer and 10 minutes for reflection (prayer materials will provided).
Be willing to reflect on your prayer experience in your personal journal and share appropriately with a small group, which will consist of no more than twelve individuals and will include an Ignatian trained spiritual director.
The retreat will be facilitated by
Barbara Bordelon and Martina O’Shea
Cost
While we do not charge a fee for the retreat, we ask that you prayerfully consider making a donation to support the ministry of Ignatian spirituality, if your circumstances allow. Your generosity will enable others in the Washington metro area to make a retreat.
The March 5– April 9, 2017 Inner Peace in Darkness and Light Retreat is currently full.
Please email Martina O'Shea at moshea@trinity.org to be placed on the waiting list.
“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
-Luke 1:78-79
“There are many ways into deeper intimacy with God. This retreat is one of them. In the first half, I move through love and sin to mercy and wonder. As I track through the darker side of my humanity, I am given a surer route to wholeness. In powerlessness and vulnerability, I am brought very close to God. Both are powerful places for love to burn bright. After mercy, healing is sought and greater freedom from attachments. Throughout this retreat, God gives light to my eyes and reveals that the great dark is broken forever.”
- From The First Spiritual Exercises: Four Guided Retreats by Michael Hansen, S.J.
