A private retreat for religious; enriched with reflections and select readings taken from the spiritual writings of St. Alphonsus

Front matter

Book. Jx^

CopyrightN° .

COPYRIGHT DEPOSnv

Preface

However, familiarity with the eternal truths does not suffice in itself. We must apply these truths to the circumstances of our individual spheres. To accomplish this we need self-knowledge. The better we know ourselves, the easier will it be for us to amend our lives and perfect them. An additional motive for persevering in this selfexamination arises from its humiliating our pride and purifying our self-love — so necessary to dispel delusion. In proportion as we practise this humility and mortification, do we dispose ourselves for the light and strength of grace. Under such circumstances prayer will never be an empty formality, but the abandonment of ourselves entirely to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

To attain this end we must bring five dispositions to the holy exercises: (1) sincerity with God, who abhors the hypocrite; (2) the good-will, not merely to desire, but also to live in accordance with reason and grace; (3) order in our efforts, thus husbanding time and energy and ensuring the best results; (4) patient perseverance or fidelity to the exercises; (5) above all, a boundless confidence in God.

In making the spiritual exercises, especially in private, some persons experience difficulty in employing the time profitably; others, in digesting the truths of the spiritual life; and others again, in acquiring the necessary knowledge of themselves. In this our Private Retreat, we have tried to remove these difficulties as far as possible, (1) by supplying abundant matter; (2) by working out the entire meditation as far as circumstances will permit; (3) by adding appropriate reading and examinations. The eternal truths are thus placed before the soul with clearness and applied in a way to enlighten the mind

PREFACE and inflame the heart. Considerations are really only of so much practical value as they add to self-knowledge or move the heart to God. On this account St. Alphonsus, whose method we have followed and whose writings we use, insists so much on Affections and Prayers" in communing with God. As the meditations of most Keligious of our day last but a half hour, we have divided the meditations of this retreat into two parts, and added an appropriate Eeflection from St. Alphonsus for the benefit of those who may desire to prolong the exercise. Each point of the meditation is divided into "Considerations and Applications" and " Affections and Prayers"; the first aims at subjecting the mind, while the other is intended to conform the will to the mind and heart of God. The soul is further aided in acquiring the theory and practice of the spiritual life by daily spiritual reading and examinations, and by a systematic interior examination, which will be introduced at the proper stage of the exercises.

To facilitate the concentration of the mind on the work of the retreat, and to remove all unnecessary anxiety regarding its success, a special end is proposed for each day. By keeping this special end in view day after day, the success of the retreat is, humanly speaking, secured at every step ; for the various exercises of the consecutive days not only harmonize with the general plan, but constitute its gradual development. A person who goes through the exercises of the retreat in this logical way may say with St. Paul, therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty; I so fight, not as one beating the air ; but I chastise my body and bring it into subjection" (1 Cor, ix. 26-27).

Contente

PAGE

Preface 7

How to Profit by a Retreat 17

The Manner of Making a Private Ketreat . . . . , .18

Introductory Reflections on Solitude 21

Invitation to Solitude 23

Surrender to the Holy Spirit 24

Veni Creator Spiritus 25

Acts Before and After an Exercise of the Retreat .... 26

Meditation for the Evening Preceding the Retreat. —

Opening of the Retreat 28

jfirst S)a^

First Meditation. — ^The Value of the Soul 36

Optional Reflection. — The Pilgrimage of Life 41

Optional Reading. — Vocation 44

Second Meditation. — The Importance of Saving the Soul . 46

Optional Reflection.— The Thought of Eternity .... 53 Particular Examination. — On Humility toward the Holy

Spirit 56

Third Meditation. — The Value of a Baptized Soul ... 67 Optional Reflection. — Detachment from Creatures ... 62 Optional Reading. — Generosity Pleasing to God and Necessary for Religious 65

Fourth Meditation. — The Dignity of a Religious ... 68

Optional Reflection. — On the Retired Life 73

Examination. — On the Christian Ideal 76

Protestation for a Happy Death 77

Hymn.— To the Creator 80

Secon5 2)ai?

First Meditation. — On the Malice of Sin 82

Optional Reflection. — God Deserves to be Loved Above

Everything 87

Optional Reading. — The Life of a Religious the Life of

Christ 90