Listen to Lent
For those interested, Creighton University has available online an audio Lent retreat given by Fr. Larry Gillick, S.J. I've listened to one of the mp3 files so far - there are fourteen in all - and found it moving. Here's the blurb for the introductory file ...
Lent, spring, and the Spiritual life have this in common; each is a tug of war. Spring is tugging at winter to let go. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are directed at our becoming more aware of human unfreedoms and the free gift of God’s love to help us let go. Lent is the prayerful time to prepare for Easter and prepare for our living the joy of being disciples of Jesus. The Spiritual Exercises help us to ask the big questions and then search for the answers. It is all about coming back to life.
Lent, spring, and the Spiritual life have this in common; each is a tug of war. Spring is tugging at winter to let go. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are directed at our becoming more aware of human unfreedoms and the free gift of God’s love to help us let go. Lent is the prayerful time to prepare for Easter and prepare for our living the joy of being disciples of Jesus. The Spiritual Exercises help us to ask the big questions and then search for the answers. It is all about coming back to life.
posted by crystal | 1:19 AM
7 Comments:
How long are the files, Crystal?
The one I listened to lasted about 20 mins, I think.
Would you consider doing a post sometime that gives the gist of these exercises or maybe better, summarizes some that you like best?
Hi Paul,
do you mean a post about the Spiritual Exercises themselves, or a post about this particular Lent retreat?
The exercises themselves. I'd say I'm just being lazy except in my situation I really don't have time to read anything at length on the topic. And actually, I think I'm more curious about what aspects impress you the most anyway...
Wow - that's quite a subject.
I've never taken a real Spiritual Exercises retreat, only the online "in everyday life" one given by Creighton University. A jesuit would be a better source of information.
Here's a link about the Exercises from the Oregon Province Jesuits, and here's a link to an article at the Tablet, written by a guy who gives his retreat experience of the Exercises - The Retreat that Changed My Life.
But here's a short (and doubtless flawed) explination ... it's a retreat that usually lasts about a month, divided roughly into four parts.
The first week is spent on considering what has gone wrong with God's project - the evils of the world and in onesself.
The second week is Ignatius asking what it would take, who it would take, to enlist you in bringing good out of evil ... what brings out the best, the heroic in you? Jesus?
Third week is spent getting to know Jesus ... you put yourself in the gospel stories, in Jesus' life up to and including the crucifixion, through prayer and imagination.
The fourth week is tough - the resurrection. And after.
It's kind of summed up by that song from Godspell(?) ... to see Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, follow him more nearly.
Hope that helps.
CRYSTAL: Thanks. I like the practical sound of it - striving to put one's faith into practice. I'm reminded a bit of the Eightfold Path in Buddhism.
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