The Preliminary Exercises

Dear friends,

How are you?

These weeks of October and early November see us embark on our Ignatian Adventure! At this time we are spending six weeks of preliminary or 'warm-up' exercises as we find our feet before the formal First Week of the Retreat.

Imagine that you were to spend time in a monastic setting for 32 interrupted days! These 32 weeks correspond to those days. We would be finding the transition in the first 6 days strange - quiet, unhurried, peaceful, restful, no gadgets, doorbells, phone calls, TVs computers or radios - or mobile phones. It would take us time to settle into this strange new electronic-free world.

But of course this Retreat In Everyday Life is somewhat different.We are in our daily routines but trying to adjust to 'being on retreat!'  There are adjustments to be made. We should be aiming higher -the time given to prayer should be stretched, and some things foregone- gently!

So it should come as no surprise that we are still having hit and miss moments when it comes to praying the Examen or finding adequate time and space to our satisfaction, or the fact that some days are better than others, or even that some days seem atrociou, or that we are tired, and can overdo things. We are learning as we go along as we find things that work and things that don't suit us. This is only to be expected.

At this stage however we may be pleasantly surprised at what is already working, and how God surprises us through increased openness and attentiveness and to the many way God speaks to us in the ordinary and in people and nature. He gives us unexpected insights already.  He is the 'God of surprises.' Praise the Lord!

Let us continue to pray for one another!

God bless
Fr John