Make Your Own Spiritual Retreat

The best advice that I will give anyone is to make their own spiritual retreat. OWN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. In any given relationship, you'll make time for each other. DO THAT WITH CHRIST.

WHEN: Our heavenly Father will give you the time to take this retreat. TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT COMES.

WHERE: Simply get away from what is familiar. A place where your solitude will be undisturbed or respected.

I suggest going out to the wilderness for "I will allure her: I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart" (Hosea 2:16).
Other places could be a friend or family member's spare room, barn, etc.

WHO: Spending a lot of time alone can make anyone feel insane. Tell someone about your retreat plans. Tell them why you're doing it. Ask them to pray for your during it. Ask them to call you afterwards to check in. Ask them for encouragment; God might call you to do something difficult. If you go to someone else's residence, they can also keep you on schedule. The person should be "a religious mn, who you are sure keeps the commandments; who is likeminded with yourself and will feel for you if you fall" (Sirach 37:12). However don't ignore "your own heart's counsel...a man's conscience can tell him his situation better than seven watchment in a lofty tower" (Sirach 37:13-14). "Most important of all, pray to God to set your feet in the path of truth" (Sirach 37:15).

WHAT: You should bring the bare essentials for clothing, shelter, food, and water. Extravgent meaty foods and alcohol have notoriously dulled the minds of many. It would also be useful to consider fasting. There are many spiritual benefits according to St. Thomas Aquinas.

PLAN: In order that you not be tossed about like a boat in a storm submit yourself to a plan. "He who would find God must accept discipline...His judgment is sound who fears the Lord; out of obscurity he draws forth a clear plan" (Sirach 32: 14, 16).

Here's an example:

6:00AM: Wake up, meditate on morning prayer and spiritual reading.

7:00AM: Eat, simple exercise.

8:30AM: Write down your familiar everyday tasks and hide this list until the end.

9:00AM: Restful activities that further detach you from your familiar life.

10:00AM: Read a spiritual book: Scripture, Roman Catechism, or Theology, etc.

10:30AM: Pick out something to apply to your life. Journal about it.

11:00AM: Mediate on noon prayer. Let God convince you of His good will.

12:00PM: Eat, contemplate God's perfection in silence.

1:00PM: Take a nap.

2:00PM: Clean the dishes or some other kind of servile work.

3:00PM: Meditate on Christ's passion, death, and resurrection.

4:00PM: Create something: a poem, song, sculpture, image, etc.

5:00PM: Pray in thanksgiving for all the spiritual and temporal gifts from God.

6:00PM: Meditate on evening prayer.

7:00PM: Eat, clean up.

8:00PM: Rest in His love and commandments.

8:30PM: Write down the plan for tomorrow and put it aside until the next day.

9:00PM: Meditate on night prayer and your death. Beg God to forgive your sins.

9:30PM: With trust in Jesus Christ, die to the world and sleep.

Today, the Old Testament readings at Mass were about those who scouted out the promised land for 40 days. They witnessed the strength of the people that God wanted them to conquer. in a similar way, Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days. In a way, Jesus was scouting out the place where He will speak to our hearts, the wilderness (Hosea 2:16). However, He not only scouted it out, but He conquered every enemy that decided to contend with Him. Let us look upon the greatness of our enemy in order to marvel at God's conquering hand.