Where The Demons Fear To Tread

Here I stand in the forest of perfection. A perfection of peace, calm and sanctity. This perfection is not wholly within me, for I am a sinner; I am imperfect. But, thanks to God there is a part of me which acknowledges and connects to the perfection all around me, and in that way I become a part of it , a willing and grateful partner sharing in God’s creation.

I’m in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on a Catholic retreat, an isolated, remote facility on the crest of the foothills.(1)  At the moment I am beginning a solo walk through the Stations of the Cross; occasionally I may sit on one of the benches along the trail and write. As I approach the 2^nd Station I see Christ standing tall, his dignity intact, carrying his cross over his right shoulder. He knows where the cross will lead as he prepares to go forward without fear or hesitation.

Before my wife and I came here, we were staying in a cabin nearby. My wife suggested that we skip the formal retreat and make one of our own. She said, “We can connect with nature right here, the beauty of God’s creation is all around us. Just stand and see; breathe and listen. We are in God’s country!  I didn’t deny nor affirm her major premise. Inwardly, I knew that she was right; we were in God’s country. The view of the mountains was breathtaking, the air clean and crisp. The awe and wonder of God’s creation was all around us! She continued, “ Our retreat has already begun. We can pray the rosary, read sacred scripture, and attend Mass in the local Catholic Church.”

I couldn’t answer her then, but I can answer her now as I continue with my prayers and  walk through the Stations of the Cross here at the Retreat Center. My musing is interrupted as I gaze at the 7^th Station of the Cross, Jesus falling for the second time. His Blessed mother has spoken to him and given him some consolation, though he sought none. Simon of Cyrene has helped him carry his cross as far as he was allowed to. Yet, Jesus fell a second time. His cross is heavy because his burden is heavy. He carries the weight of our sins to Calvary where they will be offered as a sacrifice to God, the Father, to open the gates of heaven and to eternal life for those who choose to serve God now and forever.

As I meditate and pray, I realize that I am ready and able to answer her question: “Why go to the Retreat Center when we can have our own retreat right here where we are now?”  The answer I’ll give is the truth that I  know that the Retreat Center is Holy ground! This is a Holy place. We are standing on sacred ground, acres and acres of sanctity protected, a Holiness held constant through the prayers of the faithful and, more importantly, by the Holy sacrifice of the daily Mass.  I believe that we are never closer to God than we are during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because during the Mass we become more accessible to God, and He to us.

Before we arrived, my wife said: “ Being close to nature is like being close to God.” Now that we are here at the retreat both of us have come to realize that not only are we close to nature, but we are in nature’s embrace, and not only are we close to God, but we are participating in his love, kindness and peace. We are embraced by these gifts. We have become a part of this place because we stand on Holy ground, and no matter where we walk, we walk on Holy ground. As I walk in the wilderness, and  through the stations of the cross surely God’s saints and angels witness my presence, just as I witness theirs. And though I am alone, we walk and pray together.

Surely, we are not alone. The grace of God invites the presence of God’s angels, the souls of the justified and the constant presence of God, Himself. Here the fallen angels are repelled by the daily Mass, the gathering of the faithful in prayer, praise and worship. The demons are made to feel unwelcome, and the good angels will keep it that way. For this is Holy ground and the evil spirits fear to come here.

What makes this Holy Ground, Holy?

 First and foremost,” the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christan life” (2), and the source of the grace which permeates the retreat. Secondly, through Holy Communion, the Real Presence of Christ within the Faithful spreads to every square inch of the retreat center as they walk, talk and pray on this sacred ground. Thirdly, the open and constant invitation to God’s Holy Angels to join the Faithful in their praises and worship which extends from the Chapel into the surrounding wilderness.

Fourthly, The wilderness itself is part of God’s creation, and God’s presence is already here.

Lastly, there is the connection with the Communion of Saints which exists wherever God is present.

When we arrived home, I thought of the prophet Elijah. When he needed to encounter God, he fled to  Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai), the Holy Mountain where God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. (3)   I’m sure that when we need to reconnect to God in a profound way, we will return to a retreat, preferably a retreat in the wilderness.

End Notes

1. St. Anthony’s Retreat Center (near Sequoia National Park).
2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1324
3. 1 Kings 19:8 and Deuteronomy 5:1-2 (The New American Bible).