Why Go on Retreat?

Have you ever been on a retreat? The word may call to mind a quiet monk’s cell or a sunny beach. If not, perhaps you think you do not have the time nor the money to take a retreat. This kind of time away might just seem like something meant only for religious people.

Not only are retreats meant for everybody, but going on one has never been easier. A retreat is a wonderful way to spend dedicated time “out” of the world to reset, even during virtual retreats in daily life.

Going on retreat refreshes the soul

Whether you realize it or not, your soul is tired. Unless you already live in a quiet, cloistered monastery, chances are the daily demands of life wear you down to some degree. You must take time to refresh. After all, God mandated one day a week to rest – Sunday – because rest is good for us.

Think about all of our daily distractions, more than at any time in history: we commute and work, we are inundated with notifications, we turn to mindless technology habits (see doomscrolling) to fill our time, we respond to constant texts and emails, we look after our family, and we try to make time for ourselves. All of these activities add up to the mental, and also sometimes literal, noise that crowds out inner peace.

At a basic level, the time we spend on retreat creates a space of quiet and refreshment.

Retreat creates silence in which to hear God

The noise of daily life also blocks out the ability to hear God’s voice speaking to you.

Daily prayer is wonderful, and I highly recommend it. However, a retreat is even more special and deep. What you can’t accomplish in ten minutes of prayer, you can in deeper, more focused time during a retreat. You can achieve a different level of depth in your conversations with God and with yourself.

Retreat creates exposure to new ways of prayer and meditation

Beyond the quiet and refreshment of retreat, you are also becoming spiritually edified through exposure to new ways of prayer, spiritual philosophy, or theology. 

On retreat, you have the time, space, and permission to go deep: to reflect and look inward. You are also learning and picking up new spiritual practices to take with you into the future. 

Retreat is for everyone

You may be thinking – I have too many responsibilities just to go away! So, plan ahead; most retreat centers and programs make their schedules available months in advance. Organize the childcare, the PTO, and whatever else you need to make sure you can spend the time interrupted. Think about this time as you would any important meeting in your life, rather than as an indulgence or something selfish. What could be more important than tuning your spiritual life?

What types of retreat exist?

There’s a type of retreat for everyone: for married couples, for those discerning their vocation, for women and for men, those designed around a certain form of prayer, or a particular saint’s writings.

There are also in-person retreats of varying lengths such as those held offsite at a retreat center and those held online for several days in daily life. 

Pick whichever version works for you. Even if a retreat is virtual, you can treat that time as if it is separate, and different, from your every day. 

Check to see if your diocese sponsors retreat events. If you are worried about the cost, dioceses often offer scholarships for those in need.

My own experience with retreat

My own life of prayer really began with the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. At a Jesuit parish on the campus of Georgetown University, I began taking brief, one-week retreats “in daily life” during Advent and Lent. I prayed on my own in the morning and then met with a spiritual director each afternoon. Even though I was still going to work and staying at my own house, I experienced a week of retreat nonetheless. 

From there, I moved to the 9-month experience of the “19th annotation.” This retreat in daily life combines daily prayer prompts based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and weekly spiritual direction with a priest.

I have also particularly gained much from L’Arche Ferme’s virtual retreats the past couple of years. Ferme is the original L’Arche community in Trosly, France, which now operates as a retreat center. The spirituality of L’Arche is evident there. Retreat topics range from what it means to “step out of the boat” to a reflection of the wisdom of Julian of Norwich, which was the theme of the retreat I took most recently. You can see more here.

I also have a connection with the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia and in the past have visited for a few quiet days on a form of self-guided retreat. Reaching out to a local religious community about visiting and spiritual direction during your visit is another possible option.

Retreat is worth the time and effort

It is hard for us, especially lay people with jobs, to separate from the world. Constant access to news, social media, and other forms of communication make it nearly impossible to have a clear delineation between work and personal (especially spiritual) life.  

Taking the effort to separate oneself from the world makes a retreat all the more valuable. You are getting back to basics and taking an active step to prioritize your relationship with God and with yourself.

Remember to be open to what God shows you when you are on retreat. You may think you are going there for one reason – maybe to prayerfully work through a worldly attachment or a block in your spiritual life – and find that He has an entirely other reason for calling you. 

Remember, too, that your guardian angel is with you. Of course, Jesus, Mary, and any saints you call on for help in your time of prayer accompany you, too.