Posted on 07/28/2003 8:59:01 AM PDT by johniegrad
Any one out there have any experience or personal knowledge concerning Ignatian retreats?
I actually just finished an 8-day directed retreat a couple of weeks ago, and I went through a pretty long process trying to find a good place to do the retreat and to find a good director. Are you hoping to take an Ignatian retreat, or are you just wondering about them?
My wife and I are considering this retreat. We would consider anything from the weekend retreat all the way up to the full month long event. Any information you could give would be appreciated.
Mostly I'm afraid of going to a Jesuit university type setting and ending up with a hand holding "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore" experience.
If you know any Jesuits, you could get in touch with them... every Jesuit has a directory that includes a list of all their retreat houses, so you can find one close to you. It would then probably be best to get in touch with a director to see what retreat would meet your needs.
The only real problem that I had with Manresa House is the problem I've run into with Jesuits just about everywhere--lax, wishy-washy liturgical practices. In an attempt to make things "comfortable" and "relaxed", they actual made me less comfortable. I don't know whether Manresa would work if you want to take the retreat at the same time as your wife, though, because it seemed to be almost entirely a retreat house for men--the only woman on retreat the entire time I was there was a nun.
In general, you have to keep in mind that the Spiritual Exercises are a thoroughly personal affair; I know of some retreat houses that have retreats for couples based on the Exercises (one is Montserrat House in Dallas), but by their nature the Exercises are geared towards a more private, personal experience. The first rule of Ignatian retreats is silence, so it would be my guess that you and your wife would be taking an Ignatian retreat more at the same time than really taking a retreat together.
So, I'd offer the following suggestions:
1) Get in touch with a Jesuit to get a list of the retreat houses near you.
2) Just be up front about what you're looking for with whatever houses you contact. E-mail directly to any of the Jesuits on staff is probably your safest bet--I was only frustrated by trying to deal with the offices and secretaries of retreat houses by phone.
3) Don't be too worried about ending up with a "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore" experience (and I like that description, by the way :))... so long as the retreat is in any way based on the spiritual exercises, and the director has any desire to follow them, then so long as you are open to the retreat, God will be doing most of the work.
Good luck in your search; while you've obviously already made a decision concerning your state in life (which is primarily what the Spiritual Exercises are meant to help one to do), an Ignatian retreat could still definitely be a good formative experience. Just be patient; it took me most of the summer to set up a retreat, and I only finalized my plans for it less than a week before it began.
If you know any Jesuits, you could get in touch with them... every Jesuit has a directory that includes a list of all their retreat houses, so you can find one close to you. It would then probably be best to get in touch with a director to see what retreat would meet your needs.
The only real problem that I had with Manresa House is the problem I've run into with Jesuits just about everywhere--lax, wishy-washy liturgical practices. In an attempt to make things "comfortable" and "relaxed", they actual made me less comfortable. I don't know whether Manresa would work if you want to take the retreat at the same time as your wife, though, because it seemed to be almost entirely a retreat house for men--the only woman on retreat the entire time I was there was a nun.
In general, you have to keep in mind that the Spiritual Exercises are a thoroughly personal affair; I know of some retreat houses that have retreats for couples based on the Exercises (one is Montserrat House in Dallas), but by their nature the Exercises are geared towards a more private, personal experience. The first rule of Ignatian retreats is silence, so it would be my guess that you and your wife would be taking an Ignatian retreat more at the same time than really taking a retreat together.
So, I'd offer the following suggestions:
1) Get in touch with a Jesuit to get a list of the retreat houses near you.
2) Just be up front about what you're looking for with whatever houses you contact. E-mail directly to any of the Jesuits on staff is probably your safest bet--I was only frustrated by trying to deal with the offices and secretaries of retreat houses by phone.
3) Don't be too worried about ending up with a "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore" experience (and I like that description, by the way :))... so long as the retreat is in any way based on the spiritual exercises, and the director has any desire to follow them, then so long as you are open to the retreat, God will be doing most of the work.
Good luck in your search; while you've obviously already made a decision concerning your state in life (which is primarily what the Spiritual Exercises are meant to help one to do), an Ignatian retreat could still definitely be a good formative experience. Just be patient; it took me most of the summer to set up a retreat, and I only finalized my plans for it less than a week before it began.
One retreat house that looked interesting to me was in England affiliated with the SSPX. I'd certainly want to look further into that before making a decision for all the obvious reasons. However, I thought that they might be a tad more serious about following the form and content of the Exercises.
I have a difficult time seeing how to do this without some guidance.
I agree. Especially since it requires silence and requires separating yourself from your everyday life. I think it would be much simpler to go to a retreat site. But I intend to get that book and use to the extent I can. What area are you looking for? There is a place in Northern California, but I can't remember the name at ther moment. Some orders besides Jesuits offer Ignatian retreats. The Orde of the Incarnate Word offer them monthly I believe. Check it out here, or at http://www.ive.org/. (you have to click on the U.S. section for Elnglish.
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