Introduction

2015 Busy Catholic’s Online Advent Retreat

December 7-14, 2015

“A Season of Mercy”

Welcome… to our 2015 Busy Catholic’s Online Advent Retreat. We hope this online retreat will be a time of prayerful reflection and spiritual growth for you during this sacred season. If you wish, you may go directly to the day’s reflection by clicking on the appropriate day in the column at the right. However, to make this experience as fruitful as possible, we invite you to consider the process outlined below and adapt it to your personal needs and circumstances.

Preparing for the Retreat

Set aside 20 to 30 minutes for reflection time each day during the retreat. If you wish, use a journal to write down your thoughts and impressions during the retreat. Remember that God, like a human friend, is always trying to encourage, affirm and guide us. For our part, we need to give God time to speak — in other words, we need to make time to listen quietly and patiently. The questions for reflection and discussion are designed to help facilitate this process of listening, but sometimes questions get in God’s way. Don’t get discouraged if you do not have an insight from every reading or a response to every question.

Suggestions for Daily Reflection

[* Indicates optional suggestions for small group discussion or individuals who are journaling during the retreat.]

1. Read the daily scripture quote slowly and carefully. Read it a second time if you wish.

• What words, phrases or ideas strike you in this reading? Reflect on the Word of God for several minutes.

* Journal or discuss your reflections.

2. Read the daily reflection; if you wish, read the reflection a second time.

3. Sit quietly for a few minutes.

• How does this reflection speak to you? What is the most important thought, image, feeling or insight you have had during today’s reflection time?

* Journal or discuss your reflections.

4. Pray the prayer slowly and thoughtfully. Add any spontaneous thoughts you with to share with God.

5. Consider what you might do in response to today’s reflection.

* Journal or discuss your reflections.

6. Re-read the Scripture quote. Choose a word or phrase which will be your word or guide for the day. Repeat the word or phrase several times so that it becomes embedded in your memory. Pray it frequently throughout the day.

7. Share your thoughts and insights with other retreat participants in the Comment section each day.

Enjoy This Retreat Experience

Try to experience each day as a whole, and to do the same with the retreat itself. The most important insight or “message” may come later in the day … or some days later, even some time after the retreat has ended. God is a God of surprises. Trust that what God has to say is always something only a Friend would dare to share … when we are ready and willing to listen.

The reflections for this year’s Advent Retreat are taken from “A  Season of Mercy—Daily Reflections, Practices and Prayers” by Fr. David M. Knight. Copyright Twenty-Third Publications.  Used with permission. Responses created for this retreat by Dave Cushing.