Retreats and the Quiet Life

Preparing to go on retreat next Monday to Friday at Belmont Abbey near Hereford.  The blog will be suspended during the week for obvious reasons.  As a Carmelite, I know I should love retreats and I have many friends who do, but something in me rebels against the idea of withdrawing from active life even if only for a week.  The annual retreat is part of our rule so I know I must go.  I think that part of the problem is that I lead a fairly quiet and even eremitic life anyway for most of the time – but there must be something more to it.  In the end of course it doesn’t matter, for we do what we do in Carmel out of obedience and that’s that.  God knows that I need the occasional retreat and He knows best. The call to surrender in Carmel means a surrender to the call of the divine love.

Intercessions

RIP Mervyn Leach, father of two Secular Carmelites

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Fr Jon Bielowski (Plymouth Diocese), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Sister Daranee Teapthong, Theresa K

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (recovering from stroke)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

We are asked to pray for the Diocese of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, as the Northern Mission celebrates its centenary. The process of selecting a new bishop continues.