Recently we posted a series on Discerning a Vocation with St. Jane de Chantal. http://visitationspirit.org/2015/08/discern-with-st-jane-in-preparation-for-her-feast/
Companioning with that, we have the beautiful privilege of sharing our Holy Mother’s very words of advice on how to make a spiritual retreat.
If you have considered making a retreat at a Visitation Monastery, these words are for you!
“My dearest daughter,
You wish me to tell you what to do in your Retreat; alas! my daughter, you know that I am not capable of telling you much on that subject.
Still, to satisfy your loving heart, and to condescend to your humility, I will tell you that the first day of Retreat should not be spent in preparing to make one’s confession; but it should be employed in recollecting our soul tranquilly before God, so that, like a calm lake exposed to the rays of a brilliant sun, we may see clearly its depths.
The following day the general examination of conscience should be made very quietly, without hurry, effort or over-anxiety.
As the first three or four days are to be given to the purgative way, you may take either the first or last meditations from the Introduction to the Devout Life.
The ensuing days should be spent on reflecting quietly on what our divine Savior has done for love of us and to redeem us.
On the last days some book may be used which treats of the infinite love and of the eternal riches of this great God.
Towards the end of the retreat we must try to strip our heart of all that covers it and lay all its garments at Our Lord’s feet, one after another, beseeching Him to keep them and to clothe us anew with himself.
We must cast ourselves into the arms of His Providence, leaving to Him the care and guidance of our whole being. Believe me my daughter we shall then want nothing.
Let us never burden ourselves with any cares, desires, affection or constraint, for since we have entrusted all to Our Lord, let us leave Him to govern us, and think solely of doing and suffering everything so as to please Him.”
From: St Jane Frances de Chantal’s letter of Sept 18, 1622