WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflections for 7/18/14

July 18, 2014  /  Joe Parisi

Being with the one who loves me

 

The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. (Romans 8:26-27)

So often people think prayer is like some magic: there are special words; there are some special ways to pray. There is some "trick"to being a good prayer. Well, I do not believe any of that.

There are as many "ways"to pray as there are people. Remember: it is not how you pray but that you pray! Do I spend some time each day in the presence of the One who loves me? Am I faithful simply to "being there?"After all, prayer is more what the Spirit does than what I do. My grandmother was one of the holiest people I ever knew; but all she did was go to church (not every day!) and say her rosary every evening when she was going to bed. She showed up!

Prayer does not have to be a lot of words. My parents, who were deeply in love, could simply sit together, not saying many words but simply being with the one who loved them. Sometimes they talked; sometimes they read; sometimes they prayed; sometimes they simply sat together. It did not matter what they did; what mattered is that they were together.

Maybe this day, this week, this month, this year I can spend a little time each day with God -sometimes God may have an "agenda;"sometimes I may have an "agenda;"sometimes we may simply share what is going on; sometimes we may simply sit together.

 

It seems so simple -all I have to do is be there!

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS.