As missionaries prayer is our principal activity as it unites us with God who is the Master and who sends us to mission. For that, we feel the desire to have a total detachment by renewing our strengths. Therefore, we feel the need to reserve ample time for individual prayer, reflection and contemplation.To have an Ignatian retreat was a providential moment to grow more in my intimacy with the lord and to strength my motivations to follow Christ without limitation. (cfr. Xaverian Constitution.43)
The spiritual exercises were organized into four weeks of meditation with 4 or 5 prayer periods per day (each period of prayer or meditation takes one hour). During the first week we were invited to recognize God’s gifts and our own sinfulness considering that He is always ready to accept us and to come to meet us in our journey.
During the second week we were invited to meditate upon the life of Jesus from His incarnation and birth up to his earthly ministry, so we were invited to create a close relationship with Him, looking at Him as a friend. We also made use of our imagination and internal senses to contemplate these mysteries and to get involved. During the third week we meditated upon the triumphal entry to Jesrusalem, the passion, last supper, crucifixion, suffering on the cross and death of Jesus. And during the fourth week, we meditated upon the Resurrection of Jesus and some topics like humility, decision making and choosing between good and evil. (Cfr.Martin, James SJ.2012.The Jesuit Guide to almost everything. New York.Harper one.,p.20.)
After the retreat, I look at life in terms of the purpose for which I was created. Life then finds meaning when I answer to this purpose, that is to serve, reverence, and praise God. This call to give meaning to life requires from me to use all the gifts God has bestowed on me to attain this purpose. We can seek, see and serve God in everything and everywhere even during this time of pandemic in which we can think that God is not present.
I would suggest this retreat to everyone for it is an extraordinary and meaningful experience that helps us come closer to God. It is a moment in which you can really see totally your inner self and the importance of God in the midst of our journey.
