Why Go On A Retreat?

I recently went on a 6-day silent retreat. I have gone on retreats for the past 19 years. Most of these were 3-day retreats. I have found it takes me 2-3 days just to get in retreat mode so I have found the 6-day retreat works best for me.

There are many different types of retreats. Most of the retreats I have personally attended have been based on the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. These are silent retreats. There are other types of retreats that are not silent. 

Retreats give us time to reconnect with God and to disconnect from the world. There are some great benefits and there are challenges too.

Some of the Benefits:

• Deepening your relationship with God
  • You have time to talk to God and more importantly listen.
• Refresh and Recharge
  • You will have time to rest and get go on walks.
• Get away from the noise of the world
  • Many men are afraid of being in silence. You will learn that it is not that hard to stay silent and you will learn how much noise there is when you return from the retreat.
• You have time to discern
  • Many men that go on retreat are discerning something in their lives. It may be a job change, career change, getting married, vocational discernment or anything in their lives that they need to discern.
• You will have time in prayer
  • You have time to pray in silence.  
• You can spend time meditating on material from The Bible or books
  • Most retreats have meditations for you. You will have time to think and pray on these meditations.
• Learn more about yourself
  • You will have time to think about your sins and the roots of your sin and to prepare for a great confession.
• Confession
  • You get the opportunity to go to confession and receive the graces.
• Bonding with other men
  • Even if you don’t talk to the other men you are having an experience together and there is bonding with the men.

Some of the Challenges:

• Taking time away from family
  • Weekends are family time and it is hard with all the kids’ activities to break away. You need to do this for them. You become a better husband, father and friend as you grow in your spiritual life.
• Being silent for 3 days
  • It’s not that hard. Most men I have spoken to after the retreat talk about how fast it went.
• Taking time off work
  • You usually miss 1 day of work depending on what day your retreat starts. It will be worth taking the vacation time.
• Cost
  • Most retreats cost money. Find a retreat that fits into your budget. Some retreats offer scholarships as well.

I promise you that you will not regret taking a retreat. If you have never taken a retreat check with your parish to see what retreats are available for men in your diocese. 

Regular Catholic Guy Challenge: Schedule a one to three-day retreat for this year by the end of February. Let us know that you got it scheduled.

God Bless!

The Regular Catholic Guy