Canon Law states: “[Religious] are faithfully to observe the period of annual retreat” (Can. 663 §5). “[Priests] are equally bound to make time for spiritual retreats according to the prescripts of particular law” (Can. 276 §2). “Each year [seminarians] are to make a spiritual retreat” (Can. 246 §5). So priests, religious, and seminarians are required by Church law to go on a yearly retreat; what about lay people? Do we have to go on a yearly retreat?
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Even though you may not be bound to make an annual retreat, it would greatly benefit your soul to do so. I can say from personal experience that it changed my life and that if I don’t go on retreat, the rest of my year suffers for it. Here’s why:
A few years ago I learned this simple, yet profound principle from St. Bernard:
“If you are wise, you will be reservoirs and not channels….The channels let the water flow away, and do not retain a drop. But the reservoir is first filled, and then, without emptying itself, pours out its overflow, which is ever renewed over the fields which it waters” (God, Help Me: How to Grow in Prayer, emphasis added).
Even though I worked for a parish as a Director of Adult Faith Formation, at first I didn’t think I needed to go on retreat. I was constantly surrounded by the Church and taught people how to pray. For some reason I thought all I had to do was to serve God by emptying myself out for others.
What I failed to realize was that if I kept emptying myself out, I would have nothing left to give. That, coupled with a new family, turned out to be a taxing combination. I kept on giving and giving and giving, but really I wasn’t giving anything. It left me worn out and tired and I didn’t feel “on fire” for God.
Then providentially I was given the above passage (which I originally found in The Soul of The Apostolate
Even Jesus had to go into the desert before He began His public ministry.
It is a bit trickier for a lay person to go on a yearly retreat as we don’t always have the time or ability to leave our obligations. For me, I typically find a yearly men’s conference that has a host of uplifting speakers. My wife and I also try to make a day of retreat, where we visit a church or adoration chapel and bring along some spiritual reading.
My own suggestion is to be on the look-out for a spiritual conference or weekend retreat that is near you. If you do not have family or work obligations, then I suggest traveling to one of the many retreat houses that offer deep spiritual renewal. One that I heartily recommend is Broom Tree retreat center in South Dakota. It is a beautiful retreat house that offers powerful retreats throughout the year.
The key in all of this is to become a reservoir of faith and you don’t have to work for the Church to be a reservoir. Parents especially need to be a reservoir for their children. We can only give them what we first have. If we are not first brimming over with God’s love, how can we expect them to have the same?
So if you do anything this year, go on a retreat and make a promise to do it every year.
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