An online retreat - The Ignatian way

You do wonder, how effective can an online retreat actually be? Well let me tell you - very.

I had a meeting everyday for a week and for me, it tied in with a work transition, my daughter being away and the other girls at work.

I’ve been introduced to the Pray as you go app which I would highly recommend. Its relaxing - and slowing down is key in all this. Take a retreat as a sort of reset. Its ok to sleep in the day, which I did from about 13.30 til about 15.50 Doing an online retreat does give you a sort of excuse to switch off, focus on prayer and also on yourself. Be that reading, writing, I also went to morning Mass. So this all worked well to get into a new routine. Before all this, I did pray but it did tend to have a freewheeling Bob Dylan feel to it and I felt isolated as a Christian. Prayer without a church isn't the same, if you can combine the two, so much the better. The online retreat has given me direction in prayer

I went for Isaiah 49 and ordered a new Ignatian bible. I guess my New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures simply won't do. I always like to highlight the verses I've been working on and look forward to transfering my notes over to the new leather bound zippable bible.

It probably helps that I am already a believer and I say it tied it with my life currently. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone off the street but if you're a Christian without a church or you're returning to faith, then I only hope this works for you as it has for me. As you will see, there is nothing too onerous and its nice to know that you have a week to do these things. All about that slower pace..

You could in all fairness do this without a guide, well you could now. My guide and I didn't have any hugely searching questions but it is handy to see your development throughout the week.