3 Reasons Why You Need a Yearly Retreat 

I am a firm believer that every Catholic should go on a yearly retreat. If you really want to kick it up a notch, make that yearly retreat a silent retreat. If you want to raise the bar even higher, go with the gold standard of retreats - the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. A weekend of Ignatian spirituality cloaked in silence is a life-changing event. Here are 3 reasons why I think every Catholic should experience this.

1. The Silence is Golden

So many people I talk to about silent retreats are intimidated by the silence. While it takes a few hours to get used to, especially if you're a mom with little kids around you all day long, once you settle into it, you appreciate the beauty of it.

It is so nice to be on a retreat with other women you don't know and realize that you never have to make small talk. It really does allow you to focus all your time on God. You aren't sitting there wondering what to talk about next, especially at meals. Meal time is about eating, praying and meditating. 

The silence truly allows you to forget about the world and talk to God. It's in this silence that you begin to really hear Him speak to you. I look forward to this time every year just for that reason. You want to hear the voice of God? Then go on a silent retreat. Once you get back home, amidst all the noise and confusion, you realize just how clear His voice is in the silence.

2. It's a Chance to Reset Yourself

You know what I mean, right? Let's say you have a moment of inspiration and you set up a great prayer plan. Things are off to a good start, maybe even for a good number of months. All of a sudden, something throws you off course and you just never can get back to it.

Going on a yearly retreat is a guaranteed time for you to take stock of your life and change the things that you think need changing. Better yet, it's a great time to change the things that the Holy Spirit points out to you that need changing.

You can jump start your prayer life and work on breaking bad habits. The yearly general confession is a great way to clean the slate and begin anew. The graces that flow from spending time like this with God can be unfathomable. You have to put in the effort and have a heart open to listening to what God has to say, but if you do, good things will happen.

3. It's the Ultimate in Self-Care

You are alone. Just you and God. Well, you and a priest and maybe 29 other women, but remember, they don't count because you don't have to talk to them. There is no one that you need to take care of or worry about. I mean it - NO ONE - but you.

Sometimes I'll tell someone I'm going on retreat and they'll ask me to pray for them. Okay, I do, but that is not my focus. My focus is on me. I know it might sound selfish, but it really isn't. God is calling you to a deeper union with Him and He wants your undivided attention. No social media, no phone calls from home, no worrying about other people. 

How often can you do something like this? The answer is once a year and it is glorious. Trust me, you need this in your life.

Some Yearly Retreat Caveats

1. I know it is hard to do if you have young children. With a nursing baby it just doesn't work. I didn't start going till my youngest was almost three. Other women I know go when they're pregnant, this way they're going in between babies.

2. The only priests I've ever experienced the Spiritual Exercises with are the priests of Miles Christi. I cannot say enough good things about these priests. While they do preach retreats all over the country, they aren't everywhere, so you might have to travel far to make it to one.

3. It can be difficult to afford, especially if you run on a tight budget. To make this a priority, my husband and I set aside money from our tax return every year so that we can both go. This is our 11th year going, so it works. Trust God with this, He'll figure it out.

I hope you'll give it some serious consideration and make a yearly retreat, especially an Ignatian retreat, part of your plan. I'll be going this week, so I'll pray for you - but only for a minute 🙂