The Self-Directed Retreat
Why did you come here? Most people in our Western culture either don't hear or don't heed the call for spiritual retreat. We're busy. We have commitments. We have demands. We have much to do. And when we do get a break, there are certainly destinations more comfortable, convenient and distracting than a Trappist monastery. There's no swimming pool here. There's no TV. No internet connection. Hopefully, no cell phone. The accommodations are simple. Make no mistake: this is no resort. This is not the place for a vacation. So, why did you come here?
Guests come to New Clairvaux for a variety of reasons. Some are facing questions of discernment. Others are facing questions of healing. Many come to renew or deepen their faith. Some come from curiosity. Others simple don't know why they came. Regardless of the reasons you came here, your invitation is actually quite clear: you are invited to listen. You are invited to a deep inner quiet and a profound active attention to God's presence and voice. This quiet and attention form the heart of a self-directed retreat.
For those accustomed to directed retreats organized around specific topics and predetermined daily schedules, the self-directed retreat can be a bit disconcerting. "What am I to do? How do I spend my time?" are questions sometimes asked by those experiencing it for the first time. This discomfort is understandable and the questions are worthy of reflection.
Guided by the light of the Divine inside of you, you may be drawn to read a specific book in the library, or write your thoughts and feelings in a journal, or talk with a monk or friend you happened to meet. Perhaps you will be drawn to walk through the orchards or take a well-needed nap. You may simply feel the call to sit in attentive silence. Whatever opening may occur for you, know it is not an accident. Regardless of why you came here, your silence and your deep listening will allow you to hear God's voice in a new way. As the Psalms challenge us: Be still and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).
Guests come to New Clairvaux for a variety of reasons. Some are facing questions of discernment. Others are facing questions of healing. Many come to renew or deepen their faith. Some come from curiosity. Others simple don't know why they came. Regardless of the reasons you came here, your invitation is actually quite clear: you are invited to listen. You are invited to a deep inner quiet and a profound active attention to God's presence and voice. This quiet and attention form the heart of a self-directed retreat.
For those accustomed to directed retreats organized around specific topics and predetermined daily schedules, the self-directed retreat can be a bit disconcerting. "What am I to do? How do I spend my time?" are questions sometimes asked by those experiencing it for the first time. This discomfort is understandable and the questions are worthy of reflection.
Guided by the light of the Divine inside of you, you may be drawn to read a specific book in the library, or write your thoughts and feelings in a journal, or talk with a monk or friend you happened to meet. Perhaps you will be drawn to walk through the orchards or take a well-needed nap. You may simply feel the call to sit in attentive silence. Whatever opening may occur for you, know it is not an accident. Regardless of why you came here, your silence and your deep listening will allow you to hear God's voice in a new way. As the Psalms challenge us: Be still and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).
