St. Blaise Retreat

St. Blaise Retreat
Malvern Retreat House

Theme:
Stress, Sanctity and
Speaking to God

Themes:
• Mark 8:27; Matthew 15:16
• Who do they say that I am? Who do you say that I am?”
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Sanctity  Vocations  “The Great Commission”
• Mark 10:35-45
• Stress, the “Happiness Trap” and the ambition of James and John
• John 21:15-19
• Jesus, Peter, Prayer and Mature Discipleship

1st Session
• “Who do others say that I am?”
• “Who do you say that I am?”
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Mark 10:35-45
• John 21:15-19

1. Quo Vadis? ..and World Youth Day
• If you don’t know where you’re going,
…then any road will get you there.
• If you don’t know where you are,
… you can’t know where you’re going.

Why did you even come here?
St. Blaise Retreat
Malvern Retreat House
Discuss…
(3 people - 5 minutes)

Matthew 16:13-20 / Mark 8:27-30
• When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he
asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
• They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah;
and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
• “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Answer?
1. You are not a cosmic accident.
2. You created on purpose – for a purpose.
3. You were made for mission.
4. You were made for greatness.

“Who do you say that I am?”
Did you say “Catholic?

“I’m spiritual - not religious”
• 40% + of baptized Catholic no longer believe in the
“Real Presence.”
• 45% of baptized Catholic are not sure if you can have a
“personal relationship” with a transcendent God.

Discuss.. (10 minutes)
• Where are you?
• What’s your “mission?”
• What’s your “vocation?”
• What’s a “disciple?”
• What does a holy and holistic approach to forming
a Catholic lifestyle look like?

“So .. who do you say that I am?”
… Jesus

Themes:
• “Who do others say that I am?”
• “Who do you say that I am?”
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Vocations, Sanctity and “The Great Commission”
• Mark 10:35-45
• John 21:15-19

2nd Session
• “Who do you say that I am?
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Mark 10:35-45
• John 21:15-19

The Great Commission
• 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the
mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When
they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
• 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me.

The Great Commission
• 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you.
• And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

Two parts to the mission:
1. Those who do not know Jesus:
• Foster life-changing encounter with Christ
• Help them have a personal relationship with Jesus

Two parts to the mission:
2. Those who do know Jesus:
• Christian yet not perfectly or completely conformed to Christ
• “Grow up” into Christian manhood/womanhood
• From ”baby” Christians to Intentional Disciples

3 SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS / VOCATIONS:
Journeys:
1. Interior Journey
2. Ecclesial Journey (Sacraments)
3. Active Journey (Personal Practice)
Vocations:
 Community Vocation (“Call to Holiness”)
 Vocation as “State of Life”
 Personal Vocation (“Called & Gifted” and
Charisms)

THE THREE
SPIRITUAL
JOURNEYS:
 Issues:
 3 journeys too often treated separately
 . . or put in wrong order:
 Start with #2 then perhaps #3
 If #2 and #3 are in place, we don’t have to discuss #1 (wrong!)
 Catholic feel it’s normal NOT to discuss Interior Journey.
 3 + 2 – 1 = faith killer!
 Why Catholics go elsewhere.
 Key: faith discussions in small groups in beginning “thresholds”
1. Interior Journey
2. Ecclesial Journey (Sacraments)
3. Active Journey (Personal Practice)

Disciples: Characteristics
• For now…Limited number of people.
• It’s about relationship: friendship, intimate.
• Trust-based, personal experience.

• Follower, pupil, apprentice of someone else.
• Radical transformation (old/new)
• All levels of living
• Never promised it would be easy
• ..but it will be attractive!

• Order from AN “Order”
• Not simply a “worldview” or add-on to our lives
• Must be our lives - or it is something less than Christianity.
• Stability.
• Monks stay put in the monastery.
• Moving around constantly, following our own desires ..
• Prevents us from becoming faithful to our calling.
• Bind ourselves to a place, a parish, a community.
• Only within the limits can we find true freedom.

• Prayer and work.
• Both depend on the other.
• Contemplatives in action. Ordinary life can and should be
hallowed.
• i.e., vocations and charisms.

• Community.
• Unlearn some of the ways of individualism
• Relearn the craft of community living (Start with your family).
• Not every Christian is equally capable of forming community.
• Not every community is equally capable of forming Christians.
• Communities must have boundaries and walls
• Beliefs and practices antithetical to achieving the community’s
telos must be excluded.

• Hospitality.
• That said, we must be open to outsiders,
and to receive them “as Christ,”

• Balance (Aka…common sense)
• Vigilant against temptations:
• Legalism, cults of personality, utopianism, theological, ideological,
political distortions.
• Develop workable forms of accountability for leadership.
• Cultivation of sensibility among members.
• Fruit? Community is joyful and confident, not dour and fearful.

Can you point to any examples of
“Ben Op” people or communities?

• Disciples focus on Christ
• Apostles focus on Disciples.
• Who is your “Apostle?”
• Who are you discipling?

Themes:
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Vocations, Sanctity “The Great Commission”
• Mark 10:35-45
• The “Happiness Trap” and the ambition of James and John
• John 21:15-19

3rd Session
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Mark 10:35-45
• The “Happiness Trap” and the ambition of James and John
• John 21:15-19

The “Happiness Trap”
From stress,
sickness and
sadness ..
… to solace and salvation

4th Session
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Mark 10:35-45
• John 21:15-19

Jesus Reinstates Peter
• Church of the Primacy of St. Peter

• 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of
John, do you love me more than these?”
• “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
• Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
• 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
• He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
• Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

• 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
• Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love
me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
• Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

• 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself
and went where you wanted;
• but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone
else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
• 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would
glorify God.
• Then he said to him, “Follow me!

Intentional vs. Mature Disciple
Intentional
• Intimate, warm relationship
• Friendship with RISEN Jesus
• Choice of “being saved”
offered and accepted.
• Life reflects the decision
• Focus: Jesus
Mature
• “Being perfect” Climb towards holiness.
• Virtue: “good habits”
• Responsible for own spiritual growth.
• Tied into the mission
• Focus: Other Disciples

“Lord, teach us to pray”
A discussion on prayer.

A discussion on prayer:
• What is prayer?
• When do I pray?
• How do I pray?
•Prayer traditions and personal styles.

• An Ignatian Examin:
• What’s Good
• What’s Bad
• What’s Hurting
• What About a Miracle?

• Prayer For A Family
• Prayer From The World Meeting Of Families
• Prayer For A Married Couple
• Prayer For A Marriage In Difficulty
• Parent’s Prayer for Their Children
• Prayer For Students
• Prayer for Deceased Son or Daughter
• Prayer For Deceased Parents

Themes:
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Mark 10:35-45
• Stress, The “Happiness Trap” and the ambition of James and John
• John 21:15-19

• Theme: Stress, Sanctity and Speaking to God
•
• 1. Quo Vadis?
• - If you doh’t know where you are, you can’t know where you’re
going.
• - If you don’t know where you’re going, then any road will get
you there.

• 2. Cross and resurrection: from sickness and sadness to solace and
salvation

•
• 3. “I’m spiritual - not religious” (“Then you’re actually neither”).
Wholistic approach to forming a Catholic lifestyle.

•
• 4. “Lord, Teach us to Pray.” A discussion on prayer:
• - What is prayer?
• - When do I pray?
• - How do I pray?
• - Prayer traditions and personal styles.

St. Blaise Retreat

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