MY HOLY PILGRIMAGE

As I have talked about previously I am in the OCIA program at St. Roch Catholic Church to become Catholic officially. Rosaries and priests and Mass, oh my! Well, it has been a learning experience for me and my wife. This is a beautiful faith if understood correctly. But it has been side-railed many a time throughout its history. But Satan and his demons attacked the church along with sinful men trying to work within the church and missing the mark it was bound to have bad moments in its history in this sinful fallen world. But at the same time, the church has done many good and righteous works for the Kingdom of God. But I digress.

I went on a men's retreat to St. Meinrad Archabbey, which is a Holy Pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year. I had a peaceful drive down in the quiet of my truck. I was going with the intention of improving my prayer life and reflection time. I must say that God is good because the theme was Prayer!

This retreat was on a Friday, Saturday, and a Sunday. I also was going to hopefully meet some new brothers in Christ since I knew only about four Catholic men in our new church. Now on Saturday, we went to the St. Aquinas Chapel for a time of Adoration. It was so peaceful and I felt the power of the Holy Spirit. Learning to pray with no words only listening to God is something I have not done hardly at all in my life but I really enjoyed that time with Jesus and not feeling I should be saying something to Him. I plan on making this a regular part of my walk with the Lord.

Afterward, I went to the back Confession Room and spoke with a young priest/monk who was kind and wise beyond his years. I came out and went and sat back down in the chapel and did my penance which I felt better after confession. This time at the Aquinas Chapel with Adoration and Confession was the spiritual highlight for me at this retreat.

Having time to do Lauds, Vespers, and Mass with the Monks was a beautiful experience, and listening to them sing the Gregorian Chants was euphoric in the gigantic Archabby. I loved that the Monks never rushed anything. They immersed themselves in the Holy Spirit's presence. We also got the effects of this immersion. Praise the Lord! This was my second favorite thing we did at the monastery.

I heard from a wise monk in one of his two talks to our group about different aspects of prayer that really hit home and was so helpful that I plan on writing him a letter thanking him. This was the third thing I enjoyed. My pilgrimage was a spiritual success and I hope to continue at home what I learned here about having a better prayer life.

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