The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-07-27
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
RETREATS FOR LAYMEN.
Editor, Catholic Bulletin:

Editor, Catholic Bulletin:
The frequent accounts in The Cath
olic Bulletin and other Catholic
papers of the growing popularity and
rapidly spreading custom of weekend
retreats for laymen elsewhere, seem
to indicate that the movement is
coming our way at last. Indeed, it
was reported last spring that the
Benedictine Fathers of St. Johns
College intended to open their doors
this summer to all who wished to
enjoy that privilege. Surely an ideal
spot for spiritual retreat! Mirrored
in the placid lake the beautiful
Benedictine Monastery with it's pic
turesque surroundings suggests an
earthly paradise set in the heart of
the primeval forests of Minnesota
But why not similar opportunities
here in the Twin City?
Last year an anonymous CORE
spondent in The Catholic Bulletin
made a strong plea for weekend
retreats here, and the writer fastened
to second the motion But here the
matter ended Nothing more was
heard, even from the author of the
original suggestion. Yet, for prac-
tically three months of the year St.
Thomas College and st. Paul Sem
mary stand vacant and idle. Surely
these institutions would also offer
ideal facilities for weekend retreats
for the laity.
Many laymen, and perhaps a few
of the clergy, seem to think there is
no difference between retreat and a
mission; in fact, that the latter is the
proper and only thing suited to the
needs of the laity. But when dis
cussing this phase of the subject with
an old religious some time ago, he
shook his head gravely and replied
promptly: ''The feature of silence
alone constitutes an essential diff
ference" Surely he was right.
'Silence is golden" says the proverb.
Just let any busy merchant, mechanic,
or professional man try it for forty
eight hours under the peculiar con-
ditions that prevail at spiritual
retreat and he will be surprised to
note how quickly the mind turns in
on itself, as it were, and like search
| light reveals many dark and hidden
corners of the soul, before uneXplored
and undreamed of, simply for lack of
time and opportunity heretofore. The
contemplation of the -four last
things" death, judgment, heaven and
hell, in absolute seclusion and free
from all other distracting thoughts, is
the very pith of the famous Spiritual
Exercises of st. Ignatius who estab-
lished the Society of Jesus on an
adamantine foundation from which
the bitterest prosecutions have never
been able to dislodge it.
No one who has ever tasted the
consultations of a retreat will be-
grudge the sum of $500, in exchange;
yet this sum has been found ample
elsewhere to cover the cost of board
and lodging from Friday evening to
Sunday evening, or Monday morning.
| If the rest cure" is so necessary at
times for the body, why not equally
necessary for mind and soul? "The
soul of progress, is the progress of
the SOUL" as someone has expressed
it.
Are there no laymen in the Twin
Cities who will boost" for the price
less privilege of making an annual
weekend retreat? Or are they all
waiting patiently for someone higher
up to take the initiative?
VIM. F. MARKOE.
White Bear Lake, Mimi, July %,
1872