Inner Peace in Divine Love Retreat

 

Week Three – Love at work

Ex 11: I remember the gifts I have received

 

Preparation
After slowly reading the prayer texts, I stand for a few minutes, precious in God’s sight and honored. I allow God’s compassion to wash through me.

Opening Prayer
I ask the Spirit for an interior knowledge of all the good I have received.

Desire
I ponder with deep affection how God is loving me.

Prayer
I remember the benefits I have received: creation, redemption, and personal gifts.

I review how much God has done for me, how much I have been given of what belongs to God.

I reflect on how the Father, Son, and Spirit even wish to give me themselves.

Conversation
I respond to God as a friend, beautiful creature, or lover.
With the Communion of Saints in support, I express my gratitude.
I consider what, in all reason and justice, I ought to offer and give God. I conclude saying, as one making a gift with heartfelt love:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding, and my entire will,
all that I have and possess.
You gave it all to me; to you I return it.
All is yours; dispose of it entirely according to your will.
Give me only the grace to love you,
for that is enough for me.

Prayer Texts

 

Thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.…You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you. (Is 43:1–4a)

Two disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.”
Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. (Lk 24:13–21, 25–27)

Your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the Lord has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off, says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Is 54:5–8, 10)


Time: 35 Minutes
Preparation: 10 minutes. Opening Prayer: 1 minute. Desire: 1 minute. Prayer: 20 minutes. Conversation: 3 minutes. Listening Book: 10 minutes.


 

For greater guidance, depth and practical use of this exercise and retreat, source the First Spiritual Exercises here.

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