Reflection on a Weekend of Spiritual Renewal

We recently had a wonderful Weekend of Spiritual Renewal. We have another time scheduled for Sept. 27-29. One person who joined the recent weekend, Maura Parda, shares this reflection:

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Thin places…..This ancient Celtic phrase refers to a place where the “membrane between physical reality and the reality of God’s presence thins out to where it can be seen, touched, tasted, or sensed in some unmistakable way.” 

When asked to provide a reflection of my recent weekend of spiritual renewal at Mt. Irenaeus, I realized I had indeed experienced a grace-filled thin place. The richness of the weekend deepened my connection to God after having witnessed the majesty of the Mountain, the community of those gathered, and the whispers of God felt in the gentle breeze and heard in the voices of my companions.

Saint Irenaeus teaches us that “God is glorified when His people are fully alive.” Not only was I fully alive during the weekend, I could literally feel myself being drawn closer to God through the opening of my heart and the delighting of my five senses.  From seeing the beauty of the lush green mountainside, to hearing the word of God proclaimed in scripture and in the powerful insights shared by my fellow retreatants. I felt as if I could reach up and touch the face of God in the summer night sky lit by the brilliance of seemingly millions of stars. The smell from the kitchen prior to group dinners invited all to share stories and laughter during intimate meals, and the taste of vegetables and blueberries picked from the mountainside that day nourished both body and soul by reminding me of God’s abundance and generosity to us all.

As my time drew to a close, I left the Mountain feeling pure gratitude, fully nourished and enriched for my journey ahead…..and inspired to more fully live out a verse from one of the closing songs – to “take your candle, and go light your world.”  

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Maura's experience of the five senses ties very closely to an early writing of the Mountain. Fr. Joe Doino, ofm, wrote "Guidelines for an Experience of Mt. Irenaeus." Whether you can join us Sept. 27-29 or another time, we invite you to read his words from the early years of Mountain life.