Seek His Face

Last week I went with all of the Second year class on a week long retreat.  It was a wonderful and needed time.  We headed off on Sunday afternoon for Rocca di Papa, a small town up on a hill about an hour outside of Rome.  It was a pretty little town with a breath taking view of the city and the surrounding area.  We stayed at great retreat center ran by the Sister of the Sacred Heart, who made some of the best food I’ve had so far in Italy.

The retreat was silent, and it was a beautiful silence.  Now that doesn't me there was no sound, we had mass everyday together, as well as Morning and Evening Prayer, and even a holy hour, but all the time in between was reserved for talking with God alone, including meals.  It definitely can have it challenges. Especially, when you have a good friend sitting across the table from you at dinner, the slightest look seems to send everyone into a laughing fit.  But it was wonderful just be able to share that time of prayer with my classmate without having to say anything.

For me personally, this time of prayer was something I had needed for a while.  It seems Fernando and I have gone non-spot since we arrived in July, and though we have had a chance for breaks and breathers throughout, it can be hard to absorb everything that’s happened.  This week was a time for me to sift through these experiences and all the emotions that come along with them and thank God for all the graces he has given me in them.  The amazing grounds of the retreat center provided a natural place to do that.

It is almost startling that even when in the seminary, trying to follow God’s will and studying about Him and how best to serve His people, it is so easy to get distracted, to get carried away with the little things of the world.  As a result, the waves of obligations, projects, and meeting feel like they are overwhelming us, threatening to drown out the joy of our life (yes, even in Rome).  Finding the silence at these times, finding Christ waiting to reveal His heart to us is of supreme importance.  In failure and success, the to-do list may rage and foam, but Jesus’ love is ever present and the world can calmly continue in joy. 

Just about every night of the retreat there was an absolutely gorgeous sunset.  It became a regular meeting place for the whole class to watch God unfold His gifts for us in silence.  They were beautiful moments of fraternity, and no one had to say anything.  Enjoy.

Quick afterthought:  Way to to D-backs!