Today's spiritual reading talks about a suggestion for a legionary work and touches on the importance of retreats.
When we hear the word “retreat,” it can bring to mind images of defeat. In battle, when an army retreats, it’s often because they are overwhelmed, losing ground, or in danger of collapse. It can seem like a sign of weakness. Yet, in the Christian life—especially for us legionaries—retreating is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom. We are in a spiritual battle, constantly warring against the forces of darkness, and sometimes, like weary soldiers, we need to step back—not to surrender—but to regroup, heal, and strengthen ourselves, to strategise and work on our defects. It is in these moments of intentional withdrawal from the world that we can be rearmed with God’s grace to return to the front lines stronger and more focused.
Hence, in today's allocutio, I will focus on the importance of having regular retreats, for the twofold Purpose Rest and Apostolic Renewal. The reading gives 2 biblical accounts which also fittingly serve these 2 purposes.
When most people think of spiritual retreats, they often picture a peaceful time of prayer, silence, rest, and rejuvenation—a chance to recharge after a hectic period. Some may think of it as having rest with community, having fun and games! This is indeed important. Jesus Himself showed us the value of rest when He invited His apostles to “come apart into a desert place and rest a little” (Mk 6:31). In Mark Chapter 6, after the apostles returned from their first mission, Jesus didn’t critique their performance or give them further instructions. Instead, He noticed their exhaustion and His first thought was their wellbeing. He invited them to step away from the crowd, to retreat with Him and rest. What profound gentleness and wisdom from the Lord! The Gospel also highlights that there were 'many coming and going; and they had not so much time as to eat'. In our apostolates, both in the Legion and out; there will be many times that we will feel tired; exhausted from our labors, worries and anxieties about the future. Things may pile up one over the other until we may have 'no time to eat', not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense; we may neglect nourishing our own souls. Jesus hence invites us to find a quiet place and to rest with Him. He does not judge or grade us in the amount of majesty of the work that we do; he instead asks us to rest. It does not also necessarily mean waiting for a retreat to happen! In fact, Our Lord calls us each day to spend time alone with Him, at least 20 minutes in prayer, in solitude and silence, meditating on His Word, and listening to His will for us that day.
But the reading today challenges us to go deeper. Frank Duff, quoting Pope Pius XI, reminds us that the ultimate purpose of a retreat is not only rest but the formation of apostles. It’s not enough to leave a retreat feeling refreshed. We should leave inflamed with zeal, with renewed clarity of our mission, and a deeper desire to bring souls to Christ. "In these sacred Retreats they will see clearly the value of souls and be inflamed with the desire of helping them; likewise, they will learn the ardent spirit of the apostolate, its diligence, its deed of daring."
Hence, the second point of retreats: to be more formed as apostles. As mentioned at the start, retreats are meant to send us back into the world as stronger, bolder apostles. If they don’t, their purpose is only half-fulfilled. The spiritual reading shares with us another biblical account—the ten days the apostles spent in the Upper Room after Jesus’ Ascension. They gathered there, “persevering with one mind in prayer” (Acts 1:14), waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. And who was with them? Mary, the Mother of God.
This was not a time of passive waiting. It was a time of deep preparation, of interior formation. And what was the fruit of this retreat? The birth of the Church at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, empowering the apostles to go out and evangelize the world with courage and zeal. Every retreat is an echo of that Upper Room experience—a time for the Holy Spirit to work in us, especially when we invite Mary into that space. As legionaries, we should strive to ensure that Mary has a central place in any retreat we organize or attend.
Frank Duff encourages us not to be discouraged by logistics. Not every retreat needs to be a weekend away in a fancy retreat center. Even a simple day retreat—from morning to evening—can bear tremendous fruit. Could we, as a praesidium, organize a simple retreat for fellow students on campus? Maybe a Marian-themed day of recollection, with Mass, adoration, spiritual talks, quiet time for reflection, and, of course, the Rosary. We might also encourage others to embrace daily mini-retreats—spending 20–30 minutes each day in silent prayer, alone with Jesus, meditating on Scripture, and listening to His voice. These moments of daily retreat can become lifelines in the midst of our busy lives. In the end, retreats are not escapes from our apostolic duties but essential training grounds. They are where we are healed, strengthened, and rearmed for the spiritual battles ahead.
So, let’s take today’s reading as both a personal reminder to seek regular times of retreat and a challenge to help others experience the same grace. Let us create opportunities for souls to encounter Christ deeply, to be inflamed with His love, and to return to the world as bold apostles under Mary’s banner.
Kommentare