Gone until Friday

In twenty minutes, I will be leaving on retreat for the next five days with some of the priests of the Diocese.

I don't especially feel like going at this moment (I'd quite rather be sitting outside with a good book), though I trust the Lord will use these days as a time of grace.

Summer always seems a strange time to go on retreat to me, maybe because the pace of parish life slows down so much. I'd much rather go on retreat in the winter when things are busy :)

At any rate, I wanted to leave you with this prayer written by St. Francis of Assisi:

Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God,

grant us in our misery the grace

to do for You alone

what we know You want us to do,

and always to desire what pleases you.

Thus, inwardly cleansed,

interiorly enlightened,

and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit,

may we be able to follow

in the footprints of Your beloved Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ.

And, by Your grace alone,

may we make our way to You,

Most High,

Who live and rule

in perfect Trinity and simple Unity,

and are glorified

God all-powerful

forever and ever.

Amen.