Retirement is the action and the result of withdrawing or withdrawing (leave an activity; get an individual away; separate someone or something). Spiritual , meanwhile, is that linked to spirit (the soul or the immaterial gift that a divinity grants to people).
The notion of retreat it is used to name the practice that implies move away from everyday obligations and material matters for a while to pray or meditate .
It is generally considered that spiritual retreat is a way of approaching God or to oneself . Through concentration, relaxation and prayer, a person can put aside his earthly problems and give himself up to higher questions.
From the religious level, this type of spiritual retreat is greatly encouraged since it is considered to be a great tool to achieve a long list of benefits from the point of view of faith: it allows to treat God with more closeness and intensity, gives The opportunity to get to know him more fully and to discover him fully helps to strengthen the faith and allow it to become a guide in life ...
To achieve these goals, spiritual retreats are developed based on a series of principles such as the following:
-They take place in spaces where silence prevails and where it is removed from the hustle and bustle of the frenetic pace of cities.
-It is necessary for the person to be as lonely as possible, so that he can not only listen to God but also to himself.
-The established program will include, in the same way, talks and meditations in common to know the different points of view of the rest of the participants, to exchange impressions, to enrich each other through the word of God ...
-People who attend directly can contact the priests who are present so that they can guide them in certain aspects in which they come to find an answer.
-As you can imagine, masses are held daily to receive the Lord, to strengthen beliefs, to receive communion ...
- There are also other activities such as the Via Crucis, spiritual reading or the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
It should be noted that a spiritual retreat can involve both individual activities and group proposals. It is common for these retreats to be organized and driven by religious authorities or leaders Spirituals that are responsible for promoting different proposals within the framework of the retreat. In this way, group talks are developed or projects shared between the attendees are addressed.
Usually, spiritual retreats are carried out in secluded and quiet places to make it easier for people to concentrate and relax. In places where spiritual retreats take place, peace and, in many cases, silence reign. It also seeks to encourage contact with the nature .
It is important to keep in mind that a spiritual retreat can last from a Weekend up to several weeks or months , as the case may be.
