The author Margaret Mahy speaks of the necessity to retreat from everyday activity \u201cso the life of the story can take me over.\u201d She continues: \u201cThat is why a writer often needs space and time, so that he or she can abandon ordinary life and “live” with the characters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paraphrasing this helps me to understand the section on retreats in the 1818 Rule. Times of retreat were necessary for the Missionaries \u201cso that they could abandon ordinary life and “live” with the Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nEach year everyone will do ten days of retreat in complete solitude and strict silence. Likewise they will spend one day in retreat each month.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
1818 Rule, Part Two, Chapter One. \u00a75 On prayer and exercises of piety<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0Today\u2019s Rule of Life invites us all<\/p>\n
\nTo put ourselves increasingly at the service of God in his people, we will set aside special times each month and each year for deeper personal and community prayer, for reflection and renewal.<\/h5>\n
One week each year will be spent in retreat.<\/h5>\n
Fraternal gatherings and an exchange on apostolic experiences could well precede or follow the retreat.<\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
CC&RR, Constitution 35<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This is not an idle escapism and navel-gazing, but a necessity for the Missionary, who spends his life giving to others. he must allow \u201cthe life of the story to take him over\u201d once again and to give him a renewed vision to be shared with recharged batteries and new enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat,\u00a0Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 Mark 6:31<\/p>\n
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\u201cThere are certainly times when my own everyday life seems to retreat so the life of the story can take me over. That is why a writer often needs space and time, so that he or she can abandon ordinary life and “live” with the characters.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Margaret Mahy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The author Margaret Mahy speaks of the necessity to retreat from everyday activity \u201cso the life of the story can take me over.\u201d She continues: \u201cThat is why a writer often needs space and time, so that he or she … Continue reading