The spiritual activities of Featherock Conference Center are entrusted to Opus Dei, a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church. Saint Josemaria Escriva, the founder, describes the aim of Opus Dei: To foster the search for holiness and the carrying out of the apostolate by Christians who live in the world, whatever their state in life or position in society.
During this retreat you will have the opportunity to participate in several activities, commonly referred to as “Acts of Piety.” Participation in these activities is entirely voluntary and are provided to help foster a greater sense of the Divine in our lives.
Some of the activities we have scheduled for this weekend are explained below. Please feel free to ask the director or the priest, if you have any questions.
Examination of Conscience: The Way #235: Examination of conscience: a daily task. Book-keeping is never neglected by anyone in business. And is there any business worth more than the business of eternal life?
Nightly Examination: The last activity of the day will be the Examination of Conscience. It takes place in the oratory (chapel) and lasts about three minutes. The purpose of the Exam is to reflect silently in the presence of our Lord about how our day has gone, what we have done well and where we have fallen short. It is an opportunity to tell our Lord we are sorry for our failures and sins, and to make a resolution to do better tomorrow.
In addition to the nightly examination of conscience, during the retreat we will have a few minutes, once a day, for a deeper look into our souls. A few questions will be read, and a pause after each of them will allow us to ask our Lord for light to see what we need to change. The examination will end with an act of reparation to implore God's pardon for our faults and those of the whole of humanity.
Confession: Sacramental Confession is not a human but a divine dialogue. It is a tribunal of justice and especially of mercy, with a loving judge who “has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. I desire that the wicked turn back from his way and live” (Christ is Passing By, 78).
The Sacrament of Confession is an opportunity to confess sins, voice our sorrow and receive the forgiveness of Jesus Christ through the priest who acts in “the person of Christ.” The priest will be available in the confessional (on the right side of the room before you enter the Chapel) at the time indicate in the schedule and will be available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation any other time of the day.
Meditations: The Forge #72 When you start out each day to work by Christ's side and to look after all those souls who seek him, remember that there is only one way of doing it: we must turn to the Lord. Only in prayer, and through prayer, do we learn to serve others.
During the retreat, we will have four daily meditations. The priest will assist our personal prayer by expounding on certain themes, guiding us through the fundamental truths of the Catholic faith. The purpose of the mediations is to help us foster a personal conversation with our Lord.
Holy Mass: The Way #528: A very important characteristic of the apostolic man is his love for the Mass.
“The Mass is at the same time, and inseparably, the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the Cross is perpetuated and the sacred banquet of communion with the Lord’s body and blood.” (CCC 1382) “The Church constantly draws her life from the redeeming sacrifice; she approaches it not only through faith-filled remembrance, but also through real contact.” (The Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church, 12)
Holy Mass will be celebrated in the oratory (chapel). After Mass we have a custom of remaining in the Oratory for an additional 10 minutes for personal thanksgiving.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: The Way #537: When you approach the Tabernacle remember that he has been awaiting you for twenty centuries.
The Liturgy of the Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is an ancient custom in the church and is a beautiful way to offer praise and thanksgiving to our Lord for his Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. Benediction will be held in the Oratory. Dress is business casual. The Ceremony should take about 15 minutes, and, on Saturday, it will conclude with a hymn to the Blessed Mother.
Holy Rosary: The Forge #621: The Holy Rosary: the joys, the sorrows, and the glories of the life of Our Lady weave a crown of praises, repeated ceaselessly by the Angels and the Saints in Heaven — and by those who love our Mother here on earth. Practice this holy devotion every day, and spread it.
The Holy Rosary is another tradition of the Catholic Church practiced for centuries. The Rosary is an occasion for us to meditate with Mary, the Mother of God, on the life of Christ seen through her eyes.
There are various ways of praying the Rosary. At Featherock we begin by reciting an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, three times, followed by a spiritual communion. Then we make the sign of the cross. After the completion of the fifth mystery we will pray the Litany of Our Lady of Loreto and finish up by praying an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be for the Church, the local Bishop and the Souls in Purgatory (in place of the final Glory be we will substitute “may they rest in peace).
Stations of the Cross:
The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make in spirit, as it were, a pilgrimage to the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death, and this has become one of the most popular of Catholic devotions. Inasmuch as the Way of the Cross, made in this way, constitutes a miniature pilgrimage to the holy places at Jerusalem, the origin of the devotion may be traced to the Holy Land. The Via Dolorosa at Jerusalem (though not called by that name before the sixteenth century) was reverently marked out from the earliest times and has been the goal of pious pilgrims ever since the days of Constantine.
At Featherock, we use the meditations of the stations of the Cross by Saint Josemaria, followed by a Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be after each station.
The Way of the Cross is not a sad devotion. Saint Josemaria taught many times that Christian Joy has its roots in the shape of a cross. If the Passion of Christ is a way of pain, it is also a path of hope leading to certain victory. As he explained in one of his homilies: You should realize that God wants you to be glad and that, if you do all you can, you will be happy, very, very happy, although you will never for a moment be without the Cross. But that Cross is no longer a gallows. It is the throne from which Christ reigns. And at his side, his Mother, our Mother too. The Blessed Virgin will obtain for you the strength that you need to walk decisively in the footsteps of her Son (Foreword of The Way of the Cross by Saint Josemaria).
Spiritual Reading: The Way #116: Don't neglect your spiritual reading. Reading has made many saints.
A few minutes of spiritual reading are included in the retreat plan. Through spiritual reading we share in the insights of holy people who have struggled to live saintly lives in all times.
Other Acts: There are many other private acts of piety, such as making visits to the Blessed Sacrament, the shrine of the Holy Family, or private recitation of the rosary, which people should feel free to practice on their own. In addition, the priest will be available for personal spiritual direction.