Make a secret Advent retreat

Try something different this year: Schedule one day alone with God to quietly prepare for the great feast of the Incarnation.

Father Thomas Morrette

I don’t know about you, but at the beginning of almost every Advent, I’m really motivated to use the season to prepare well for the great feast of Christmas. My hopes are high and I envision myself on Christmas Day to be on a spiritual summit when Christmas Mass begins and celebration is in the air. However, the truth of the matter is that, sadly, I arrive at Christmas with a good deal of guilt and regret that I have not made good use of Advent. The penitential rite at Christmas Mass reminds me that I am celebrating the Lord’s birth with joy but frazzled and disappointed about all I could have done, all I should have done. My Advent good intentions have rarely come to fruition. Lord, have mercy.

I’m going to try something different this Advent. I’ve decided to schedule one day alone with God to quietly prepare for the great feast of the Incarnation. He and I. Alone. And me thinking about the love behind the Incarnation. Of course, I’ll still do the usual Advent things — make a good confession before Christmas, donate toys for the needy, do some additional reading about God’s condescension in Christ. I’ll make an Advent wreath and say a few prayers each week as the Church makes its way, for four weeks, in deep purple. These, I’ll continue to do, but I’m going to try something additional this year.

First, I have to go to my December calendar and block out one day for me and for God. I’m not going to tell anyone about what I’m doing, nor the date. After all, it’s not about them. And not telling anyone about what I’m doing will make it less likely that I’ll boast about just how serious and spiritual I’m trying to be. This “secret day” will make me take some control over the frenzy of December, the clutter and worries in my mind.  I’ll make myself put first things first.

I have to ask myself if I will take one full day off with God or just a part of a day? (Even part of a day is okay and it will yield a harvest.) I’ll make the choice of that day as easy as possible, given duties and other demands.

Secondly, I’ll have to decide where will I make this secret Advent retreat? At home? In a church? If at home, should I include a visit to the parish church or a chapel of Adoration? Should I include a walk in the snow or in the woods? I’ll put my cell phone on mute. I’ll make the commitment not to shop that day. If I can’t get away from work or home, can I integrate my consciously-chosen retreat into my work, my care of children, my other commitments that day? If I can’t manage to get completely alone with God, I have to be sure that a significant portion of the day will include silent time with a prayer book in hand, with a Bible, with a Missalette which has the Scripture readings for the Sundays in Advent, with a book of Advent meditations, etc. Above all, it is most important that I bring a spirit of listening and inner quiet to my day so that the Holy Spirit can speak to me with His inspirations. He, as you know, speaks without words — deeply, silently and assuredly, in the depth of hearts that call out to Him. I’ll want to tell Him all about me. But I’ll want to give Him space to speak. He has a lot to say to me, if I let Him.

I believe that my choice of choosing one secret day (or part of a day) alone with God this Advent will lessen my guilt on Christmas Day. After all, I will have taken this season by its horns and made a noble attempt in trying to glean its riches. Christmas should not be a day of guilt for Catholics. It should be a day of rejoicing, a day filled with stunned gratitude for the love of the Father in giving us his precious Son and a Savior. I’m banking on this happening this year. I want no clouds around me as I sing “Silent Night” at Christmas Mass this year.

Father Morrette is pastor at The Catholic Community of Our Lady of Victory in Troy, Our Lady of the Snow Mission in Grafton and Christ Sun of Justice Parish in Troy.