A recent Convocation spirituality retreat encouraged participants to listen for the voice of God from a position of trust and gratitude.
“How Do I Know It’s God Speaking?” was a CECE spirituality retreat, held at the Johannes-Schlößl Monastery in Salzburg, Austria, from 3-5 May. Sr. Kristina Frances, of the Society of St. Margret in Duxbury, MA, led a group of 17 people from across the Convocation in learning to “trust that God wants the very best for you.”
Listening for – discerning – God’s voice is something Sr. Kristina said Christians do with decisions large and small. She urged the group to ponder and recognize the ways in which God had already been part of their life journeys while prayerfully looking for the ways He would make their next steps clear.
She acknowledged that it can be difficult to be sure God is speaking but encouraged the group with the words of Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, who said, in part: that the fact he thought he was following God’s will didn’t actually mean it was so. “But I believe the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I know … you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.”
The Rev. Ali Gray, canon for spiritual development, said: “It was a joy filled weekend, with sunshine good food and laughter, learning more together and growing closer to God.”
The next spirituality retreat will be in Florence, Italy, from 16-18 May 2025. Watch our website for further details.