What happens during a Day of Recollection?

A Day of Recollection can be arranged at a retreat center.
A spiritual director can help facilitate the day for you by directing your attention and focus to areas that you want to work on.
Journaling is encouraged; the relevant contents of which can be brought up during spiritual direction at the end of the day.
Silence and time spent alone are ingredients for a fruitful day spent in prayer and reflection.

What happens on a silent retreat?

You spend time alone. Meals are also taken in silence. You will have lots of time for personal prayer and reflection. Your spiritual director is likely to suggest resources for prayer and reflection, for example, Scripture passages to pray with, or journaling prompts.

If the retreat center you go to has spacious grounds, you can go for long walks. You are likely to meet with a spiritual director at least once a day. Some places offer other tools such as art materials to paint, color and draw; finger and ground labyrinths to walk, etc.

What are some fruits of a silent retreat?

Spiritual fruits such as peace, joy, and transformation; a closer relationship with the Trinitarian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Needless to say, rest is a big plus of a silent retreat. With nothing to distract you (not unless you choose to be distracted by your cell phone and reading of materials that are not part of the retreat), your body is given time to recharge.
Retreatants may experience clarity on an issue/s at hand (by the grace of God and perhaps with help from the spiritual director); or they may gain clarity about what step to take next.

Duration of a retreat

It can ranged from a one-night stayover, or over a weekend, to an extended retreat from 5-8 days or beyond. Most people going on an Ignatian retreat would do an 8-day retreat. This 8-day model is an adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits as the world knows them.

What are the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola?

The Spiritual Exercises are a compilation of meditations, prayers and contemplative practices developed by St Ignatius of Loyola to help seekers deepen their relationship with God. The full program of the Spiritual Exercises runs for 30+ days. During this long retreat, a retreatant will be exposed to praying with different themes such as God’s unconditional love, coming up close and personal with Jesus, choice making to choose what gives Life, dying and rising with Jesus in His passion, death and resurrection, and then contemplating the love of God in all things.

For more information about the Spiritual Exercises, visit https://www.ignatianspirituality.com