Inner Peace in Divine Love Retreat
Week One – Remembering Love
Ex 5 Action in memory of love
Desire
I desire to act in memory of love.
Preparation
I read the prayer texts about life-giving love.
In the Eucharist
I share a Eucharist meal with Jesus who has loved me.
I remember how he loved me in death and resurrection, and bring that love into the present. I feel his love in the breaking of the bread, in the sharing of his body. With the graces of this week lifting me, I receive the life he offers me.
or
In the World
I share a meal with a person who has loved me.
I open myself to feel the love this person has for me. I break bread and taste the love this person has given to me. I stay in the present moment of love.
With the graces of this week lifting me, I celebrate our relationship in a fresh way. Then I ponder the life Jesus offers me through him or her.
Prayer Texts
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
(Luke 22:14-20)
As they came near Emmaus, Jesus walked ahead as if he were going on. But the two disciples urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
(Lk 24:28–33, 35)
Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.
(Jn 6:53–57)
Time: As needed
For greater guidance, depth and practical use of this exercise and retreat, source the First Spiritual Exercises here.
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