As a society, we face deep and sometimes violent social and political divisions. Likewise, we encounter often intractable conflict within our own families, our marriage, and our community. “Let peace be your aim” is an exhortation we find in both the epistles of St. Paul and The Rule of St. Benedict, a 6^th century text that is still used by thousands today as a framework for living peaceably and with compassion.  St. Benedict considered creating peaceful relations by building community and practicing hospitality and humility one of the most important aims of the spiritual life. Jesus says, “My peace I give you, my peace I leave with you.” Faced with personal attack, how do we respond with love rather than the desire for an eye-for-an-eye? Is it possible to turn our own personal swords into plowshares and replace conflict with grace, anger with mercy? We each possess the spiritual gifts to do so. In this retreat we will look at the gifts of the Spirit available to us to draw upon in times of conflict and explore strategies given to us by several great spiritual teachers for fostering personal and societal peace. 

Retreatants will travel to Gethsemane on Saturday, March 2nd for a presentation with Brother Paul Quenon, O.C.S.O., who has been a monk for 62 years at Gethsemane.  His Novitiate formation was under Thomas Merton.