On Retreat at Walsingham.

I was on retreat last week with Mgr John Armitage of Wallsingham.   My wife and I and son Kevin always go to daily Mass, so during this 'isolation' we found  Mass through You Tube at the Shrine.  Then Mgr Armitage announced a retreat at which he would talk and we could follow the devotions of the rest of the day at Walsingham.    The twice daily talks by Mgr Armitage were really wonderful and took me back to when I was a young man attending Parish Retreats.   It was usually two Passionist priest who turned up for the week.   They both talked at Mass on the Sunday and people got excited by what they had to say.   You will not believe this but the big question was, who would give the talk on Hell.   Who had the most attractive voice for that talk?   O yes, we had one night in seven devoted to Hell and that was the night you came early in case you did not get a place in the pew and had to stand.    But it was not that Old Time Religion Stuff, you were not moved to hide under the benches as the preacher eyed you and told you that you were facing Hell and Damnation.   Nevertheless what Jesus said about Hell was taught.   But for six nights it was very much on the themes that Mgr Armitage covered, though the Passionists told us about the heroic virtues of the saints and Mother  Mary and how we should follow them because they loved Jesus.

That is why I love the Catholic Church so much.   I do not remember my schoolfriends and I ever being taught to fear Hell to the point of trembling, the emphasis was always on the beautiful things in the Church like the The Blessed Sacrament, the place of Mary, and so many saints to love and admire.   There was one teacher who from time to time mentioned if you did not do this you would go to Hell, but that was the exception.

It is a pity that these kind of Retreats do not exist any more in parishes.   Instead we have videos and talks mostly run by lay people who were never gifted to lead souls.    The clergy at their ordination were given a special gift to move hearts and preach the gospel.   We know there is a shortage of priests, which makes priestly participation difficult, but the Church must remember that the gift of the laity to spread the Gospel is in their lives outside of the Church.   The Church is there to teach them.            

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