Monastic Prayer Retreat
July 3-6 2024
Lanark, ON
Enter into the silence and rhythm of monastic prayer for four days this summer at the Divine Mercy Retreat Centre, Lanark, Ontario. Beginning at 11am July 3 through to Vespers on Saturday July 6.
WHAT
A four-day monastic-style retreat anchored around the praying of the full Divine Office, chanted in Latin. A program of conferences and sacraments are being developed- please stay tuned for more details!
WHERE
The retreat will be hosted at the beautiful Divine Mercy Retreat Centre, in Lanark Ontario. Details on the retreat Centre can be found here.
WHEN
Beginning in the morning of Wednesday July 3, 2024 and running through to Vespers on Saturday July 6, 2024. Retreatants are invited to attend the full retreat or 'drop in' as able.
WHY
For the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls! And to provide an opportunity to 'come away for awhile' and to enter more deeply into silence and the praying heart of the Church.
Register Now!
Ready to register or have questions? Please drop us a note!
Accomodations
The Divine Mercy retreat Centre is set up to accommodate 30 guests in private rooms.
Limited spaces available on a first-come-first served basis. Please get in touch to reserve your spot.
Retreat
Options
Options are available to accommodate schedules
Full participation or 'drop in' guests options available
Meals
Three meals a day provided to retreatants
Simple, healthy, local food will be prepared for the retreatants and guests at a cost-recovery fee.
Retreat Materials
Read the Primer on the Divine Office
Additional materials will be provided in advance
Register Now!
Ready to register or have questions? Please drop us a note!
Liturgical Calendar
00
Tuesday, July 2
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
01
Wednesday, July 3
Festum St. Thomas the Apostle
02
Thursday, July 4
Memoria 2 - Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
03
Friday, July 5
First Friday - Feria. Devotion to the Sacred Heart
04
Saturday, July 6
Memorial 1 - St. Maria Goretti
What is the Divine Office?
The thing about prayer, is that we allow the prayer to pray within us. Liturgical prayer particularly allows the Word of God to pray within us. It means that the heart has to be somewhat predisposed to being receptive and malleable. And prayer in another language like Latin allows us to willingly predispose ourselves through this type of askesis of receiving the other language. It also sometimes forces us to attend more to the words and their meaning. Of course, when chanted beautifully, it’s not that much of an effort really. The other beautiful thing is, that Latin is the language set apart as the Official Language of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian Chant, being specifically set apart for Sacred music, and is used for no other reason than Liturgical prayer in the Roman Church.
Why Latin?
The thing about prayer, is that we allow the prayer to pray within us. Liturgical prayer particularly allows the Word of God to pray within us. It means that the heart has to be somewhat predisposed to being receptive and malleable. And prayer in another language like Latin allows us to willingly predispose ourselves through this type of askesis of receiving the other language. It also sometimes forces us to attend more to the words and their meaning. Of course, when chanted beautifully, it’s not that much of an effort really. The other beautiful thing is, that Latin is the language set apart as the Official Language of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian Chant, being specifically set apart for Sacred music, and is used for no other reason than Liturgical prayer in the Roman Church.
Day 0 Schedule: July 2, 2024
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3:15 pm - Retreatants are welcome to begin checking in at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and are welcome to join the liturgy
4:45 pm - First bell rings for Vespers
4:55 pm - Second Bell Rings for Statio procession
5:00 pm - Vespers
5:45 pm - Blessing of the house and grounds - Procession Litany of the Saints
6:30 pm - Mass (TBC Westmeath or LaPasse)
8:00 pm - Compline
Grand Silence is observed after Compline
Lights out at 10 pm
Day 1 Schedule: July 3, 2024
4:30 am - rise
5:00 am - Vigils
6:30 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
7:00 am - Bell rings for Angelus
7:05 am - Lauds
7:50 am - Breakfast
8:20 am - Prime (30 mins after Breakfast)
8:35 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
9:25 am - Bell rings for Mass
9:30 am - Mass- TBC
Grand Silence is observed until after mass
11:00 am - Official Start of Retreat: Opening Conference "Prayer 1 (Serene Lai)" followed by Ignatian Meditation
12;00 pm - Recreation / Free Time
12:45 pm - Bell rings for Angelus
12:50 pm - Sext
1:15 pm - Lunch
1:50 pm - Clean up
2:15 pm - Free time / Recreation / Rest
2:55 pm - Bell rings for None
3:00 pm - None
3:15 pm - Afternoon Conference: Why chant? / Liturgical prayer (Brian Butcher)
4:15 pm - Personal Prayer / Recreation / Rest
4:45 pm - First bell rings for Statio for Vespers
4:55 pm - Second Bell Rings for Statio procession
5:00 pm - Vespers
5:45 pm - Free time / Rest
6:30 pm - Bell rings for Angelus
6:35 pm - Supper
7:05 pm - Clean up
7:30 pm - Recreation / Free time
8:00 pm - Compline
Grand Silence is observed after Compline
Lights out at 10 pm
Day 2 Schedule: July 4, 2024
4:30 am - rise
5:00 am - Vigils
6:30 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
7:00 am - Bell rings for Angelus
7:05 am - Lauds
7:50 am - Breakfast
8:20 am - Prime (30 mins after Breakfast)
8:35 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
9:25 am - Bell rings for Mass
9:30 am - Mass- TBC
Grand Silence is observed until after mass
11:00 am - Morning Conference :Prayer 2 (Serene Lai), followed by Ignatian Meditation
12;00 pm - Recreation / Free Time
12:45 pm - Bell rings for Angelus
12:50 pm - Sext
1:15 pm - Lunch
1:50 pm - Clean up
2:15 pm - Free time / Recreation / Rest
2:55 pm - Bell rings for None
3:00 pm - None
3:15 pm - Afternoon Conference: Prayer through the Eastern Liturgy. (Brian Butcher)
4:15 pm - Personal Prayer / Recreation / Rest
4:45 pm - First bell rings for Statio for Vespers
4:55 pm - Second Bell Rings for Statio procession
5:00 pm - Vespers
5:45 pm - Free time / Rest
6:30 pm - Bell rings for Angelus
6:35 pm - Supper
7:05 pm - Clean up
7:30 pm - Recreation / Free time
8:00 pm - Compline
Grand Silence is observed after Compline
Lights out at 10 pm
Day 3 Schedule: July 5, 2024
4:30 am - rise
5:00 am - Vigils
6:30 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
7:00 am - Bell rings for Angelus
7:05 am - Lauds
7:50 am - Breakfast
8:20 am - Prime (30 mins after Breakfast)
8:35 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
9:25 am - Bell rings for Mass
9:30 am - Mass- TBC
Grand Silence is observed until after mass
11:00 am - Morning Conference: Prayer 3 (Serene Lai), followed by Ignatian Meditation
12;00 pm - Recreation / Free Time
12:45 pm - Bell rings for Angelus
12:50 pm - Sext
1:15 pm - Lunch
1:50 pm - Clean up
2:15 pm - Free time / Recreation / Rest
2:55 pm - Bell rings for None
3:00 pm - None
3:15 pm - Afternoon Conference: Praying with Icons (Brian Butcher)
4:15 pm - Personal Prayer / Recreation / Rest
4:45 pm - First bell rings for Statio for Vespers
4:55 pm - Second Bell Rings for Statio procession
5:00 pm - Vespers
5:45 pm - Free time / Rest
6:30 pm - Bell rings for Angelus
6:35 pm - Supper
7:05 pm - Clean up
7:30 pm - Recreation / Free time
8:00 pm - Compline
Grand Silence is observed after Compline
Lights out at 10 pm
​
Day 4 Schedule: July 6, 2024
4:30 am - rise
5:00 am - Vigils
6:30 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
7:00 am - Bell rings for Angelus
7:05 am - Lauds
7:50 am - Breakfast
8:20 am - Prime (30 mins after Breakfast)
8:35 am - Personal Prayer / Lectio Divina
9:25 am - Bell rings for Mass
9:30 am - Mass- TBC
Grand Silence is observed until after mass
11:00 am - Morning Conference: Closing Meditation (Serene Lai)
12;00 pm - Recreation / Free Time
12:45 pm - Bell rings for Angelus
12:50 pm - Sext
1:15 pm - Lunch
1:50 pm - Clean up
2:15 pm - Free time / Recreation / Rest
2:55 pm - Bell rings for None
3:00 pm - None
3:15 pm - Afternoon Conference: Sharing Q&A
4:15 pm - Personal Prayer / Recreation / Rest
4:45 pm - First bell rings for Statio for Vespers
4:55 pm - Second Bell Rings for Statio procession
5:00 pm - First Vespers of Sunday
5:45 pm - End of Conference
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