A "spiritual getaway" to free oneself from overwhelming materialism? A Christian "shot" of emotions obtained in the sentimental market? A "fashionable" religious experience for wealthy Catholics? Let's leave clichés and prejudices aside and explain the reality lived by so many people.
The Emmaus retreats are an instrument or tool of evangelization, and especially of first proclamation, recently born in the heart of the Catholic Church, organized by lay people and directed mainly to lay people, under the protection of a parish, under the guidance and supervision of the parish priest.
The most intense and characteristic event of these "retreats" (different from the classic retreats with preachers' talks and meditative silence) consists of two days of encounter with the Lord and a community. It is organized with great generosity and enthusiasm by a team of servers, who are ordinary faithful, and usually in a house of spirituality. The celebration of the Holy Mass with much devotion and with a festive tone, as well as the offer of dialogue in freedom with a priest, with the possibility of receiving the sacrament of reconciliation and blessing, constitute important elements of the retreat.
These retreats are not a movement, association or ecclesial institution with the pretension of embracing all the dimensions of the Christian's life, nor do they offer an integral Christian formation. They are only a humble resource, especially suitable for people far from the faith. They are open to men and women of all social classes and of various sensibilities. In fact, in some retreats the majority of the participants are migrants of scarce economic resources.
Pillars of the Emmaus retreats
These retreats are based on three pillars, what we could describe as the "tripod", namely: testimonies, adoration and friendship. Each The testimony consists of the sincere and authentic account of the healing and transforming action of the Holy Spirit in one's own history. The presentation of these personal experiences is prepared in faith, with much prayer and with the advice of an experienced person.
Adoration is intended to help to appreciate and frequent the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, creating a suitable atmosphere to accompany and treat Him with intimacy.
– Supernatural friendship is concretized here in bringing fraternal charity to deep conversations in which the personal search for God as the one who saves and gives full meaning to one's existence is shared.
For all this, it is necessary to form a simple community, normally within the parish. For this reason, its members usually participate in weekly meetings for prayer, formation and preparation for the upcoming retreats, in a cordial atmosphere. In addition, a minimum of organization and coordination is required.
The fruits
Many pastors and faithful note with joy and gratitude the profound spiritual renewal that, thanks to Emmaus, leads many men and women to change in their Christian life, to grow and mature in their commitment to the life of the Church.
In short, pastoral experience endorses the great fruits of conversion, sanctification and evangelization that have been produced in recent years by our pastors. retreats of Emmaus, when they are lived according to the proper method, with docility to the Holy Spirit and in full ecclesial communion, counting on the closeness and care of pastors. For this reason, in our society, which unfortunately is rapidly de-Christianizing, they constitute a great reason for hope.
