Thank-you for sharing. Sammy was my grand parents dog and I remember the many time you and Sammy met. I was able to share this with my grandparents and they really enjoyed listening. (Janice and Bob Fox) Btw the chocolate labs name is cheif and he was definitely hiper!
Thank you very much for this opportunity. Specially during this difficult times. I ask God the grace to profit from the experience and to open my mind and heart to be a better person, focused on living to accomplish God’s will in all my actions. To be able to do all for the greatest glory of God and not forget to do everything to love and serve. Best regards from Mexico City. And look forward to share theway with you and the other persons inthe foad and retreat. Lets hope we can let our selves be loved as Samy and Smokey.
Thank you Fr Mark for this first day. I am catching it one day late, but what a blessing. I knew what was coming when you spoke about Sammy, about whether I allow myself to be loved by God this way; hearing you saying it out loud just brought tears. How true that I do not know how, not only to love unconditionally but also to receive love, especially from Our Father who is love. May God bless you and all the fellow “retreaters”, and may we all allow ourselves to be loved by Our Father in Heaven.
I imagine myself closing my eyes and leaning into the Lord, Jesus, so he can love and soothe and comfort me. Thank you Jesus for this gentle beginning. When my day starts to get crazy, let me, even for a few seconds, close my eyes and lean into you. Let me feel the warmth of your hand calming the turmoil inside. Let me feel you physically there that I might lean on you. Help me Jesus remember that I was created for love by you and the Father for in love. Help me remember who I am as your child. Help me to always seek to lean on you. Amen. Thank you Father for this peaceful start for our retreat. I think in the busyness of life and out of a lack of understanding most of us do not know our identity as God's children. We do not know our intrinsic value or worth. It is in coming to know who we are as His that we can begin to heal our brokenness, accept our wounds and allow Jesus to minister and love us. Accepting and embracing our identity is a huge and missing part in our lives. It is not God's will nor his desire we live separate from our true identity in Him as His.
Please, if possible, increase the volume of your delivery. My husband is hard of hearing and I’ve got the volume all the way up and he has difficulty hearing. Thank you.
Thank You, Fr. Mark, for a wonderful, touching first day. If I wasn't sure before, I know now that God has brought me here to the right place and at the right time. And Happy Feast Day!!
Thanks for a great first day of retreat. Hoping to use each day as prompt for both prayer and poetry. Here's my take on Psalm 131: Weaned at last still I climb settle in your lap for a new kind of nourishment to be held to be stilled to disconnect, however briefly, from the rest that is not you. This is my prayer, my plea my one great desire.
So grateful fo you, Fr Mark. Listening to your story of Sammy and Smokey, made me think of bathing my dogs last night and how that time of loving them, caring for them, washing them with the Lord has become a spiritual practice for me. God and Dogs. REQUEST: Can you post which Bible translation you use? Thank you. Blessings from Honolulu, Hawaii.
I started a little behind your schedule, but after two days, I am enjoying the retreat. I usually make my Manresa Retreat the weekend before Palm Sunday, and of course, this year the Covid 19 pandemic cancelled it. So, this is a happy replacement. Thank You. I am looking forward to the next 28 days of retreat.
My name is Michael Burke. I am a Dominican Friar at St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans. I made my first 30 Day Retreat in 1975 July to August 3rd with George Williams.SJ, Wernersville, PA. Thank you Fr. Mark, happy to know you re here in New. Orleans. I’m on board again!
Happy feast day, Mark. Your reliving your story made it come alive in me. I easily relate it to me letting Jesus love me. Please keep sharing your stories. I’ve also nursed 4 children and it is a joy of my life. I’m wondering how I was in my mother’s lap. Time to go there now. My husband and I are isolated on Lake Texoma, TX. Been here over 2 months. What a fine time to make this retreat. Thank you for directing us.
Father! I remember you, Sammy and Smoky! You directed a retreat at Montserrat, Dallas many years ago that I attended. Thanks for reminding me of Sammy and Smoky and having me revisit God's question...When will you let me love you that way? Starting this a bit late but praying for all. 😊
Happy Feast day of St. Mark. You embody what he wrote and Jesus said, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to very creature." I see people from all over the world who have chosen to accept your invitation. Thanks be to God! And Thank You for the gift of this retreat!
Thank you, Fr. Mark, for offering this retreat, and beginning with those images. As a dog owner and dog lover, they resonate! I tend to connect in prayer through music. The song I was led to today based on your reflection is John Denver’s “Annie’s Song.” Can I hear those words sung to me by a God who loves me passionately, uniquely, intimately? Especially the bridge...”Come let me love you, let me give my life to you...” I often think about the ways I’m called to give my life to God, but I need to remember that he gives his life to me first and wants me to let him love me first.
Happy feast, Fr, Mark! Thank you for a truly interesting first day of the 30 day retreat. For some reason I only just got it up on my laptop. I think we really need to let ourselves just "fall into God" in a manner of speaking. It isn't easy thing to do. We are always talking about loving God. You have shown us a new point of view - let God love us! Thank you and God Bless!
Thank you so much for this! One thing, it's very hard to hear you because you're so soft spoken, which is generally a virtue, but not one appreciated by my computer's speakers. Thanks for anything you can do to remedy this. Blessings!
Wonderful imagery in the short story you told. I know well how much I will still pour out my love toward my dog when she has done something that seems so wrong; I see past it and love her some more! Maybe it's time to see myself in that place; receiving the love poured bountifully out to me. Many thanks - Phil
G'day from Queensland in Australia! The song says that 'love makes the world go round' and to love & to be loved seems to be important -- but another song says that 'love is hard to find'. I hope in my thinking-praying about this session I will find a deeper way of letting the good God love me. This is a bit strained, but -- some translations of the psalm read 'like a weaned child upon its mother's breast' -- so in this translation, we think of the child who no longer relies on milk from its mother, but who none the less is content & joyful to be with its mother.
I don't know if it is the official wsy. But I was given the info for this retreat that referred to the holy name church. That I believe Fr. Mark is the pastor of. The church website has an email contact to staff. www.hnjchurch.org/staff/view/id/18109
Perhaps you could tell me the email address -- when I googled the website, I had this reply: The owner of this website (www.hnjchurch.org) has banned the country or region your IP address is in (AU) from accessing this website.
Just what I need to hear to remind myself that I am never alone, no matter what comes my way, I don't have to "tough it out" alone or even with only my friends and family. I can close my eyes and lean on God to allow him to love and comfort me. Thank you.
I am hoping to be able to start a 19th notation soon. I need to for a Spiritual Direction program, but was hesitant. This video put me at ease even as it challenged me. Thank you! 🙏
Just stumbled on this retreat today - a day behind, but all in God's time. I have always wanted to make a 30 day Ignatian Retreat and feel blessed that you offer it at this time when there are so few distractions in life. Because our pastor invited us to pray the rosary and Divine Mercy daily during the pandemic and since these are not a regular part of my prayer I am being creative to make them life-giving for me. Today I was gifted with these mysteries following your Day 1 presentation. 1 Resting in the lap of Mother God totally content 2 Being Sammy resting on the leg of God 3 Opened and Vulnerable before God as was Smokey 4 Joy in Your Presence (Psalm 16 today's Responsorial Psalm) 5 Are not our hearts burning within us? (Today's gospel)
so glad to be on retreat with everyone. I am from Philadelphia. the question of why God created the universe will stay with me all day today.....no answer yet, but I will keep searching...
Thank you Fr. Mark and Happy Feast of St. Mark! This is another Mark from the San Francisco Bay Area. I echo what a number of other people said about this being a beautiful start to the retreat. And I love the stories, they always draw me in😊
Thank you Fr Mark for responding to the Holy Spirit This is just what I was yearning for A Retreat with so much time on my hand & the simple yet profound example (I am using my sons iPod so it’s not him talking ) my son loves dogs he has 3 & when they come to rub on me I shew them away I realize that that’s what I do when God offers me His love I have been acting as I must be the one to give love but I don’t know how to receive love
Our Jesuit Volunteer silent retreat was at Our Lady of Oaks in Grand Coteau! How fun to hear you talk about the road and oaks surrounding the retreat center and novitiate.
Mark! It is so good to see your face and hear your voice. I can't tell you how much the retreat comes at such an opportune time. Thank you for giving us the gift of your wisdom and insight. I look forward to walking with you and the other retreatants as we ascend Mount Olivet. God bless you and your ministry.
Splendid initiative and your dogstory is almost point on, alnost felt as i had my charlie back with me. But I rather not become the the poster boy for the definition of hipochrasy so will leave it at this. Appologies for spelling, canoot even spell my native tounge most of the time. Väl mött
Hello from PA. Thank you Father for this retreat. It is just what I needed at this time. This first day is a beautiful reminder of God's love for us. Stay well.
Happy Easter Mark, Lesley and Martin! I am already feeling loved after hearing Mark’s soothing voice and knowing that you are with me on this retreat journey. I live in Fairfax County, Virginia USA and minister and worship at my home parish where I was a founding member as a young child. I’m ready to enter this retreat At this time. Having nursed 4 children, I know how it feels being the parent/creator, but not the child at rest. I will rest in this image today putting myself in the child’s place. Peace be with you.
So very grateful for this opportunity to join you all for this retreat. Day 1 has started off with a sense of great peace and contentment. many thanks!
Jim Oswald Thank you Mark for this first day. I loved the story and created some wonderful imagery for your words.I’d love for you to end the session with a prayer if possible that I could then use to continue to pray for the next fifteen minutes. Many thanks. And may it please the supreme and divine Goodness, to give us all abundant grace ever know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.
I realised later with the intro video, which I hadn't seen earlier, that the program began on the 25th of April. I had come across the video about 5 days later and kept wondering why Fr is delivering his classes 5 days in advance. I felt it essential to catch up with the program moreso because I wanted to catch up with the Ascension 😁
Starting the retreat today. More necessary than ever in this time of the pandemic. I’m in Los Angeles and if ever there was a time to close my eyes and lean into God, it is here right now.
I really appreciate you doing this. Could I offer some suggestions to enhance the presentation? First, please turn up the volume on your end or get closer to the microphone. Also, it is disconcerting to see your eyes looking off to the side. It would be a much better connection with the viewer if you were looking straight out so it appears you are talking to me. It may be a matter of camera placement or perhaps content notes. Use bird tail method and use post-it notes around your screen so that you don't have to look away. I hope this help.
Thank-you for sharing. Sammy was my grand parents dog and I remember the many time you and Sammy met. I was able to share this with my grandparents and they really enjoyed listening. (Janice and Bob Fox) Btw the chocolate labs name is cheif and he was definitely hiper!
Thank you very much for sharing you story of Sammy and how you used this as an example of how we can accept God's love.
Thank you very much for this opportunity. Specially during this difficult times. I ask God the grace to profit from the experience and to open my mind and heart to be a better person, focused on living to accomplish God’s will in all my actions. To be able to do all for the greatest glory of God and not forget to do everything to love and serve. Best regards from Mexico City. And look forward to share theway with you and the other persons inthe foad and retreat. Lets hope we can let our selves be loved as Samy and Smokey.
Thank you Fr Mark for this first day. I am catching it one day late, but what a blessing. I knew what was coming when you spoke about Sammy, about whether I allow myself to be loved by God this way; hearing you saying it out loud just brought tears. How true that I do not know how, not only to love unconditionally but also to receive love, especially from Our Father who is love.
May God bless you and all the fellow “retreaters”, and may we all allow ourselves to be loved by Our Father in Heaven.
I imagine myself closing my eyes and leaning into the Lord, Jesus, so he can love and soothe and comfort me. Thank you Jesus for this gentle beginning. When my day starts to get crazy, let me, even for a few seconds, close my eyes and lean into you. Let me feel the warmth of your hand calming the turmoil inside. Let me feel you physically there that I might lean on you. Help me Jesus remember that I was created for love by you and the Father for in love. Help me remember who I am as your child. Help me to always seek to lean on you. Amen.
Thank you Father for this peaceful start for our retreat. I think in the busyness of life and out of a lack of understanding most of us do not know our identity as God's children. We do not know our intrinsic value or worth. It is in coming to know who we are as His that we can begin to heal our brokenness, accept our wounds and allow Jesus to minister and love us. Accepting and embracing our identity is a huge and missing part in our lives. It is not God's will nor his desire we live separate from our true identity in Him as His.
Please, if possible, increase the volume of your delivery. My husband is hard of hearing and I’ve got the volume all the way up and he has difficulty hearing. Thank you.
You might want to try earbuds. It's a way to dramatically increase volume.
Also, you can turn on the Captions to read what he's saying 🙂 I do!
Thank You, Fr. Mark, for a wonderful, touching first day. If I wasn't sure before, I know now that God has brought me here to the right place and at the right time. And Happy Feast Day!!
Thanks for a great first day of retreat. Hoping to use each day as prompt for both prayer and poetry. Here's my take on Psalm 131:
Weaned at last
still I climb
settle in your lap
for a new kind of nourishment
to be held
to be stilled
to disconnect, however briefly,
from the rest that is not you.
This is my prayer, my plea
my one great desire.
Thank you for sharing your psalm!
Letting God love me means that I have to trust Him completely. This has always been the most difficult thing for me to do.
So grateful fo you, Fr Mark. Listening to your story of Sammy and Smokey, made me think of bathing my dogs last night and how that time of loving them, caring for them, washing them with the Lord has become a spiritual practice for me. God and Dogs. REQUEST: Can you post which Bible translation you use? Thank you. Blessings from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Never grows old. Thank you for leaving this up.
What would change in my life if I remembered that God said my creation was "very good"?
Life giving through this pandemic. Thank you.
I made a sketch of Sammy leaning (smiling as some dogs do). Carried the image around with me all day.
I started a little behind your schedule, but after two days, I am enjoying the retreat. I usually make my Manresa Retreat the weekend before Palm Sunday, and of course, this year the Covid 19 pandemic cancelled it. So, this is a happy replacement. Thank You. I am looking forward to the next 28 days of retreat.
My name is Michael Burke. I am a Dominican Friar at St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans. I made my first 30 Day Retreat in 1975 July to August 3rd with George Williams.SJ, Wernersville, PA. Thank you Fr. Mark, happy to know you re here in New. Orleans. I’m on board again!
Happy feast day, Mark. Your reliving your story made it come alive in me. I easily relate it to me letting Jesus love me. Please keep sharing your stories. I’ve also nursed 4 children and it is a joy of my life. I’m wondering how I was in my mother’s lap. Time to go there now. My husband and I are isolated on Lake Texoma, TX. Been here over 2 months. What a fine time to make this retreat. Thank you for directing us.
Lean on God... 🙏🏼 Letting God ❤️ me..
Father! I remember you, Sammy and Smoky! You directed a retreat at Montserrat, Dallas many years ago that I attended. Thanks for reminding me of Sammy and Smoky and having me revisit God's question...When will you let me love you that way? Starting this a bit late but praying for all. 😊
Thank you Fr. Mark, for this wonderful opportunity to deepen our relationship with God.
I was moved by the images from the Psalm and the dog. I hope I will continue day two and possibly ascending with Ignatius.
Happy Feast day of St. Mark. You embody what he wrote and Jesus said, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to very creature." I see people from all over the world who have chosen to accept your invitation. Thanks be to God! And Thank You for the gift of this retreat!
Thank you, Fr. Mark, for offering this retreat, and beginning with those images. As a dog owner and dog lover, they resonate! I tend to connect in prayer through music. The song I was led to today based on your reflection is John Denver’s “Annie’s Song.” Can I hear those words sung to me by a God who loves me passionately, uniquely, intimately? Especially the bridge...”Come let me love you, let me give my life to you...” I often think about the ways I’m called to give my life to God, but I need to remember that he gives his life to me first and wants me to let him love me first.
Love that connection to Annie's Song...
Happy feast, Fr, Mark! Thank you for a truly interesting first day of the 30 day retreat. For some reason I only just got it up on my laptop.
I think we really need to let ourselves just "fall into God" in a manner of speaking. It isn't easy thing to do. We are always talking about loving God. You have shown us a new point of view - let God love us!
Thank you and God Bless!
Praying for the grace to let and feel God's love.
Thank you so much for this! One thing, it's very hard to hear you because you're so soft spoken, which is generally a virtue, but not one appreciated by my computer's speakers. Thanks for anything you can do to remedy this. Blessings!
I am so grateful. Thank you.
Lesley in the UK
1 Nov 20,R6 D 1.Thank you.
Joining from Seattle, WA. Fr. Mark,you have the ability to paint vivid mental pictures for us. A lovely gift, as is this whole retreat. Thank you
Wonderful imagery in the short story you told. I know well how much I will still pour out my love toward my dog when she has done something that seems so wrong; I see past it and love her some more! Maybe it's time to see myself in that place; receiving the love poured bountifully out to me. Many thanks - Phil
G'day from Queensland in Australia! The song says that 'love makes the world go round' and to love & to be loved seems to be important -- but another song says that 'love is hard to find'. I hope in my thinking-praying about this session I will find a deeper way of letting the good God love me.
This is a bit strained, but -- some translations of the psalm read 'like a weaned child upon its mother's breast' -- so in this translation, we think of the child who no longer relies on milk from its mother, but who none the less is content & joyful to be with its mother.
I don't know if it is the official wsy. But I was given the info for this retreat that referred to the holy name church. That I believe Fr. Mark is the pastor of. The church website has an email contact to staff. www.hnjchurch.org/staff/view/id/18109
@@barbaram5120 Thanks Barbara!
Perhaps you could tell me the email address -- when I googled the website, I had this reply: The owner of this website (www.hnjchurch.org) has banned the country or region your IP address is in (AU) from accessing this website.
Sorry it just comes up with a form
Perhaps if you just ask the question Fr will see
Just what I need to hear to remind myself that I am never alone, no matter what comes my way, I don't have to "tough it out" alone or even with only my friends and family. I can close my eyes and lean on God to allow him to love and comfort me. Thank you.
Very difficult to hear - please adjust for clarity and volume. Thank you.
I am hoping to be able to start a 19th notation soon. I need to for a Spiritual Direction program, but was hesitant. This video put me at ease even as it challenged me. Thank you! 🙏
Speaker volume is way to low.Hope you can fix it. Thanks.
A weaned child has already quit breastfeeding, so he or she is not seeking anything- just Mom. Like Sammy the dog. Way to go
Just stumbled on this retreat today - a day behind, but all in God's time. I have always wanted to make a 30 day Ignatian Retreat and feel blessed that you offer it at this time when there are so few distractions in life. Because our pastor invited us to pray the rosary and Divine Mercy daily during the pandemic and since these are not a regular part of my prayer I am being creative to make them life-giving for me. Today I was gifted with these mysteries following your Day 1 presentation. 1 Resting in the lap of Mother God totally content 2 Being Sammy resting on the leg of God 3 Opened and Vulnerable before God as was Smokey 4 Joy in Your Presence (Psalm 16 today's Responsorial Psalm) 5 Are not our hearts burning within us? (Today's gospel)
so glad to be on retreat with everyone. I am from Philadelphia. the question of why God created the universe will stay with me all day today.....no answer yet, but I will keep searching...
Thank you Fr. Mark and Happy Feast of St. Mark! This is another Mark from the San Francisco Bay Area. I echo what a number of other people said about this being a beautiful start to the retreat. And I love the stories, they always draw me in😊
Thank you Fr Mark for responding to the Holy Spirit This is just what I was yearning for A Retreat with so much time on my hand & the simple yet profound example (I am using my sons iPod so it’s not him talking ) my son loves dogs he has 3 & when they come to rub on me I shew them away I realize that that’s what I do when God offers me His love I have been acting as I must be the one to give love but I don’t know how to receive love
Joining you from Leeds in the UK.
Thank you for such lovely imagery on this first day of the Retreat.
That was beautiful! Thank you. Exactly what I need....
Such a moving first day to this retreat. Thank you, once again. Theresa
I took the next to last retreat at Manresa center before they stopped having because of covid. It was very timely,just what I prayed for.
Thank you, from Australia
Our Jesuit Volunteer silent retreat was at Our Lady of Oaks in Grand Coteau! How fun to hear you talk about the road and oaks surrounding the retreat center and novitiate.
Thank you, I am looking forward to this retreat. I just "happened upon it" tonight. It sounds wonderful, thank you!
Mark! It is so good to see your face and hear your voice. I can't tell you how much the retreat comes at such an opportune time. Thank you for giving us the gift of your wisdom and insight. I look forward to walking with you and the other retreatants as we ascend Mount Olivet. God bless you and your ministry.
Splendid initiative and your dogstory is almost point on, alnost felt as i had my charlie back with me.
But I rather not become the the poster boy for the definition of hipochrasy so will leave it at this.
Appologies for spelling, canoot even spell my native tounge most of the time.
Väl mött
Hello from PA. Thank you Father for this retreat. It is just what I needed at this time. This first day is a beautiful reminder of God's love for us. Stay well.
Journeying with you from Netherlee in Scotland.
Happy Easter Mark, Lesley and Martin! I am already feeling loved after hearing Mark’s soothing voice and knowing that you are with me on this retreat journey. I live in Fairfax County, Virginia USA and minister and worship at my home parish where I was a founding member as a young child. I’m ready to enter this retreat At this time. Having nursed 4 children, I know how it feels being the parent/creator, but not the child at rest. I will rest in this image today putting myself in the child’s place. Peace be with you.
So very grateful for this opportunity to join you all for this retreat. Day 1 has started off with a sense of great peace and contentment. many thanks!
Can you increase the volume or get a dedicated microphone? Trouble hearing with hearing aids.
Thank you Fr Mark i have your book. I have started late Today it is Ascension Sunday
1 September 20.R4D1.Thank you.
Jim Oswald
Thank you Mark for this first day. I loved the story and created some wonderful imagery for your words.I’d love for you to end the session with a prayer if possible that I could then use to continue to pray for the next fifteen minutes. Many thanks. And may it please the supreme and divine Goodness, to give us all abundant grace ever know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.
This was the desired grace which ended my last spiritual direction session. Thank you.
1 August 20, R3 D1(retreat 3 Day 1).Thank you.
Fr good evening. When you say day 1, does it mean April 30th.
I realised later with the intro video, which I hadn't seen earlier, that the program began on the 25th of April. I had come across the video about 5 days later and kept wondering why Fr is delivering his classes 5 days in advance. I felt it essential to catch up with the program moreso because I wanted to catch up with the Ascension 😁
Thank you leaving this retreat online. Peace PAX
Thank you brought tears to my eyes
Joining from Northern Ireland. Blessings
Thank you so much. This is going to be a great retreat.
1 October 20 R5 D2.Thank you
I didn’t expect to be so drawn in on day one. Thank you.
Thank you for these exercises.
I am a slow poke staring day one on 5/12/20 in Houston Tx. Not far away geographically but hoping to hop along albeit behind the pack.
Thank you! 🙏🏼
Good day ...I am with ...i have aslo start
ed
I’m doing this again. I find it so comforting,
1 March 21. R10 D1. Thank you.
Thanks, Mark. Praying with & for you & all of us
1 Jan 21 . R8 D1. thank you.
Starting the retreat today. More necessary than ever in this time of the pandemic. I’m in Los Angeles and if ever there was a time to close my eyes and lean into God, it is here right now.
6 Jan 23. Thank you
Thanks be blessed
Repeating the exercises - so helpful with my losses.
I really appreciate you doing this. Could I offer some suggestions to enhance the presentation? First, please turn up the volume on your end or get closer to the microphone. Also, it is disconcerting to see your eyes looking off to the side. It would be a much better connection with the viewer if you were looking straight out so it appears you are talking to me. It may be a matter of camera placement or perhaps content notes. Use bird tail method and use post-it notes around your screen so that you don't have to look away. I hope this help.
Is the retreat in Spanish?