Fr. Karl Rahner, SJ famously said, “The Christian of the future will be a mystic or will not exist.” If we turn that inside out, it’s both a challenge and a promise: The wisdom of the mystics is necessary for a living faith, and it is also the key to an ongoing vibrant spiritual life.
During this retreat, we will dive into the wisdom of some of the great mystics of the past to find practical advice to deepen our spiritual practice for today. We will consider the wisdom of mystics like Julian of Norwich, Evelyn Underhill, Howard Thurman, and the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing. There will be experiential exercises to put these teachings and insights into practice, with plenty of time for personal prayer, meditation, contemplation, and reflection, along with opportunities for group reflection as well.
Check-in begins at 4pm. There will be a brief welcome session at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat begins after dinner at 7pm on Thursday and concludes before lunch on Monday. Guided by Carl McColman.
Carl McColman is a contemplative author, speaker, spiritual director and teacher based in Atlanta. His books include Read the Bible Like a Mystic, The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart, and Unteachable Lessons. Carl is a lay associate of Holy Spirit Trappist Monastery in Georgia and a Commissioned Presenter of Centering Prayer Introductory Workshops.