The Seeds of Contemplation: Thomas Merton and the Silence of God

🌿 Description:

Thomas Merton called us to a deep interior life—one shaped not by noise or doing, but by silence, humility, and contemplative union. This retreat is an invitation into that sacred stillness, guided by the wisdom of the Gospels, Merton’s writings, and time-honored contemplative practices.

Ideal for religious, lay ministers, teachers, or anyone longing for peace.

🕊️ Daily Itinerary:

Day 1: Silence Begins

• Welcome + introductory talk: “Entering the Inner Cloister”

• Evening Centering Prayer

• Grand Silence begins

Day 2: Listening to God

• Morning Office

• Readings from New Seeds of Contemplation

• Individual silent walks

• Guided meditation: The Hidden Christ

Day 3: Solitude and Solidarity

• Examen meditation

• Merton + the modern soul (audio talk)

• Creative journaling: “My monastic heart”

• Taizé chant under the stars

Day 4: Integration + Departure

• Morning silence

• Shared Eucharist

• Blessing + breaking silence ceremony