As you prepare for your personal retreat, and as you actually enjoy the retreat, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. It may be simply the words “come holy spirit” or “come holy spirit, and ignite my faith”. The Holy Spirit can help you read scriptures with greater understanding, so that the words seem to come alive. The Holy Spirit can assist you in your prayers and your meditations and will be your companion throughout the day, if only asked.
Scriptures are filled with references to the helping ways of the Spirit:
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him?
—Luke 11:13
…But whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak you; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit.
—Mark 13:10
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
—Acts 2:1-4
The Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
—1 Corinthians 2:13
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
—Romans 14:17
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
—Acts 4:31
I first became acquainted with the real power of the Holy Spirit at a series of Bible Study classes. Our teacher, Jean, would always ask the Holy Spirit to be with our class to help us learn.
For me and my wife, and the others as well, I’m sure, the scriptures seemed to jump off the page. Jean said the Spirit helped us to read with what she called “raymeh” or great understanding.
I have found that on my personal retreats, the assistance of the Holy Spirit is invaluable. No elaborate invocation is needed; just the simple prayer below.
—John
Come Holy Spirit.
Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise, and ever enjoy his consolations.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.