A Retreat for Everyone – Misunderstanding the World (1/15)

Bishop Fulton Sheen begins his reflection with humor and personal anecdotes, setting the stage for a retreat focused on Christ. He outlines the tensions between the Church and the world, particularly since Vatican II, highlighting how the Church has moved into the world and the world into the Church. This interaction, though necessary, has caused confusion and division, particularly among clergy and religious. Sheen explains how the misunderstanding of “the world” in scripture—both as God’s creation and as a spirit of opposition to God—has led to extremes: psychotics clinging to tradition without context and neurotics abandoning spirituality for worldliness.

He observes that this confusion has resulted in two casualties: the neglect of spirituality and the diminished focus on Christ. Retreats and faith practices have shifted toward discussion and social concerns, often neglecting prayer, holiness, and direct encounters with Christ. Sheen underscores the critical need to return to Christ-centered catechesis and worship, noting that people, regardless of background, crave the message of Christ. Through vivid stories, such as a mafia hitman’s transformation and a leading actress finding her vocation, Sheen illustrates how personal encounters with Christ radically change lives.

The retreat’s purpose, Sheen declares, is to refocus entirely on Christ. Using the analogy of a meal centered on one dish, he warns that those uninterested in Christ may find the retreat unsatisfying. However, for those seeking truth, this retreat offers nourishment for the soul through diverse meditations on Christ’s life, teachings, and transformative power. Sheen’s invitation is clear: come to Christ, encounter His love, and find renewal in faith, for all true mission begins with Him.