Three of Seven and Four of Seven have been looking forward to their Confirmation Youth Retreat next month. Thinking about this has led me to reflect on my own retreat experiences.
When I was a teen, a very close relative came home quite angry about his retreat experience. I remember that he talked about being manipulated. A few years later, I found out exactly what he was talking about; I attended a Christ Renews His Parish retreat. Although the details are fuzzy now, I remember the sleep deprivation, the talks given by former retreat attendants (now "team members") revealing intimate (and damning, so to speak) details of their lives. Of course, confidentiality was required. One woman confessed, in front of a room of teenage girl, a mortal sin she'd committed. We were not her friends; we were only casual (if that) acquaintances. I thought it not right that she'd admitted this in front of us. I'm not faulting her by any means; I'm faulting the retreat process that encourages this kind of thing.
And then, at the moment of peak vulnerability, the letters were brought out. You know -- the lovey, mushy letters from moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grocery store clerks....blah, blah, blah -- all designed to emotionally manipulate the attendee. I have the same reaction to this as my relative: How dare they try to manipulate me like they're the puppetmasters! I'm a human being with God-given dignity!
And so are my children.
Now I'm not saying that retreat leaders have nefarious purposes; they're probably ignorant about the implications of these techniques. Heck - they probably don't even know that these are techniques.
Not having been on any kind of retreat since my teen years, I don't even know how many modern experiences are like this. From things I've read though, Cursillo works this way. And the upcoming Confirmation Retreat is certainly going to be this way.
Or perhaps this is just a personal problem that some of us introverted people have. Maybe the rest of the population is Totally Digging It. Groovy, Baby!
2 comments:
Never went to a youth retreat. In fact, TH2 was not properly catechized.
Hope that 3/7's and 4/7's retreat does not turn out like the one you described.
TH2:
Certainly the internet is FILLED with stories of now-faithful Catholic who were not properly catechized. God did not abandon us, and are we not now especially fervent for our Faith? I am personally grateful for Him being patient with me, even as I need prayers for continued perseverance.
It is possible, I suppose, that these retreats appeal to the touchy-feely types: the kind that break out in tears at the heartwarming sight of a squirrel gathering nuts. But I am NOT one of those people; I prefer a dispassionate, teaching atmosphere.
Post a Comment