Seven Words

Time of writing:

Spring 2019

Place of the first retreat:

Kokotek, Diocese of Gliwice

Place of writing:

Diocese of Gliwice

Target group:

Open retreat for people aged 16–35

Retreat description:

The retreat leads through Jesus’ humanity and the Cross to Christ’s seven last words, received in the silence of the heart and prepared for in the Eucharist. It closes with gratitude for the Sacrifice, a gathering of the words from Golgotha, and an invitation not to remain at the sight of the Cross, but to carry it to others.

List of small-group meeting outlines

• Meeting 1 — “To See So as to Hear”
  • Goal of the meeting + notes for the facilitator
  • Prayer and getting to know participants
  • Jesus — a human being
  • The cross — silence — words
  • Summary
  • Application and closing prayer
• Meeting 2 — “I Will Live for Him”
  • Goal of the meeting + notes for the facilitator
  • Introducing the psalm’s context
  • Prophetic character
  • Three attitudes
  • My attitude
  • Summary + prayer
• Meeting 3 — “I Thirst”
  • Goal of the meeting + notes for the facilitator
  • Our desires
  • Jesus on the Cross
  • What Does Jesus Desire?
  • The Eucharist — a meeting of desires
  • The community of those who desire
  • Summary and application
• Meeting 4 — “Gratitude and Freedom”
  • Goal of the meeting + notes for the facilitator
  • Prayer
  • A Cross That Is Not Anonymous
  • Why Sacrifice?
  • Understanding Christ
  • Salvation History — Three Perspectives
  • Opening to Grace
  • Summary — Freedom