WAVERLY (SNR) – Father Karl Millis will present a weekend retreat Oct. 29-31 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly to examine “The ‘Dark Night’ according to the private writings of St Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
In 2009, the Catholic world was shocked to learn of the interior life and spiritual struggles of Mother Teresa, who was canonized in 2016. Father Brian Kolodiejchuk published “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light” to shed light on the depth and intensity of Mother Teresa’s holiness.
What was revealed is that for most of her life St. Teresa of Calcutta suffered from an absence of the felt presence of God; what is called in the spiritual teaching of St. John of the Cross, the “dark night of the soul.”
St. Teresa remained faithful without feeling Jesus’ presence, and famously said, “If I ever become a saint–I will surely be one of “darkness.”
“This retreat will assume the attendee knows little or nothing about the Dark Night, and so we will start from basic teachings, and build upon those step by step,” said Father Millis, “thus making it understandable and approachable, without being overwhelmed.”
Father Millis was ordained in 1999 and came to the Diocese of Lincoln seven years ago, serving at St. Joseph Parish in Auburn, St. Clara in Peru, and now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in North Platte.
Father Millis has been a Third Order Carmelite for more than 30 years, and has studied Carmelite spirituality extensively in both Rome and the United States. He has helped to establish Third Order Carmelite groups in several parishes.
The in-person retreat at the Waverly Good Counsel Retreat House is for men and women of all ages, and will also be live streamed with on demand recordings. One does not have to be a Carmelite to enjoy the Carmelite-themed retreat.
To learn more, register online, or see the full schedule of retreats, visit www.goodcounselretreat.org or call 402-786-2705.
