Retreats for the People: A Sketch for a Great Revival
Retreats for the People: A Sketch for a Great Revival
Overview
IT has been said that, in the history of the Church, the twentieth century will eventually be known as the century of the laity. And it must be admitted that probably at no preceding epoch have there been the same opportunity and need for the co-operation of the faithful laity in the defence of the Church, in the promotion of her interests and in the "pacific penetration," by means of their example and intellectual influence, of the society in which they live. But it may be said with equal truth that our century is also the century of retreats. And this is just what we should expect in the ordinary course of Divine Providence. That our Catholic laity, of both sexes and of all social classes, should be fitted, always under the direction and control of ecclesiastical authority, to play the magnificent role which is awaiting them, it is absolutely necessary, not only that they should have a thorough training in Christian Doctrine and in the knowledge of all that appertains to their religion and its history, which is obtained by a good Catholic education and by the reading of Catholic literature; but also that they should have frequent opportunities for what is called, even outside our own body, the" deepening of the spiritual life." It is not mere knowledge of the Faith, of the Church's constitution and her history, however extensive and accurate, but also, or rather far more, the intensity of ,the spiritual life and the application of religious principles to everyday practice, that will enable the Christian layman and laywoman not only to save their own souls, but to play their part great or small in saving the world around them. And this all-necessary "deepening of the spiritual life" is the work of retreats for the people. We may thank God for this "great revival" which Father Plater so admirably describes in the present volume. It is, indeed, a wonderful and inspiring story. As I wrote on another occasion: "Never before have these invaluable aids to salvation been so freely accessible to all classes and all ages of the Faithful. But a few years ago a retreat was a spiritual luxury within the reach only of the clergy, the religious, and the leisured and well-to-do classes. Nowadays, thanks to institutions like the Cenacle Convents in Manchester, London, and Liverpool, for women and girls, and Oakwood Hall, Romiley, for men, all classes of Catholics, down to the very poorest, and all ages, from married persons to little children preparing for their' first Communion, can at least in this part of England--secure the full advantages of a retreat with the greatest facility and at very moderate expense.' If the results, social as well as religious, produced by the workmen's retreats in Catholic Belgium are as yet far beyond anything we can aspire to in this country, still the progress which has been made in this direction during the past six years is certainly most gratifying. Father Plater's modesty does not allow him to state that the first public impulse given to the movement was the admirable paper read by himself at the Brighton Conference of the Catholic Truth Society as late as 1906. What has happened since is narrated by his own pen in the following pages. But I feel it to be a mere act of justice on my part, whilst expressing my appreciation of this book and my earnest desire that it may be widely read by both Catholics and non-Catholics, to record here how very greatly the whole movement is indebted to the author, both for its inception and its subsequent development, which he has never ceased to further by both pen and voice, by articles and by lectures. Yet, whatever share Father Plater and so many other devoted men and women have been privileged to have in this divine work, none will be more ready than they to protest: "I have planted, Apollo watered; but God gave the increase. . . . For we are God's coadjutors." (I Cor. iii. 6, 9.)Description
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The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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Estimated delivery times:
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- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
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If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
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You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
IT has been said that, in the history of the Church, the twentieth century will eventually be known as the century of the laity. And it must be admitted that probably at no preceding epoch have there been the same opportunity and need for the co-operation of the faithful laity in the defence of the Church, in the promotion of her interests and in the "pacific penetration," by means of their example and intellectual influence, of the society in which they live. But it may be said with equal truth that our century is also the century of retreats. And this is just what we should expect in the ordinary course of Divine Providence. That our Catholic laity, of both sexes and of all social classes, should be fitted, always under the direction and control of ecclesiastical authority, to play the magnificent role which is awaiting them, it is absolutely necessary, not only that they should have a thorough training in Christian Doctrine and in the knowledge of all that appertains to their religion and its history, which is obtained by a good Catholic education and by the reading of Catholic literature; but also that they should have frequent opportunities for what is called, even outside our own body, the" deepening of the spiritual life." It is not mere knowledge of the Faith, of the Church's constitution and her history, however extensive and accurate, but also, or rather far more, the intensity of ,the spiritual life and the application of religious principles to everyday practice, that will enable the Christian layman and laywoman not only to save their own souls, but to play their part great or small in saving the world around them. And this all-necessary "deepening of the spiritual life" is the work of retreats for the people. We may thank God for this "great revival" which Father Plater so admirably describes in the present volume. It is, indeed, a wonderful and inspiring story. As I wrote on another occasion: "Never before have these invaluable aids to salvation been so freely accessible to all classes and all ages of the Faithful. But a few years ago a retreat was a spiritual luxury within the reach only of the clergy, the religious, and the leisured and well-to-do classes. Nowadays, thanks to institutions like the Cenacle Convents in Manchester, London, and Liverpool, for women and girls, and Oakwood Hall, Romiley, for men, all classes of Catholics, down to the very poorest, and all ages, from married persons to little children preparing for their' first Communion, can at least in this part of England--secure the full advantages of a retreat with the greatest facility and at very moderate expense.' If the results, social as well as religious, produced by the workmen's retreats in Catholic Belgium are as yet far beyond anything we can aspire to in this country, still the progress which has been made in this direction during the past six years is certainly most gratifying. Father Plater's modesty does not allow him to state that the first public impulse given to the movement was the admirable paper read by himself at the Brighton Conference of the Catholic Truth Society as late as 1906. What has happened since is narrated by his own pen in the following pages. But I feel it to be a mere act of justice on my part, whilst expressing my appreciation of this book and my earnest desire that it may be widely read by both Catholics and non-Catholics, to record here how very greatly the whole movement is indebted to the author, both for its inception and its subsequent development, which he has never ceased to further by both pen and voice, by articles and by lectures. Yet, whatever share Father Plater and so many other devoted men and women have been privileged to have in this divine work, none will be more ready than they to protest: "I have planted, Apollo watered; but God gave the increase. . . . For we are God's coadjutors." (I Cor. iii. 6, 9.)Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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