On December 7, St. Stanislaus Oratory Holy Name Society sponsored an Advent Retreat for Men.  Canon Matthew Talarico, Provincial Superior of the Institute of Christ the King, preached the retreat, which was attended by over 100 men.

 

The retreat began with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, offered by Canon Talarico. During the sermon, he delivered an exhortation to venerate, invoke, and imitate Our Blessed Mother as we prepare for the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

After Mass, the men had a hearty breakfast together and shared some social time with each other.

 

 

 

 

The men then gathered in the church for a three-part teaching on the Institute’s patron saints and their instruction on growing spiritually as men. In short, St. Benedict’s Rule gives inciteful advice into human nature to be better sons of God and leaders to those souls entrusted to us. St. Thomas Aquinas’ writings give men a good spiritual plan, to build up their spiritual life stone by stone. St. Francis de Sales models the ‘how’ we do what men are supposed to do according to their duties and resolutions, seeking to attract souls to God’s truth by showing how beautiful and attractive it is, and how a holy life is a happy life. These saints agree the most effective sermons are actions and deeds, not words. Canon advised the men to use this Advent to implement one resolution that will carry on through the New Year stating, “We can and we will improve, by the power of God’s grace.”

 

 

The retreat closed with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by induction of new members into the Holy Name Society.