Lourdes relates the experience of her silent retreat: 
 
From day one, to my surprise, Jesus gave me the theme of my retreat: entering the ocean of His mercy to be consumed in His divine Love. And he brought me to the perfect retreat House on an island surrounded by the ocean!

From day two on, our Lord allowed me to receive the understanding that His Mercy and the mystery of the Cross are one. I lived days of profound self-knowledge taken into the “deep” of my heart, which led me to heartfelt tears of repentance. All of these experiences I lived consumed in His Mercy with immense gratitude and awe.

The words of Saint Paul to the Colossians: “You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God,” became my deepest prayer and longing throughout my retreat. I know that when God blesses us abundantly in His fathomless Mercy, the graces are always to be shared according to His Will, therefore, I am sure that as the Holy Spirit prompts me, I will be sharing with you my experiences and the graces of the mystery of the Cross and Divine Mercy I received.

My most precious and beloved community of my heart in Christ, you too were so present to me in my silence. I prayed, hidden with Christ in God, for each of you and your families. This week, I also received a greater love for you and a deeper appreciation of you— it is God’s love and appreciation for each of you!

Today, on the Feast of the Exultation of the Cross, I begin my journey home, and tomorrow, on the Feast of our Lady of Sorrows, I enter fully my hidden life as a MOC In my domestic monastery! May we continue to walk hand in hand and help one another “ empty ourselves” as we follow in the footsteps of our Beloved Savior. May we, too, as one with our Love Crucified, be “obedient to death on the cross”, so that we can radiate the Light of God’s love in our world!  

We are one heart with our Mother of Sorrows, embracing our Love Crucified in love and gratitude, and glorifying Abba for “He so loved the world that he gave his only son!”

Lourdes