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April 22, 2021Have you been wanting to go on a retreat, but cannot because you cannot get away from work, family obligations or COVID-19 fears? This book – “33 Days to Greater Glory: a total consecration to the Father through Jesus based on the Gospel of John” – by Father Michael Gaitley, M.I.C., can help you. It can be a 33-day retreat. There are short reflections and Scripture readings from the Gospel of John.
Father Gaitley is a member of the religious order of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception and he is their director for evangelization. He is the author of several books.
In the introduction, Father Gaitley tells how this book and others he has written came about, and includes a little of his life story. He tells about his obsession with Leonardo Defilippi's performance of the Gospel of John and how he met him one day and how Defilippi has provided access to his performance on the Internet with its web address and the password code, which is included in this book.
The Gospel of John is from the “Revised Standard Version of the Bible” – second Catholic edition (c.2006). Thirty-three days is four weeks and five days. Father Gaitley divides these days into five “chapters.” Each week starts off with a short introduction. The reader then reads from the Gospel of John, which is given as appendix two. Then, read the reflection and conclude with a short prayer.
Week one is entitled “Opening Characters.” It reflects on seven characters from the Gospel. Week two is entitled “The Seven Signs,” which are about seven miracles in the Gospel. Week three is entitled “The Upper Room,” which covers John chapters 13-17. This part of the Gospel are the words of Jesus to his disciples and to God the Father that he spoke in the Upper Room before he entered his Passion.
Week four is entitled “Greater Glory,” which covers John chapters18-21, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The last chapter covers the last five days of the “retreat” as a synthesis and review. This chapter brings all the reflections together and concludes with a consecration to God the Father. Another “chapter” explores how to live after the consecration.
Appendix one is a nine day “novena” to Saint Joseph. There are endnotes and resources available. Again, this book is highly recommended to those looking for a “retreat” or those who want to reflect on the Gospel of John.
Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., St. Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
