	A Hermitage Retreat Center

Read What Some of our Guests Experienced on Their Personal Silent Retreats

1991 Star Tribune article, "Alone With God."

Our hermitage retreat center has received endorsements from many Christian leaders.

Listen to a radio interview with the Board President.

The following are excerpts from just a few of the hundreds of written testimonials we have received from those who have made hermitage retreats at Pacem In Terris.

August 2010

This is a new experience for me to be a hermit and take a couple of days out of my schedule to bask in the presence of the Lord.
   I came to this event with no set expectations. I looked at this time as the beginning of a process, and a way to rekindle my relationship with God as I journey as His child.
   I have struggled over the years that through what I have done and what I have failed to do, I am unworthy of the unconditional love of the Father. I have studied scripture, attended women's retreats, and listened to counsel of friends who say how much God loves me - to no avail.
   From the moment staff drove me out to my hermitage - St. John the Beloved - a stay ordained by God and so perfectly matched for how He needed to minister to me. I watched and marveled as the deer ran back and forth in front of my window. I sat in awe as the scripture I was meant to study leapt off the pages, while the birds and crickets serenaded me with their songs. I slept soundly knowing how God wanted me to rest and refresh my weary body. I sang praises as I walked through the prairie and onto the boardwalk for a time of prayer and reflection, while the flowers and grasses seemed to wave a friendly greeting as I walked by.
   All of this, such beauty and peace, brought to me through the vision of one who knew the potential for the hermit experience and was obedient to fulfill that call. I am grateful.
   And yet, all of what God has given me to ruminate on after leaving Pacem,I take with me His words whispered to my spirit in the early morning hours on my first day when I asked Him - How could you love me,Lord? I love you. I ask again - How could you love me , Lord? He says again, I love you. How could you love me Lord? I love you. Be still.
   These words , at the beginning of my time here at Pacem, have been the longing of my heart. I have been able to begin a process of forgiving myself, knowing that the God I love and serve calls me His beloved.

June 2010

Thank you! What a great place! I have never been in the woods in Minnesota and seen so many birds and animals. the most magical moment was at the dock when a beaver decided to swing out in front of me. Silence is scary but with human silence we for once really listen to what nature has to say to us. I suppose you could say you hear God. For that I thank you.

Thank you for the prayer support which is proving to be especially powerful right now. I am working trough some very difficult and painful childhood abuse memories, but want to get through them and put them behind me so I can do whatever God's will might be. A place like Pacem where you can be alone with God is perfect for this kind of "work". Thank you for everything.

May 2010

Father, I come to you for rest!

Not trains, cars or sirens
But the wind, birds, rustling leaves.

Not television, radio or ringing phones
But walking, reading, long hours of sleep.

Not therapist, mom, sister, or friend
But God's little girl holding His hand.

Not cooking, or cleaning , or washing my clothes
But sitting on the porch eating cheese and fruit.

God said, "Come to me my tired little girl. Empty all hat is not of me and I will fill you up. Let go of all the pain and worries of others and I will give you rest. Stop trying to fix the world and I will give you healing. I give you all of this, not because of what you have done, I give you this because you are my child and I am your Father.

April 2010

I am very blessed and thankful of having had the chance to spend some time in this little comfortable and peaceful hermitage. It felt like the Lord surrounding me in His presence with open arms. What a powerful word is "SILENCE" - to experience it this way. Just the singing of the birds and all God's creatures and creation all around was so inspiring and peaceful. I pray that more people attempt these precious moments at least once (or more) in a life time.

What a gift to be in God's holy presence. It seems as though the time was not long enough, but this will hopefully bring me back very soon! Shalom

This was a wonderful experience for me and I will be back. It was great to have the quiet time to reflect with God and the Holy Spirit. Thank you!

March 2010

Praise be to our God! Intimacy with a thrice holy God through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord – a possibility beyond imagination, yet real. May God richly bless all as He has me!

Yes, this weekend won’t soon be forgotten by this young mom of three. I will seek God in stillness and quiet more purposefully now because I know He is there. As a pilgrim I will journey to this place again to seek God and find Him. What you have here is a treasure and I will share it with others – like my faith in a majestic, one, true God.

January 2010

Pacem has become a vital necessity in my relationship with Our Lord, and I long for this place and the fellowship it brings. It amazes me that God longs for us to be intimate with Him. He is constantly drawing us closer if we would just listen. Thank you for providing me with an opportunity to do just that.

My time here with the Lord has been exactly what I needed. God directs and plans each visit just for me, yet each time I come here I’m “blown away” at how His plan unfolds. He is truly Marvelous. I spent much more time in the Scriptures—especially Psalm 25. I wrote it down and prayed it out loud. How wonderful to be able to read, write and speak God’s Word all at the same time! I am truly blessed each time I am here. I tell my friends and family that the second I cross over Pacem land I feel a sense of Peace—in a Mighty Way.

December 2009

I experienced the gift of the hermitage many years ago. It was three days of being “fully attentive to the presence of God”. Those three days enabled me to let go of some troublesome things in my life.

The small room seemed to protect me as I sat in the rocking chair looking out on a grey January day with the hazy sun trying to break through. I went for a long walk one of the days and the sun seemed to follow me. I knew God had heard my plea and He stayed with me. It was indeed a turning point for me and I will never forget that very special time.

Once again my Lord met me and spoke in my spirit and heart as I listened in silence and looked into His Word. He’s telling me I need to be still and know that He is God and that He will work all things out . .

November 2009

I came to Pacem with no expectations. God is here and I thank you all for the warm wel-come, the care package and Silence. Prov. 8:17 says “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.” My date with Jesus was a blessing I cannot describe. He was with me as I walked through the rustling leaves. He was with me on the bridgeway. He was listening when I spoke to Him at the cross, and He blessed me beyond measure. Thank you for sharing your love of Christ with so many hermits. The accommodations are beyond my expectations and so God moves in the hearts of His people, Pacem will con-tinue to be a place of peace and refuge. “But in each of one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” Eph. 4:7 Amen I’ll see you again.

God is so Good! I thought I was coming here to get over my fear of loneliness, but in-stead, God saturated me with His love and gave me peace with being alone – with Him. This is my Poustinia! Alleluia!!

Other Notes

"Thank you - I feel as if I've discovered a new definition of peace!"

"I just wanted to thank you for making a place like Pacem In Terris possible and available. I did not leave Pacem the same person. I know my faith and relationship with God and the world have been enhanced."

"What an amazing blessing it has been for me to still myself in the presence of God, free from any distraction. From the moment I entered this place I felt peace flooding my soul."

"I've always thought of the Lord in the things that are powerful: thunder, multitudes of people in musical worship. But I have learned He also comes through and speaks to me in a gentle whisper. I have experienced an incredible gift from the Lord, to be still - alone- and know that He is God."

"How can I thank you for what I've experienced here? To walk in the beauty of God's creation - to pray to Him and to listen - to listen in a way that I never have before. I don't leave here with answers to all my problems. I leave with peace - knowing that He is all I need. Bless you all! Bless this place. I will return."

"Just a note to let you know what a wonderful and special prayer experience it was for me staying at your hermitage. The silence was golden and the solitude enfolding - an experience I will return to have again. Thank you again for everything. It was a beautiful day in a sacred space."

"The hermitage experience was like nothing I have ever done before. I cannot think of one thing that needs to be changed. I know deep within me that God is ever-present in this place, working miracles inside of people who come here. God bless all of you - I shall return."

"Thank you so very much for the role you played in my blessed time with the Lord! This is a beautiful place, beautifully maintained and a beautiful reflection of God's love and provision. I leave with a whole new and refreshed perspective on God's will for my life and ministry."

"I just wanted to thank you again for your hospitality, prayers and caring. God spoke to me in so many ways at Pacem. I feel peaceful, renewed and challenged to a deeper faith life. Pacem was just what I needed and just when I needed it - God's perfect timing."

"It was dusk as I walked the trail to St. Peter's. The woods, which envelop the hermitage, were shadowy. The walls of the little prayer cabin reflected the last of the daylight.

For the first few minutes, I rattled about, hanging up my jacket, exploring the cupboard, testing the gas lamp then turning it off, changing into my slippers, peeking into the food basket. I lit the altar candle (not sure why, but it seemed appropriate), mentally registering a quick and awkward prayer. I'm not quite certain what to do next! What do pilgrims do?

The rocking chair, situated in front of the large, wrap-around windows, is comfortable, both for sitting and gazing, but also because it provided me something to do: rock. I wrap myself, Indian-style, in a big blanket and rock, the motion a calming outlet for my impatient energies. I'm still making mental notes about next week's "I have to's" and the "I should have before I came..." Conversations from this morning and last week distract me. It's so hard to shut it off!

The woods are disappearing into the night. Inside, there is only the dancing of the altar candle, softly highlighting the cross and the two icons. Outside, the only light comes from a few stars flickering through the trees, which are now just silhouettes against the fading sky. It's so very quiet. One can't ignore the quiet.

There's a moth fluttering against the window, attracted perhaps by the candle light inside. I rock the minutes past, minutes building upon minutes. The motion and the blackness is calming, healing, satisfying.

Without quite realizing it, I've begun to put away the preoccupations of this morning, tomorrow, next week, next month. In the rocking chair, in the quiet, in the hermitage, in the woods, the "real" world is distancing itself from me. I rock...

Suddenly I hear myself saying out loud, "What will you teach me, Lord? What are we going to do?" There's a feeling of awkward, yet intimate, expectation in the air.

As I sit here, rocking, rocking, rocking, I understand. I have been offered a precious gift as well as a challenge: solitude. An invitation to listen, to reflect, to grow. I realize I need only say 'yes' (trusting God will be satisfied even with a hesitant 'maybe').

May this Pilgrim's adventure begin!"

A Hermitage Retreat Center

Read What Some of our Guests Experienced on Their Personal Silent Retreats

Our hermitage retreat center has received endorsements from many Christian leaders.

Listen to a radio interview with the Board President.

The following are excerpts from just a few of the hundreds of written testimonials we have received from those who have made hermitage retreats at Pacem In Terris.