Join Fr. Adam Potter in this four part Advent Retreat on the Little Prince, by Antione de Saint-Exupery. In this first reflection, Fr. Potter reflects on the theme of becoming like little children. He highlights the power of imagination, as exemplified by children. It is contrasted by the "serious" adults who have become distracted from their true creative longings.

Here are some of the quotes from this first retreat session:

We must "not be discouraged by the difficulty or the obstacles that come form sin. In this regard, we must not forget that the dynamism of desire is always open to redemption. ...We all, moreover, need to set out on the path of purification and healing of desire. We are pilgrims, heading for the heavenly homeland." (Benedict XVI, Nov 7, 2012)

"What are you looking for?" (The first question posed by Jesus to disciples in gospel John) “…this seems to be an important question because the rest of the Gospel is going to be an interplay between the answer to this question and Christ. Christ identifying himself as that which fulfills those desires. But if we are not familiar with those desires or haven’t really thought it through, then we cannot recognize the value of whatever it is Jesus offers to us.” (Alabacete, What is Christian in Christianity?, 101)

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” (GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy)