Some stories never get old. This past summer, friars from the Godsplaining podcast led 132 retreatants through the world of Narnia, during the 2026 Godsplaining All Comers’ Retreat. The goal? To help participants encounter Christ through the many spiritual lessons in C.S. Lewis’ beloved classic.
Held June 19–21 in Louisville, Kentucky, the retreat was led by Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P., Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P., and Fr. Bonaventure Chapman, O.P. The talks gave participants plenty to reflect on, but the retreat was about more than the talks themselves. Participants had the opportunity to attend Mass, spend time in Eucharistic Adoration, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and take time away from the ordinary pace of life to pray and reflect. Joining the friars for the Divine Office, attendees participated in a slice of the friars’ communal prayer life.
Fr. Patrick Briscoe, O.P., highlighted one of the weekend’s key themes: “The promise of the Chronicles of Narnia is that you can be redeemed. That this isn’t the end of the story.”
For Lewis, the wardrobe was an ordinary door that opened into something much greater. That image provided a fitting way into the weekend’s larger reflection on the Christian life. Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P., put it this way: “The deeper reality of Narnia is not actually the reality of enchantment or magic. The deeper reality is the presence of Aslan.” Connecting the story to our Christian lives, he proclaimed, “Our hearts are made for God and only for him.”
While the 2026 All Comers’ Retreat has passed, Godsplaining will be hosting other retreats and days of recollection throughout the year.
Are you interested in hearing more about C.S Lewis directly from the podcast? Check out the full archive of Godsplaining wherever you listen to podcasts, or click here to watch the most recent episode about his book, The Abolition of Man.
Recordings from Godsplaining retreats are also available through the Godsplaining Patreon, along with bonus content and ongoing reflections from the friars.
