August 25, 2007
Spiritual vacations
Rome, Aug 24, 2007 / 10:18 am (CNA).- More and more Italians, tired from the routine and noise of the city, are opting to spend their vacations in monasteries and convents that offer them a time of reflection and contact with nature.
Many religious communities—even cloistered convents--have opened their doors to young people and families to join in their daily life of prayer and activities, as well as to listen to their concerns and provide them spiritual guidance.
“In these times in which prayer and reflection go unnoticed,” the Augustinian Sisters of the Monastery of Lecceto, near Siena, offer such an opportunity, said Mother Sofia. Guests can participate in community prayers and even help out with the monastery’s artisan work.
The Benedictine monks, who are instructed in their rule of life to receive visitors, are taking guests in at their monastery in Subiaco, allowing them to participate in the daily prayers of the community.
The Franciscans at the Sacro Convent of Assisi offer guests the chance to visit the places where St. Francis lived, such as the Church of San Damiano, the Portiuncula chapel, and his tomb at the Basilica of Assisi.
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The link to my blog is not the correct one. Please click on the right hand side "(Vacation=Vocation)...".
thanks!
Posted by broajk email at August 25, 2007 5:50 PMJeff, I hope that doesn't catch on in my part of the world, all you have to do is look at the websites for some of the orders to see their teaching or retreat "charism" is new age thought, centering prayer, exercises in syncretism, labyrinth walking, teaching Reiki, teaching Reiki I, teaching Reiki II, teaching Reiki healing at a distance.... It's so embarassing. Nobody ever hears about the good ones who remained faithful to the Church around here.
Posted by April email at August 26, 2007 2:38 AMDear April,
"Teaching Reiki Healing at a Distance"? So, then, do I need to be present for this class? Is this like a correspondance class?
Posted by Andy K. email at August 26, 2007 10:28 AMLol, Andy! The "healing" is at a distance. In case that doesn't worry anyone, Reiki practitioners are asked to promise not to heal anyone without their permission. But they are also told that such "healing" is not possible w/o the recipient's permission. My question, to which I've never been given a proper answer, is if the practitioner can not effect a change without the permission of the recipient, why must they promise not to?
Posted by joanne email at August 26, 2007 12:13 PMHi Andy -- Some of these places are so profit-driven they'd probably think of a way to accept telecommuters... the prices are high to learn this reiki garbage.
Sadly, they are totally unlike the wonderful faithful sisters I knew growing up. On the brighter side, the growing orders now are the ones who remained faithful.
Posted by April email at August 27, 2007 12:38 AMWe stayed on a farm run by some American Benedictine sisters in the Abruzzi mountains, east of Rome. What a wonderful, peaceful place! During our Navy tour in Naples we visited many times and helped prune and harvest olives, mow, pick cherries, and castrate a steer.
This isn't anything new. Secular people have always gone on retreats in religious houses, and pilgrims and travelers have always made use of monastic hospitality.
Posted by Maureen email at August 27, 2007 9:07 PM