2010
1st Stage: July 2-13 (for those beginning in 2010)
2nd Stage: July 2-13
3rd Stage: July 30-August 10
Since 2007 St Beuno's has offered the full
Spiritual Exercises in three stages, taking 10 days each
year.
This is an individually guided, silent retreat given in the
manner of St Ignatius. Participants move through the meditations
and contemplations of the Ignatian Exercises. Our aim is for
participants to experience the 1st week of the Exercises the
first year, the 2nd week of the Exercises the second year
and the 3rd and 4th weeks of the Exercises in the last year.
These stages give almost exactly the same division of the
"weeks" of the Exercises as is usual when they are
done over a full month. That is, we usually take about 10
days to get to the end of the first "week" of the
Exercises and another 10 days to complete the second "week"
of the Exercises.
Thus from beginning to end of the Exercises takes about 2
years and 2 weeks.
We
began these retreats thinking they would be particularly helpful
for those who cannot afford either the cost or the time of
one month at St Beuno's in one year. However, we are finding
that these retreats offer something of the best of both worlds:
They enable each week of the Exercises interact with daily
life. The second week's following of Christ can be done in
part in St Beuno's and then completed in daily life. Whereas
this retreat might not have quite the intensity of the 30
day experience, it makes up for this in its integration with
real life.
We attempt to keep the same retreat giver
over the three year period, although with natural staff changes
this cannot be guaranteed.
Because, unlike the full 30 days, this retreat
doesn't have a lead-in of a couple of days we do suggest that
you try to arrive as rested as you can.
There is no need to bring a copy of the Exercises
along to this retreat as any materials that you need will
be provided. As the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius was written
as a book of suggestions for the guide (not for the retreatant)
we don't encourage a study of the book before you participate
in the Exercises. The original 16th Century text is more likely
to put you off than help! The underlying dynamic is as helpful
as ever based on unchanging human characteristics and the
person of Christ, but each generation has to make adaptations
to the presentations.
We expect participants to apply for this retreat
with the intention of continuing the process for three years.
Interestingly the sense of the joint venture and companionship
along the way is a significant part of the retreat, even though
it is done in silence.
Retreat
givers for 2010; Offering
for Retreat
To book please download both the General
Booking Form and the Additional
Booking Form and return them to us with a deposit
of £75 (If you wish to fill in booking forms online
and send them as attachments than please remove dotted lines)
