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2012 Holy Isle | 2013 Holy Isle | 2013 Spain | 2014 Holy Isle |
Study Retreat at the Carmelite Institute of Teresian and
Sanjuanistic Studies (CITES), Avila based on the writings of
Ss Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross
1st– 9th July 2013
led by Julienne McLean, Peter Tyler, Viv Stacey and Fr Michael Kirwan
‘There is a great fire in the spirit after the manner of a cloud of surpassing brightness. Then the soul is given surpassing certainty that the three Persons are one substance, one power, one wisdom and one only God. Thus it comes about that what we have held by faith now we grasp by vision.’
Teresa of Avila ‘The Interior Castle’:
The Seventh Mansion
We are delighted to invite you to share eight days together in the company of St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross in the places most associated with their life and work in Castille: Avila, Toledo, Segovia and the Gredos Mountains. Our retreat shall take place at the newly built Carmelite Institute of Teresian and Sanjuanistic Studies (CITES) inaugurated in June 2008 and purpose-built in Avila for study and retreats by the International Carmelite Order. From 2pm on Monday 1st July participants may arrive at the centre. For those who need it, a coach will depart from Barajas Airport, Madrid at 2pm. Avila, our base for the retreat, is the so-called ‘City of Knights’ and retains the best preserved medieval fortifications in Europe. It has also been a centre for Jewish and Christian mystical writing for over a thousand years. CITES itself is built adjacent to Teresa of Avila’s own Convent of the Incarnation and commands breathtaking views of the city and the Gredos Mountains. On each day of the retreat there will be a planned itinerary in the mornings, involving presentations from the retreat leaders followed by a guided visit to a place of interest in the environs. During our time together we hope to explore various themes which arise from the saints’ writings whilst placing them in the unique setting within which we find ourselves. On our first day in the city you will have a chance to visit some of its key sites, including the Cathedral and Teresa’s birthplace. On Wednesday we shall again be based in Avila and have time to visit the convent of the Encarnación, Teresa’s home for much of her religious life, and San Vicente. On Thursday we make a day pilgrimage to the mystical city of Toledo. Variously known as ‘The Jerusalem of the West’ and ‘The City of Three Cultures’ for many centuries it was the place where Eastern and Western cultures met and cross-fertilized. Here it was that the Koran was first translated out of Arabic by a group of scholars working in the famous ‘School of Translators’ and to this day the unique blend of Jewish, Muslim and Christian cultures is seen in the literature, art and spirituality inspired by this great city. During our day, which will include lunch in the city, we shall visit the two remaining synagogues of Toledo, the El Greco House and Museum and the fabulous Cathedral built on the site of the old city Mosque. Friday is designated as a day for silent reflection to allow us to absorb the peace and serenity of Avila. Participants who want to can work in the gardens, laundry or library of CITES and breakfast and lunch will be in silence. On Saturday we have the chance to visit the fairytale city of Segovia including the tomb and Priory of St John of the Cross. We shall enter into this scene and have a chance to visit the Knights Templar church of Vera Cruz, the Plaza Major, Cathedral, Convento of Corpus Christi (a former Jewish synagogue) and the world-famous Roman aqueduct. On Sunday we shall once again be in Avila and as well as our chance for prayer and reflection we shall visit the first foundation of Teresa’s reform of the Carmelite Order, the church of San Jose. Our final day on Monday will include a visit to the spectacular wild mountains of the Gredos. Both Teresa and John would have known these mountains well and they dominant the city from the distance. Here we will spend the morning at the Hermitage of Saint Peter of Alcantara (www3.planalfa.es/santuario/) in the Gredos Mountains. Saint Peter was a close ally of Saint Teresa and is mentioned many times in her ‘Life’. His hermitage is in one of the most beautiful spots in the Gredos which is always pleasant, cool and verdant even in the hottest weather. After lunch we will visit the stunning Caves of Aguilar. Discovered by accident forty years ago, they are some of the most spectacular caves in Europe (and a cool way to spend a hot afternoon!). The retreat ends after early breakfast and prayer on Tuesday 9th July with a coach available at 10.30 for those who need transport to Barajas Airport, Madrid. The pilgrimage will be led by Julienne McLean, Peter Tyler, Viv Stacey and Fr Michael Kirwan who will be presenting talks and items for reflection during the event. We anticipate, in addition, that there will be plenty of time and space for quiet reflection. As well as our own (ecumenical) prayers participants are invited to participate in the liturgies of CITES. Although it will not be a silent retreat we must ask participants to respect the silence and life of our hosts and of each other, especially on our quiet day on Friday. CITES is not a hotel but a place for quiet prayer and reflection. No prior knowledge of the areas we shall explore is required. Costs and Booking The cost of the Pilgrimage is 850 Euros payable directly to CITES by Visa or Mastercard. This includes full board at CITES and all travel expenses in Spain, and excludes travel from your home to Barajas airport, Madrid. A deposit of 100 euros is necessary on booking, with the full balance to be paid by 1st March, 2013. To book a place please contact -
The cost of the retreat is inclusive of travel in Spain, use of tour guides, entrance to museums and shrines, lunches on day excursions and full board accommodation at CITES. It does not include travel from your home to CITES, however we will arrange for a coach to take retreatants to and from Barajas airport in Madrid at the start and end of the retreat. For more information contact info@contemplativespirituality.org. Demand for places on the pilgrimage has been high in the past so we recommend booking as soon as possible. Please note, the itinerary is subject to change if local circumstances
dictate. |
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