This year the annual retreat for the Pluscarden Community took place from 16th - 22nd July. Our retreat preacher was Dom David Foster, a monk of Downside, who currently teaches Philosophy at the Collegio Sant' Anselmo in Rome.
Very boldly and originally, Fr David took as his theme Poetry, and how it can help us "re-enchant our disenchantment"; how it can help us live our spiritual and human lives more authentically; even, how it can help us, at times, simply survive!
This was a wonderful, nourishing, mind-broadening, heart-expanding retreat.
Fr. David would read us poems, or extracts from poems, that have meant a lot to him, with interwoven explanation and commentary. His chosen selection began with Rainer Maria Rilke (translated from the German by himself); then George Herbert; R.S. Thomas; G.M. Hopkins; W.H. Auden and T.S. Eliot.
Fr. David's guiding idea was that poets can help us grow in our contemplative life and prayer. Even if they are not Saints, or Catholic, or Christian, these are people who have explored their own hearts - who can therefore help us get in touch with our own deepest selves, and with our deepest aspirations - who can therefore help us find the One Pearl of Great Price, which is Jesus.
As usual the retreat ended with a public renewal of vows; celebrated this year, quite appropriately, on the feast of St. Mary Magdalene (22 July).