30.01.2014
Retreat in the City to Focus on St Bonaventure’s The Tree of Life
Set in the historic surroundings of the cathedral (pictured), the retreat aims to teach those present how to create space for peace and to connect with God which will help far beyond the time of the weekend retreat itself. Sessions will teach a practice which can be taken into busy daily lives which are full of noise and mayhem.
The retreat will be led by Sue Grier of Immanuel Christian Retreat Centre in Ramelton, Donegal. Sue has a wide experience in Christian spirituality and will be leading sessions on St Bonaventure’s The Tree of Life. This is a text that Bonaventure wrote based on Scripture, the life and witness of St Francis of Assisi and other scholarly masters of the day.
In the text, he initially lifts us up into the wonder and mystery of Christ’s origin and ancestry, His life and power, then we are plunged into the brutality of His passion and death. Finally we are lifted again to contemplate the glory of his resurrection and given a promise of His Kingdom.
St Bonaventure lived in the 13th century and was responsible for calling Franciscans back to the vision of St Francis call from God to “rebuild by church”.
Sue Grier, retreat conductor says: “It is our prayer that those who come to the retreat will savour the fruit of this spiritual text whether familiar with it or just being introduced to it.”
The following prayer of Bonaventure will also be a focus of the weekend:
For it is with devotion and tears that we should say:
Give us Your Fruit as our food,
And shed Your light upon our thoughts;
Lead us over the Straightest roads,
And foil the plans of our foe.
Fill us with your most sacred glory,
Inspire us with Holy thoughts;
Be unto those who fear Christ
A peaceful way of life.
Amen.
The retreat is non residential and the cost of €85 includes retreat sessions and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. For those traveling from outside Dublin, there are a number of reasonably priced hotels in the area.
Full details of the retreat can be found here.
