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It was a cold, dark, foggy night, in the middle of the North Yorkshire Moors. An owl was hooting in the trees that loomed up on the hillside. The rain beat down on the weary travellers as they made their way to the door of the Grange, while behind them the ghostly grandeur of the Abbey was an imposing presence in the moonlight.
Alright, so I’m being melodramatic, but when your first glimpse of Ampleforth Abbey is through fog and darkness, it’s hard not to be. It’s a very impressive place.
It’s also a very beautiful place to spend a weekend, well away from the stresses of everyday life. The Benedictine love of routine gives a structure to time, with the heartbeat of the Abbey being set by the offices of Matins, Lauds, Mass, Vespers and Compline.
Our retreat was led by Fr. Anthony and Fr. Chad. There was no set theme, but we were encouraged to think about the gifts God has given to us in our lives, and about how we respond to God’s call to us. I found that the greatest gift in my life is friendship, and I consider myself very lucky to have so many true friends (love and hugs to you all — you know who you are). The idea of responding to God’s call struck a chord with me too, as I only recently converted to Christianity from atheism, and I still feel the strength of the call that brought me to Catholicism. I only wish He was always so clear about what He wants me to do!
I think my favourite office must have been Matins — yes, getting up at 5:30am is difficult, but Matins is a very relaxing way to start the day, and it was reassuring to see the monks looking as tired as we were.
I had a wonderful weekend, and I would strongly recommend Ampleforth as a tonic for the mid-term blues. It is so nice to get away from work and worry, and have a completely hassle-free break. Perhaps I’ll see you there next year.
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Last modified: 25th November 2005