Just near the end of 2015's Michaelmas Term, LSE SU Catholic Society organised an Advent Retreat at Douai Abbey in Upper Woolhampton, Reading, UK. Douai Abbey is home to a community of monks of the English Benedictine Congregation. The monastery is under the patronage of St Edmund, King & Martyr, and was founded in Paris in 1615. Uprooted by the French Revolution it settled at Douai in Flanders. After more political turmoil the monastic community finally returned to England in 1903, settling at Woolhampton in Berkshire, at the invitation of the Bishop of Portsmouth.
In conjunction with the year of Mercy, this Advent Retreat's main focus was learning the meaning of Mercy and how to be more merciful in our daily lives. The word 'Mercy' was came from the Latin word, Misericordia which is having the heart to welcome the miserable condition of your brother or sister. As catholics, it is our permanent obligation to do the work of mercy through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
The corporal works of mercy include:
- To feed the hungry;
- To give drink to the thirsty;
- To clothe the naked;
- To harbour the harbourless;
- To visit the sick;
- To ransom the captive;
- To bury the dead.
- To instruct the ignorant;
- To counsel the doubtful;
- To admonish sinners;
- To bear wrongs patiently;
- To forgive offences willingly;
- To comfort the afflicted;
- To pray for the living and the dead.
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| Outside the new chapel for the monks at the abbey. |
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| Inside the chapel. |
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| While we were having a little walk around the area. |
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| From left: Stephanie, Fr Jose, Veronica, Izabela, Nicholas, Samantha, Paulina, Patricia, Paul, Ashley and David. |
It was great weekend embracing the value of silence and prayers away from the hustle and bustle of London. Special thanks to those at Douai Abbey for preparing the wonderful french cuisine and making us feel welcomed.
Date of retreat: 4-6 December 2015
Pictures by: Samantha Lim Yi Cheng
