This is written by the Rev David Phillips, Utrecht Chaplain months Chaplain’s Letter world we might draw closer to God. Summer is upon us once again and with the fair weather we turn our minds to I have learned to love you late, Beauty at holidays! The word “holidays” comes from once so ancient and so new! I have in an earlier age, a “holy days”, which was, learned to love you late! You were within reason for taking time off from work, on me, and I was in the world outside myself. days other than the Sunday Sabbath. Or I searched for you outside myself and, in the past, in Europe, there were more disfigured as I was, I fell upon the lovely for those who chose extended “holi-days” things of your creation. You were with me, to go on pilgrimages to holy sites. Taking but I was not with you. The beautiful time off nowadays is more often things of this world kept me far from you associated with travel for sightseeing or and yet, if they had not been in you, they some physical exercise or rest all of – would have had no being at all. You called which are great gifts and in the breaking – me; you cried aloud to me; you broke my from the normal routine, we can allow barrier of deafness. You shone upon me; more opportunity than usual for rest, your radiance enveloped me; you put my renewal and the hearing of God’s voice. blindness to flight. You shed your One could also give some time more fragrance about me; I drew breath and intentionally for a spiritual retreat. Here now I gasp for your sweet scent. I tasted are three reasons to go on a monastic you, and now I hunger and thirst for you. retreat: for personal growth; for You touched me, and I am inflamed with refreshment in the stillness; and to hear love of your peace. [Confessions, Bk X Ch St Augustine wrote God’s voice. 27] beautifully about why in retreating from the
This months Chaplain’s Letter is written by the Rev David Phillips, Utrecht Chaplain Summer is upon us once again and with the fair weather we turn our minds to holidays! The word “holidays” comes from “holy days”, which was, in an earlier age, a reason for taking time off from work, on days other than the Sunday Sabbath. Or in the past, in Europe, there were more extended “holi-days” for those who chose to go on pilgrimages to holy sites. Taking time off nowadays is more often associated with travel for sightseeing or some physical exercise or rest – all of which are great gifts – and in the breaking from the normal routine, we can allow more opportunity than usual for rest, renewal and the hearing of God’s voice. One could also give some time more intentionally for a spiritual retreat. Here are three reasons to go on a monastic retreat: for personal growth; for refreshment in the stillness; and to hear God’s voice. St Augustine wrote beautifully about why in retreating from the world we might draw closer to God. I have learned to love you late, Beauty at once so ancient and so new! I have learned to love you late! You were within me, and I was in the world outside myself. I searched for you outside myself and, disfigured as I was, I fell upon the lovely things of your creation. You were with me, but I was not with you. The beautiful things of this world kept me far from you and yet, if they had not been in you, they would have had no being at all. You called me; you cried aloud to me; you broke my barrier of deafness. You shone upon me; your radiance enveloped me; you put my blindness to flight. You shed your fragrance about me; I drew breath and now I gasp for your sweet scent. I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am inflamed with love of your peace. [Confessions, Bk X Ch 27]