welcome to this website
This website was suggested to me by what happened at a retreat we had for lay people at my monastery of Pachacamac on the outskirts of Lima at Pentecost, 2013. It was our first attempt at organising a retreat from scratch and then letting people know that it was taking place. As it was Pentecost, it would be about the Holy Spirit; but we did not expect any charismatics to be present, as they were doing their own thing on this feast. It would be straight out of monastic Tradition: Mass with Gregorian chant, talks based on the Fathers of the Church, especially the Eastern ones, and silence. We were overjoyed when a pre-existing group of forty people signed up. God was blessing us. Then they pulled out, only days before the retreat. Then we managed to have two people. However, a pious lady, member of the Charismatic Renewal, took pity on us and organised her friends, all charismatics, to come, even though they had to change their own plans and did not hope too much from us. We started with twelve people resident on the Friday evening with about the same number who came for the day on Saturday. They came to Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers andCompline, but only one or two came for Matins at 5 in the morning. We ended with Conventual Mass on Pentecost Sunday.
They were overjoyed with the outcome, and very surpised too. "It is as though a little bit of heaven has descended on earth!" one exclaimed. I was carried away, and spoke for one and a half hours without stopping; and, when I stopped and realised what I had done, they urged me to speak more - not a normal reaction after I have spoken for one and a half hours! I thought they were being sarcastic; but, No, they really wanted more. "I have never heard such teaching," said the first. "Can you give us a copy of your talk?" They also loved Br Mario's talk, the liturgy and the silence. When they left, they ask when we could have another retreat like it, as many as possible.
I concluded that Monastic Tradition has quite a lot to say to the Charismatic Renewal. The idea of having this website was born.
(below) Anointing of the Sick after the Pentecost conventual Mass.
They were overjoyed with the outcome, and very surpised too. "It is as though a little bit of heaven has descended on earth!" one exclaimed. I was carried away, and spoke for one and a half hours without stopping; and, when I stopped and realised what I had done, they urged me to speak more - not a normal reaction after I have spoken for one and a half hours! I thought they were being sarcastic; but, No, they really wanted more. "I have never heard such teaching," said the first. "Can you give us a copy of your talk?" They also loved Br Mario's talk, the liturgy and the silence. When they left, they ask when we could have another retreat like it, as many as possible.
I concluded that Monastic Tradition has quite a lot to say to the Charismatic Renewal. The idea of having this website was born.
(below) Anointing of the Sick after the Pentecost conventual Mass.