Part pilgrimage, part retreat.
Retreat: an act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable; a place of privacy or safety; a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction.
It may seem paradoxical—going both outward and inward—but the Benedictine Footprints group I journeyed with to Italy was exactly that: a balanced, Benedictine way to travel. A carefully planned itinerary of culinary, cultural, and spiritual experiences nurtured mind, body, and spirit. A rhythm of activity followed by time for retreat embraces the “ora et labora” (pray and work) foundation for being Benedictine—wisdom for all of life and the travel tips that follow.
Stay put. Go slowly. Experience community. Be curious. Rest into moments. Have a sense of humor. Keep time in your schedule for nothing to happen. Give your soul time to catch up. Be grateful.
Benedictine Travel Tip #1: Stay put.
For twelve days, we immersed ourselves in the community of Guardiagrele, a historic medieval town in Italy’s Abruzzo region. In “The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life,” Judith Valente writes that slow tourism is spending an extended time in one place. The rhythm and routine of a retreat offer an opportunity to step back from the pace, noise, and responsibilities of a busy life and go inward—to reflect, listen, and renew one’s spirit. Becoming familiar with local surroundings and having a home base from which to take day excursions was the heart of the retreat experience Valente created with locals Dr. Jessica Sciubba and Dr. Leila Caramanico for the Benedictine Footprint Retreat/Pilgrimage.
Meeting for prayer at Santa Chiara Church, near the town park, served as bookends for most of our days. In the mornings, we gathered for espressos and croissants at the same coffee shop on La Roma, a ten-minute stroll from the apartment I shared with Joanne. A few mornings I slept in and ate a biscuit (more like a cookie) on the walk to morning prayers. We practiced Lectio Divina with sacred readings, poetry and scripture, often guided by one of our pilgrims, and ended evenings in this same church, praying Compline and blessing each other.
Benedictine Travel Tip #2: Go slowly.
Walking the same streets and alleys, I noticed store window displays, hanging planters on shops and apartments, and loyal dogs on morning walks with their owners. As I round the corner near Piazza San Francesco, I admired the crimson mandevillas trailing from a second-floor terrace and delighted at the Marco Mazzei sculpture, Folio, on the Town Hall building, now a favorite landmark on my daily walk. I could walk down that same street twice a day, sometimes more, for twelve days and still see something new: the clock high on Santa Maria Maggiore, a shop I hadn’t noticed before, another shortcut possibility, the blooms that perked up after a much-needed rain shower. Even when I slept in, I tried not to rush. I moved slowly.
