FEATURE
Young Catholic Adults Damian Barker reports from Douai Abbey
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etreats are for everyone – for ordinary people at any time in our lives, giving us the option to step aside from life for a while, to rest and become spiritually refreshed in a peaceful environment. St Benedict did not envisage his monasteries as existing primarily for receiving passing guests. In fact, he saw them as sanctuaries for those who wished permanently to put away the distractions of the world and seek Christ. Yet, St Benedict recognised the attraction monasteries held for those in the world, and resigned himself with goodwill to making provision for guests, that they be welcomed as if they are Christ himself, as the rule of St Benedict says; “Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, ‘I came as a guest, and you received Me’ (Mt 25:35). And to all let due honour be shown, especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims. (Chapter 53: On the Reception of Guests – the Rule of Saint Benedict) For the last few years, Young Catholic Adults (or YCA) have been guests of Douai Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery in Berkshire, with the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge providing the music for High/Sung Masses, Vespers and Compline. The Rule of St Benedict states: “Let us therefore consider how we ought to conduct ourselves in sight of God and His angels, and let us take part in the psalmody in such a way that our mind may be in harmony with our voice;” (Rule of St Benedict, 19) with this in mind, the weekend encourages the promotion of chant. As in previous years, the Schola organised Gregorian Chant workshops throughout the weekend. The accommodation was split between “the Cottages”, which are ideal for young people on retreat, or for student or chaplaincy groups seeking simple, discreet, flexible and accessible accommodation; and the Guesthouse, which provides a range of single, double
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Marian Procession in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima with Fr Lawrence Lew OP (left) Canon Poucin ICKSP (centre)
and twin rooms that are adjacent to the main Monastery. More than 50 people from all over the country attended (20-22 October), the theme was building small and convinced Catholic communities. There was a Votive High Mass for the Douai Martyrs, on Saturday 21 October, with Canon Vianney Poucin de Wouilt ICKSP, as celebrant, Dom. Christopher Greener OSB as Deacon, and Fr Lawrence Lew OP as Subdeacon; followed by a Marian Procession around the grounds of the Abbey in honour of Our Lady of Fatima. On Sunday, Fr Lawrence Lew celebrated a Dominican Rite Sung Mass. There were also three catechetical talks, Rosaries, two sessions of Confessions, Vespers, and socials! Furthermore, 15 people were enrolled in the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel. The Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge was founded in 1975 by the late Dr Mary Berry CBE, an Augustinian Canoness and Cambridge musicologist, with the purpose of advancing the singing and study of Gregorian chant. The chants, full of beauty and variety, and with a profound spiritual content, have been
composed and developed throughout the centuries, and contain music special to many regions and cultures. Further details, including information about how to become an Associate, can be found at the Schola’s website, www.scholagregoriana.org Young Catholic Adults is a group which promotes a spirit of orthodoxy with charity; it has a deliberately positive non-divisive outlook and uses the Church’s devotional heritage in order to aid souls. YCA promotes the celebration of Masses in the Extraordinary Form, Adoration, the Rosary and other Marian devotions. It is loyal to the Magisterium and follows Benedict XVI’s teaching as found in Summorum Pontificum. YCA has a yearly weekend retreat, which is becoming ever more successful every year, together with other events around the country. The organisation has worked with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, Dominicans, Benedictines and Diocesan clergy. For more information, please see www.youngcatholicadults. co.uk or youngcatholicadults-latestnews blogspot.co.uk
SPRING 2018
