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Navigating the Affairs of the Soul

Exploring the wisdom of the Spanish mystics

UBEDA, 20-25 September 2021

Retreat Description

A journey through the letters of John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, exploring practical lessons for loving and for living. In this retreat-pilgrimage we will reflect on the spiritual wisdom that has come to us through the extensive epistolary collection of these great Spanish mystics. A wisdom that is deeply rooted in God, yet very real about the challenges and twists and turns of life.

 

Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross navigated a complex world, immersed in profound power struggles and religious changes that transformed the spiritual and political landscape of Europe. They themselves were caught up in the intrigues and tactical manoeuvres of those who opposed their reforming movement within the Carmelite Order. Their epistles bear witness to the way they responded to such pressures and to their resilient character. Other letters are more intimate, and respond to questions raised by young novices, nuns and friars, or lay people of faith who enquired about the affairs of the soul. Their correspondence, in this respect, offers us a wonderful insight into the human side of Teresa and John: their relationships, their priorities, their hopes and fears.

 

Hosted and facilitated by Daniel Muñoz and Guy Wynter, at the Carmelite Priory in Ubeda, the programme includes: daily morning and night prayer, teaching input from Daniel Muñoz and the brothers in the community, guided pilgrimage-walks in the cities of Ubeda and Baeza, a guided visit to the St John of the Cross Museum in Ubeda, free time to reflect and relax in the monastery gardens, and a closing Eucharist at the St John of the Cross Basilica.

Download programme here: 

Price: £750 (shared occupancy)

           £825 (single occupancy) 

 

The price, per person, includes:

  • 6 days / 5 nights full board (en-suite accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, bar 1 lunch in Baeza; wine provided with meals).

  •  Retreat sessions: teaching & input.

  •  All visits and entry fees to sites during your stay (see programme).

  • Return complimentary transfers from Malaga to Ubeda (in air conditioned bus) are included in the price. (See programme for more details).

 

The price, per person, does not include:

  •  Travel insurance.

  •  Flights. 

  •  1 lunch in Baeza.

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Retreat Leader

Daniel Muñoz Triviño is an Anglican priest and lecturer in History of Christianity at the Faculty of Theology of Madrid (Fliedner Foundation). He has led retreats and courses on the Spanish mystics, and is the author of Transformed by the Beloved: a guide to spiritual formation with John of the Cross (BRF, 2014). Until October of 2018, he was chaplain and programme director at the Los Olivos Retreat Centre in the Sierra Nevada National Park, Granada (Spain). Alongside his husband, Guy, he is the co-founder and co-director of Los Olivos Retreats.

Venue

 

This special retreat will be hosted at the Casa de Espiritualidad San Juan de la Cruz (St John of the Cross Spirituality House), within the Carmelite monastery in Ubeda, where John of the Cross spent the latter part of his life. The gardens of the monastery, by the old city walls, now house the John of the Cross sculpture that was once at the centre of the Los Olivos courtyard. All accommodation is en-suite and we will enjoy dedicated group spaces (meeting room, chapel and refectory).

Find our more about the location and the venue here.

All details correct at time of publishing, but subject to update/change.

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