What is the Monte Oliveto Retreat?
The annual Monte Oliveto Retreat is a week-long silent retreat that brings meditators together from around the world to the peace of the spiritual home of the Olivetan Benedictine Congregation in Tuscany.
Frequent meditation, a simple eucharist, a short daily meeting with your guide, natural beauty, healthy and delicious Italian food and the friendship of the monastic community beside us – all these elements support and enrich this week’s experience. And be prepared to be surprised by how mind, body and feelings can calm and simplify.
Who can attend?
The retreat is open to all, though it would be very advisable to have some experience of regular meditation before participating in this week-long silent retreat. Participants commit to the whole week and this is a condition of acceptance on the retreat.
“Be Still And Know That I am God”
This year’s Monte Oliveto retreat offers what in our world today is a rare and wonderful opportunity to discover and live in peace in deep silence.
Held in the hospitable friendship of Fr Laurence’s monastic community and immersed in the contemplative presence of a place bathed in contemplative energy, retreatants go gently into deeper and sustained stillness.
There will be eight periods of meditation together, contemplative walking with good, healthy meals in convivial silence. Each participant meets with their mentor-guide daily and shares in a simple contemplative Euchaist in late afternoon. Fr Laurence will guide the retreat and give a short teaching each morning after breakfast.
Watch Past Monte Oliveto Retreats
If you’re interested in watching recordings of past Monte Oliveto Retreats, you can subscribe to WCCM+, where we will upload recordings from the event shortly. WCCM+ is our community’s video streaming platform with recordings from past retreats, talks and led meditations.
About Monte Oliveto
Situated on a rise, among cypresses, overlooking the beautiful, natural landscape of the Sienese hills, the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is the Mother House of Laurence Freeman’s monastic family. It is an exceptional monument to art as well as a centre of Benedictine spirituality.
The WCCM international retreat has been held in this place of beauty and peace for 30 years and leads its participants into a deeper and more peaceful place from which to continue their life’s work and journey.
Photo of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, by Andy Hay from Flickr and Andrea D’Angiolo from Flickr