The poet George Herbert wrote one of the greatest of all poems in Love (III). You are invited to read it (even learn it by heart!) for this Monte Oliveto Retreat which explores the immense gift of being and the ways we try but often fail to receive it. Fr Laurence describes how our failures may – strangely – be turned to our advantage and bring us to an opening of the deeper levels of our being where the gift patiently awaits us.

About The Monte Oliveto Retreat

Situated on the dramatic landscape of the Crete Senesi in the Tuscan countryside the 15th century Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is the mother house of Laurence Freeman’s monastic family. Its striking natural beauty and its sense of sacred time have long made it a central part of the life of the WCCM.

The WCCM international retreat has been held here for 30 years, leading the participants into a unique experience of silence, friendship and homecoming.The day is composed of times of meditation, yoga, teaching, worship, solitude and sharing. The extensive grounds of the monastery are inspiration for artists, walkers and being in the present. The spirit of silence during the day renews the spirit, while the evening meal is a time of relaxation and friendship with fellow meditators from around the world.