In January, television channels are packed with advertisements featuring families frolicking in clear blue swimming pools and couples walking hand-in-hand along sandy beaches. In these dark, tiring months, we dream of escaping our drab surroundings.
But some of us crave something other than action-packed foreign holidays: a peaceful retreat, either alone or with our families. According to a helpful guide created by Downside Abbey, the first thing to decide is where you wish to make your retreat: “Do you pick a religious house that can provide essential guidance? Do you decide on a beautiful location to help inspire that all-important self-reflection?” The website catholicfaith.org.uk has a good list of retreat centres in Britain and retreatfinder.com has links to Catholic centres in the US.
