Immersions in the forest’s silence

“Nature is full of words of love”

Laudato Si’ 225

The Immersions in the forest’s silence program allows individual pilgrims or organized groups on pilgrimage to Assisi to be able to have an immersive experience in natural sanctuaries, with an eye toward ecological spirituality.

Depending on the time available, the Retreat can be conducted independently in different formats and in different locations.

One can choose from these options:

• Prison Hermitage (half-day);
• Route from Porta Cappuccini to Eremo delle carceri A/R (full day);
• Bosco di San Francesco FAI (half day)

The duration of the itineraries is purely indicative, because it obviously depends on the pace you want to choose to immerse yourself in listening to creation and to God who speaks to us through his creation.

Registration to organize a Forest Silence Immersion is done through the form. Upon completion, the organizer is contacted with an email in which an indicative itinerary program is provided, which can be modified as needed, with all logistical information, and aids that can independently accompany the prayer.

All itineraries are marked by prayer in and with creation, giving high priority to moments of prolonged silence and “ecological spirituality” (LS 216). For example, with the Laudato Si’ Chaplet or the Via Creationis, or through moments of exchange and dialogue with pilgrims.

The importance of these moments of contemplative prayer in creation stems from the Paradox of “Contempl-Action”, which is at the heart of the “Laudato si charism” of our Movement. In fact, the pilgrim walks in the footsteps of St. Francis and Jesus himself, whose lives are models of “Contempl-Action” that combined prolonged prayer in nature (Francis’ hermitages and Jesus’ “solitary places” in the mountains, desert, etc.) with active service and preaching in the cities.

So a particularly valuable moment is contemplative silence in the forest. This is a key moment to deepen the pilgrim’s “conversion to ecological spirituality.” So it is essential to turn off the cell phone that day and enjoy the gift of silence immersed in creation.