Page 32 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

THE RETREAT: ‘IN THE FOOTSTEPS

OF BLESSED ANTONIO ROSMINI’

THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER - TUESDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2019
EVENTS This year’s Ratcliffi an Association Retreat was held at Sacro Monte Calvario in Domodossola,

the founding and mother house of the Rosminian Institute of Charity. Our small group of guests
(pictured, right) consisted of Tony Holland (56), Paul Holmes (74) and Br Nigel Cave (72),
guided by Fr David Tobin (59).
Blessed by beautiful autumn sunshine, the grandeur of the Italian Alps and the depth of
culture of the pre-17th-century Sanctuary of Calvario gave a unique backdrop to the story and
inspirational holiness of Blessed Rosmini. The richness of the continuing Rosminian tradition
was enjoyed, being welcomed on the fi rst evening to supper by Don Pierluigi Giroli and his
community of novices and students. On the Sunday, we attended a rare Catholic event in
Europe these days, witnessing the joyful and moving celebration of Solemn High Mass for the
fi rst profession of vows by Michelle Collo, after two years of novitiate in Calvario.

The other Rosminian heritage site was in Stresa; we spent the morning there, at the
International Centre of Rosminian Studies in Villa Bolongaro, on the shore of Lake Maggiore,
where Rosmini spent his last years before he died in 1855. There, we met Fr Michael Hill (49),
who was researching the story of Fr Rinolfi , an early president of Ratcliffe College and unsung
missioner of 19th-century England, Wales and Ireland. In the afternoon, after a wonderful
lunch, we conquered the hill behind Stresa, climbing up to the Collegio Rosmini, where we
enjoyed the million-dollar view over Lake Maggiore. This was the second major boarding school
built by Rosmini, with the fi rst being Collegio Mellerio-Rosmini in the town of Domodossola. In
the College Church at Stresa, we visited and prayed at the Tomb of Blessed Rosmini.
Other than our pilgrimage time, we spent two-and-a-half days in focussed retreat time, which
included Mass, morning and evening prayer, being guided into a contemplative relationship
with God. Our little band went home feeling content and enriched by their time spent in
Rosmini’s heartland.
Paul Holmes added: “The house at Calvario offered every facility for our retreat. There was time
set aside for sacred texts, and Fr David made himself available to us for spiritual advice. But,
arguably, the house itself was the best spiritual advice. Waking up in the morning, one threw
open the shutters to be greeted by views over the Toce valley, towards the thickly forested
mountainsides, whose aspects changed haphazardly according to the sun’s position. Before
one’s window spread out the extensive and pleasant gardens, replete with pergola walks and
Romanesque castle ruins. We all had a very informative, and indeed salutary, long weekend.”

Fr David Tobin (59)

32 The Old Ratcliffi an 2019