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Autumn/Winter Senses @
Schoenstatt Scotland
There are still hundred of individuals coming to the Shrine on a
regular basis and this willdrop o ! signicantly in December. These
individuals come either as regular visitors who
have been coming in some cases for years, new visitors, the
numbers here are growingsignicantly, and individuals who have
attended a retreat at Schoenstatt Scotland over thelast years who
now wish to return whenever they can. Locals in the area are
alwayspopping in for a co ! ee and to visit the Shrine. The
repository shop has been very busyselling items for Advent and
Christmas, including cards. The Shrine is open 356 days ayear.
The light during the day feels di ! erent, cooler and cleaner,
and is excellent for photography.There is more richness of gold
carpeting the earth to be viewed in this season than in anyother.
The estate can look stunning, but it is an immense task for our
hardy gardener.
Some of the best times to visit during this season are in the
early morning and in the earlyevening, when the birds are at their
most vocal and varied. Tess our Collie is still out and
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about during the day, but slower than she was, as she is an
elderly puppy now at over 10years of age. Other visitors to the
seventeen acre estate, are many ocks of geese whichy past, and
several wakes of buzzards. We often get visits from the local
foxes, deer andrabbits, especially in the early morning and
evenings, and there are numerous murders ofcrows, and several brace
of ducks in the river, but also the less usual; some gorgeousguinea
fowl that busy themselves on the grass behind the Shrine, and a
sizeable cockerelfrom a neighbouring estate. The pheasants are
still in great voice as they stride across thegrass throughout the
day and can actually be heard from a mile distant, their call a
suresign you are in the country and instantly recognisable once you
have heard it. In theevening there is also a colony of bats that
like to y around the belfry of the Shrine. This isdenitely a season
for warm comfy sweaters and scarves, gloves and hats, but being out
inits beauty and perfect stillness, reminds us we are awaiting a
special coming, new life, anda perfect opportunity for new
beginnings, for starting afresh, for reinvigoration and for
newgrowth. Those who are staying with us in this period enjoy
marvellous hot chocolatebeverages either before they set out or
upon their return, for Schoenstatt is a complete actof kindness to
themselves. We often have priests on retreat in this period. In
mid-December the Retreat House will close o ! ering the sisters
some respite from their hecticyear. However, the grounds, the
Shrine and St Josephs remain open.
We are also soon to be in the season of Advent, from the Latin,
Advents signifying coming.From this celebrated season of peace and
stillness new meaning can enter our lives. Thisnew meaning is the
imminent coming of Christ Jesus. It is a season to get in touch
with ourlonging. The wonderful hues of gold, auburn and red that
quilt the ground just now speak ofdesire. Our longing, as
Christians is for God, for that longing shapes the soul.
In this special season let us create the space where deep within
us, Christ can be born andnurtured. For our longing here takes us
to the manger in Bethlehem, where the light of theworld came upon
us, born in the stillness of a cool night, with his own star
blazing above
him, and we are bid to come let us adore Him. Schoenstatt
Scotland Press
Rest in the stillpeace and calmof Schoenstatt
Scotland, withits leafy quilt tow a n d e r a n dponder, and
itsShrine to enfoldand refresh us.
Retreat Director
