This year the Summer Oblate Residential Retreat was preached by the Very Reverend Ann Catherine Swailes OP, Prioress of the Dominican Convent in Cambridge.
Sr. Ann's title was ‘Learn to love and leave all other: some Medieval (-ish) musings on the Great Commandment’.

This theme was expounded in three lectures, all of which referred to the wonderful 14th-century English poem "The Vision of Piers Plowman" by William Langland.

The lectures had individual titles as follows:
‘Truth as treasure: knowing and loving, then and now’;

‘Becoming a god by the Gospel: love and kindness in creator and creation’ (both on Saturday 1 August),

then on Sunday 2 August: ‘The Meal-time of saints: Piers Plowman, Pope Leo and the sacrament of love’.

The talks were of high quality and most enjoyable: made accessible in particular by the speaker's gracious manner of delivering research at the right pitch for the audience present. Sister made connections also to other mediaeval saints, such as Catherine of Siena, Dominic and Julian of Norwich. A strong link was maintained throughout the talks between the poetic text, "The Vision of Piers Plowman", and the magisterium of our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, in particular his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. This, with the whole of the Church’s Social Doctrine, is upheld by Saint Augustine’s spirituality of love and truth — ‘Before all else, love God and love your neighbour’.

The retreat was very well attended throughout the two days, with full Abbey guesthouses, plus several local people coming in each day by car. So the venue for the Talks, which was the South Transept Aisle of the monastery church, was well filled. Sr. Ann's contribution was most warmly received, and highly appreciated by all present.
She was happy to share her texts with all: files of them are appended with this post.

The participating oblates had their meals together at St. Scholastica's, with oblate Master Fr Martin Birrell presiding and saying grace before and after. On the last evening Fr Prior Simon also joined the assemblage.

As usual, during Holy Mass on Monday 2nd August, the oblates were able publicly to renew their oblate promises.
All agreed that this was a most successful, enjoyable and spiritually fruitful occasion.

Click on links below for the Oblate Residential Retreat Talks:

Truth as Treasure: Knowing and Loving, then and now

Becoming a God by the Gospel: Love and Kindness in Creator and Creation

The Meal-time of Saints: Piers Plowman, Pope Leo and the Sacrament of Love