The joy of meeting: the spirit of the days

Why the days exist

The days simply come from the joy of meeting. Praying together, walking in the countryside, learning about the saints and the history of Sicily, sharing a table and rejoicing together: these are simple things, but lived in company they become a day to remember.

It is not a course, a tour package or a stay. There is no service and no organised structure: there is a day lived in friendship, among people who want to get to know each other, to learn from one another and to stand before God with joy.

What taking part means

There is no overnight stay: we share one day, and in the evening everyone returns to their own home, taking with them what they have lived.

We will pray together and share a meal to which everyone brings something, outdoors, under a tree or in a meadow. We will walk in the countryside discovering the history of the place and take time simply to be together.

The days are reserved for Christian brothers and sisters, Catholic and Orthodox, because they are lived in shared prayer. I ask nothing in return: only that you come with an open heart.

The values that guide me

• Encounter. Every person is the image of God. I meet whoever comes without judging where they come from or their story.
• Prayer. The day begins and ends before God. Shared prayer gives meaning to everything else.
• Learning together. Everyone has something to teach and something to discover: the saints, history, music, nature.
• Sharing. Bread broken together, the work of our hands, time given freely: nothing is mine alone.
• Joy. Laughing, singing, telling our stories: joy is a Christian virtue.
• Gratuitousness. I have received freely and freely I want to give (Mt 10:8). The gatherings are free.
• Simplicity. A sober life, attentive to creation and far from what is superfluous.
• Respect. For the person, their pace, their silence and their freedom, including the freedom not to take part.

The day we live together

Those who take part do not watch: they are part of the day. It has a simple rhythm, which each person lives in their own freedom.

1. Community prayer. We open and close the day together in prayer: psalms, readings, silence, a song. It is the heart of the day.
2. Food brought and shared. Everyone brings something to share, chosen with the care you would put into a gift for someone dear: bread from the bakery, seasonal fruit, fresh and well-kept produce. If you don't know the area, I will gladly point you to trusted bakeries, shops and markets where you can find genuine, quality food. Then we lay the table side by side and sit at the same table, outdoors, bless the food and eat it with gratitude. Tidying up together is part of the meal too.
3. Time for recreation. There is time to play, laugh, tell our stories and listen to music. Joy is a Christian virtue.
4. Walks in the countryside. We walk in nature to contemplate creation and discover the history of the place: its churches, villages, traditions and the people who lived there.
5. Silence and quiet. I leave room for anyone who needs to be alone, to read, to reflect.

And much more besides: everyone brings something of themselves, and the day is enriched by what each person knows and loves to do.

The gatherings are a gift

The gatherings have no price and do not depend on any offering: everyone is welcome for who they are. Everyone contributes as they can: anyone who cannot leave anything takes part like everyone else, by giving a little of their time. This mission lives by trusting in Providence and in the generosity of those who take part, in the circle of love in which whoever receives with joy gives with joy. Anyone who would like to know what makes it possible can read The circle of love.

Participants as friends

Those who take part are friends, not customers: there is no service and no commercial relationship. For this reason everyone takes part freely and on their own responsibility, taking care of themselves, their health and their belongings. During walks and activities each person judges for themselves what they can do, follows directions with prudence and mentions any health problems, allergies or limitations. Minors take part under the responsibility of those accompanying them. Ilarion, who organises the gatherings out of friendship and without any organised structure, is not liable for accidents, damage or loss of any kind, within the limits permitted by law.

What I ask of participants

• to live the day in friendship, taking part as much as they feel able;
• to respect prayer, silence and people;
• to lend a hand with the small things;
• to bring an open heart.

An invitation

If these words touch you, write to me: I will be happy to tell you how the gatherings work and to walk alongside you. All the details are on the page Christian spiritual days in Sicily.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" (Ps 133:1).

— Ilarion