A Pilgrimage to the Land of the Saints: a self-guided retreat following the journey of Saint Brendan the Navigator

A Pilgrimage to the Land of the Saints draws upon the spiritual power of the imagination to sustain intense prayerful reflection on the legendary adventures of Saint Brendan the Navigator. An extension of A Journey to the Land of the Saints, it guides individuals on a voyage of imaginative prayer coordinated to the readings and prayer services of its companion volume - offering modern-day pilgrims an opportunity to explore the "places of resurrection" in their own lives where they may experience the fulness of God's love and share it with others.

From the preface:

"Guided by the readings and prayer services of A Journey to the Land of the Saints, the retreat presented in this book invites you to observe or participate in the events of Brendan's pilgrimage - as well as related episodes from the Scriptures - through the use of centuries-old techniques of imaginative prayer. Developed by Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century, the methods of prayer used in this book will allow you to join Brendan and his companions on their adventures while considering how aspects of their travels mirror your own spiritual life. This imaginary journey of prayerful exploration will reveal God's pervasive presence in you and in the world around you as well as your responses to it."

Connecting spiritual practices he learned while a Jesuit with Celtic traditions he embraced during the last two decades, Timothy J. Ray presents in A Pilgrimage to the Land of the Saints a contemplative retreat designed to be completed in nine days while in seclusion or in nine weeks while in daily life - either alone or with companions - using the cycle of readings from A Journey to the Land of the Saints. He also offers suggestions on approaching the various types of Ignatian prayer used during the retreat, preparing and preserving a contemplative environment, and coordinating the retreat to the prayer services in A Journey to the Land of the Saints.