The College was host this year to the students and staff of the Pontifical Scots College in Rome, who spent Holy Week and the Easter Triduum here in Salamanca.
For the first few days, the students were les by Fr Tom on their annual Holy Week Retreat – enjoying the Salamanca spring weather as they reflected on the Scriptures and themes of Holy Week and Easter. The retreat ended with a “pilgrimage” to Alba de Tormes, to the tomb of St Teresa of Ávila, and a visit to the exhibition “Las Edades del Hombre” celebrating St Teresa’s life and work in the basilica nearby, marking the 500th anniversary of her birth in 1515.
For the remaining few days, as well as enjoying the regular sights and sounds of Salamanca, the students had a taste of Holy Week in Spain as Salamanca was taken over by the various confraternities, bearing in procession through the city streets and plazas images of Christ, Mary and others involved in the Passion story. Accompanied by candles, banners, incense and confraternities in their distinctive habits, as well as by the sound of drums and bands, Holy Week offered a memorable experience for the students.
Finally, our own celebration of the Liturgies of the Easter Triduum, including a beautiful Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night rounded off what had been a prayerful, peaceful and memorable week, source of many blessings for both Colleges.
