How to spend your holidays according to the 杏MAP导航s
By Amedeo Lomonaco
A break from work to restore physical strength, a chance to travel and contemplate the beauty of nature, a time for reading and new friendships or to meditate and pray. These are some of the aspects that past popes have emphasized when reflecting on the importance of vacation periods.
This summer, the first after his election, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV will also be taking some time off to rest. From July 6 to 20, and then for a couple more days in August, he will be at the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo, a town about 25 kilometers (approximately 16 miles) from Rome.
A favorable time
How one can make the best use of his or her time off is a question that features prominently in many papal reflections, as holidays have an important role in human life.
The popes stress that this period should not be viewed simply as a time of idleness. For example, vacations can instead be an opportunity to pause and reflect on the beauty of nature, or 鈥淕od鈥檚 book鈥�, as described by 杏MAP导航 Paul VI.
He pointed out that during the holidays, we can rediscover the 鈥渁lways open, always new, always beautiful鈥� creation. Nature with its鈥� 鈥渟pace, atmosphere, animals, things; the sea, mountains, plains, the sky with its dawns, its noons, its sunsets, and especially its starry nights鈥� is 鈥渁lways deep and enchanting.鈥�
For the popes, holidays are a time of rest and relaxation, but also for meditation and turning towards God.
Paul VI: Holidays are for reading, discovering and friendships
Vacations are also a fruitful time, as the interruption of the ordinary work routine can foster inner silence and recollection. During the , 杏MAP导航 Paul VI explained what he thought this period of rest should look like: 鈥淟et us ensure that this free time, which we call vacation, is not entirely spent in dissipation or selfishness. Relaxation, refreshment, recreation (in the etymological sense), yes, but intelligent and vigilant.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航, for example, suggested catching up on 鈥渟erious readings鈥� that may have been put aside during the year, or partaking in 鈥渆xcursions鈥� to discover 鈥渢he beautiful treasures鈥� of history and art..
He also highlighted that 鈥渉olidays are a privileged time for good friendships, for getting to know places, customs, the needs of the people we do not usually approach, and for meeting new people worthy of our conversation鈥�
John Paul II: Meetings and encounters essential to vacations
Holidays are an opportunity to live serene moments. 杏MAP导航 John Paul II, who loved spending rest periods in the mountains, often emphasized that in order to regenerate themselves, people need harmony and the joy of meeting with others.
鈥淔or a vacation to be truly such and bring genuine well-being, in it a person must recover a good balance with himself, with others and with the environment鈥�, St. John Paul II said, during the He added that it 鈥渋s this interior and exterior harmony which revitalizes the mind and reinvigorates body and spirit.鈥�
For John Paul II, 鈥渙ne of the values of a holiday鈥� is meeting others and spending time 鈥渋n an unselfish way, for the pleasure of friendship and for sharing quiet moments together.鈥�
Warning about 鈥渢he human mind and the influences of a consumer society,鈥� he suggested taking 鈥渉ealthy vacations鈥�, especially for young people. Holidays 鈥渢hat provide a healthy escape, avoiding harmful abuses of your health and that of others鈥� in order to avoid 鈥渨asting鈥� time and resources. 鈥淓scape can be beneficial, as long as one does not escape from sound moral criteria and simply from the necessary respect for one鈥檚 own health,鈥� he insisted.
Benedict XVI: In nature, man rediscovers himself
For 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI, it is vital to immerse oneself in nature, especially for 鈥渢hose who dwell in cities where the often frenzied pace of life leaves little room for silence and reflection.鈥�
During the , in Les Combes, in the Aosta Valley mountains in northern Italy, he highlighted 鈥渢he need to be physically and mentally replenished鈥� through a 鈥渞elaxing contact with nature.鈥�
鈥淢oreover, holidays are days on which we can give even more time to prayer, reading and meditation on the profound meaning of life in the peaceful context of our own family and loved ones,鈥� he added.
Looking at 鈥渢he stirring views of nature, a marvellous 'book' within the reach of everyone, adults or children,鈥� people can 鈥渞ediscover their proper dimension.鈥�
鈥淭hey recognize that they are creatures but at the same time unique, 'capable of God', since they are inwardly open to the Infinite,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI explained.
Francis: Deepening one鈥檚 spiritual journey through vacations
At the , 杏MAP导航 Francis emphasized that holidays can also be a good time to deepen one鈥檚 spiritual journey, even while traveling between tourist destinations.
鈥淪ummer season is a providential time to cultivate our task of seeking and encountering the Lord,鈥� he underlined. In this 鈥減eriod of rest and disengagement from daily activities, we can reinforce our strengths of body and soul.鈥�
He also encouraged the faithful to entrust their holidays to the Virgin Mary, so she can help them 鈥渂e in harmony with the Word of God, so that Christ may become light and lodestar throughout our life.鈥�
He especially urged all to entrust to her 鈥渢he summer of those who cannot go on holiday due to impediments of age, to reasons of health or of work, to economic restrictions or other problems, so that it may be a time of eased tension, gladdened by the presence of friends and of happy moments.鈥�
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