This joy of taking poustinia into the heart of the priesthood arrived through an enterprising seminarian who discovered us on the internet. He introduced us to the spiritual director of his seminary, which serves eight dioceses in the south of England. This priest read the book Poustinia and purchased it for all his second year students.

This year, he decided to repeat the experiment of including a poustinia in the middle of the annual Advent retreat. He invited us to lead the retreat, both teaching and making a poustinia with the seminary.

On the first evening, we explained principles and asked the five who had made a poustinia two years ago to share about it. Their words opened the hearts of other students.

For one young man, it had been the turning point in his seminary experience.

Others, remembering the time vividly, shared both the challenges ("It was like being worked on with sandpaper") and the joys. ("I went to meet Jesus in the poustinia and, to my surprise, he entered in with me").

The next day, we gave another teaching, ending with a short video clip of Catherine Doherty talking about poustinia.

Emily shared some of her more memorable experiences, including a poustinia in a hospital annex where she craved cigarettes so much that she helped herself to a few butts from an ashtray in the hallway.

This brought laughter and encouraged a few smokers to try abstaining for the 24-hours. Fr. Digby Samuels, a good friend from a parish in London, completed the teaching with a talk on "Poustinia and the Priesthood."

Then everyone—twenty seminarians, ten Sisters who live on the grounds, a couple of professors, and ourselves entered our respective cells. An optional "fast" lunch and/or supper was available for those who needed it.

The final day, everyone gathered to listen to one another talk about their poustinias. It had been a dramatic experience for most of the participants; the heartfelt sharing went on for nearly an hour.

The young man who described his first poustinia as "sandpaper," said he went in this time out of sheer obedience. To his surprise, he found that it was nothing like the first time. "I had a great experience of God’s love," he said. "I know now from the inside that Jesus loves me."

A former novice of a religious community rediscovered his monastic rhythm. He missed the "fast" meal because he had happily removed his watch.

For some, the idea of "folding the wings of the intellect" was difficult. However, many who had been wary or sceptical discovered that the emptiness of the desert is teeming with life and full of surprises.

What a joy it is for us to be bringing poustinia into the heart of the priesthood!