Exhibition

Sanctified Royalty: Jacobite Relics and the Divine Right of Kings

August 16, 2023

An exploration into the cult of divinity and the Stuart royal family, from Mary Queen of Scots to Prince Charles Edward Stuart

Drawing on the important Jacobite collections and archives held at Stonyhurst College and by the British Jesuit Province, Dr Jan Graffius will examine the theology and practice of Stuart relics, memorabilia, and their significance. The talk will be accompanied by the opportunity to see a selection of these extraordinary artefacts up close. And a chance to see a unique recipe for King James’s Gingerbread.

Dr Janet Graffius has been Curator of Collections and Historic Libraries at Stonyhurst since 2001. She studied Art History at St Andrews University and has worked with major public museums and collections since 1983, including the British Council and the National Trust. She has published widely in Britain, Europe, and America on various aspects of the College Collections and Libraries, from medieval manuscripts and vestments to Shakespeare and Jesuit Drama in The Times Literary Supplement, through to her more recent conservation work with Oscar Romero’s relics in El Salvador, for which she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of London.

Her specific area of research relates to the use and significance of relics and English Catholic material culture in the Early Modern period, which was the subject of her PhD at Aberdeen University, and for which work she was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. She has appeared on several television programmes, including the BBC Treasures of Heaven with Andrew Graham-Dixon, and on a BBC Radio 4 series about Shakespeare with Dr Neil MacGregor of the National Gallery, among many other programmes. She has curated numerous exhibitions in Britain, as well as in France, Italy and the US, and lectures nationally and internationally on a variety of cultural, ethnographic, artistic, and literary subjects relating to the College’s famous historic Collections and Libraries.

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Exhibition

Life before Death: The Psychology of Flourishing

Friday 4th (arrive late afternoon) – Sunday 6th July 2025 (depart after lunch)

During this weekend Father Roger Dawson SJ will introduce and explain this approach to flourishing as life before death and he will make the link with our faith and Ignatian spirituality.

'Be still and know that I am God’: Exploring Mindfulness, Psychology and the Christian life

Thursday 14th (arrivals late afternoon) – Sunday 17th August 2025 (depart after lunch)

This weekend explores the human condition through your own life story, in the context of the Gospel story and the Christian spiritual life, using mindfulness skills and contemplative Christian prayer.

'We want to be a Synodal Church' - a reflective retreat at St Beuno's Jesuit Spirituality Centre

Friday 19th - Sunday 21st September 2025

The team at St Beuno's have created this retreat for participants to reflect on Pope Leo XIV's statement: "We want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering."

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Spiritual Conversation Course

1st - 10th August 2025

This residential course includes listening skills, discernment of spirits, a model of Ignatian spiritual conversation and accompaniment, and ways of praying. The course will help deepen and improve one-to-one pastoral ministry, using Ignatian principles based on the Spiritual Exercises.

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