Yesterday’s Gospel was Matthew’s account of Jesus’ transfiguration. The Italian painter Raphael’s last painting was The Transfiguration, which he worked on in the years before his death in 1520. It hangs in the Vatican, and for centuries it was the most famous painting in the world. In the 18th century, Benjamin West, the President of the Royal Academy, confirmed ‘the opinion of the ages’ that ‘it still held the first place’. And in the 19th century the novelist Mark Twain said it was ‘wonderfully beautiful’ and ‘acknowledged by all to be the first oil painting in the world’.
Jesus’ transfiguration is depicted above the horizon, while below the horizon Raphael presents Jesus’ healing of the epileptic boy. In Matthew the healing follows the transfiguration, but the scenes are simultaneous in Raphael’s painting. As Jesus is transfigured the adolescent is already being healed. The boy fixes his eyes on the glorious Christ above our horizon, and his mouth opens as the demon departs. Below the horizon all the other characters react only on the human level, gesticulating and staring at one another, in despair and hopelessness. In Jesus’ own words, ’faithless and perverse’.
Perhaps we are more conscious than ever that humanity’s difficulties are insoluble on the human level. But if we look up, then our vision will be of the transfigured Christ, longing to transform the world he loves.
Thank you so much for everything that you and your team did for our family yesterday. Everything went so smoothly and everyone said what a wonderful venue St Katharine's was both in terms of food and venue. Your team were absolutely outstanding and made the day very easy for us.

CM - Feb 2020

Thank you for a wonderful stay. It was perfect. The memorial garden is wonderful and so good to have time to sit and appreciate the atmosphere.

Rosemary

Just wanted to thank you for the lovely day we spent on Saturday. I felt very welcome, the food was delicious and the grounds were so peaceful. It was really good to get away from the hustle and bustle for a few hours. Please convey my thanks to all who were involved. May God bless you all

J.K. London 2022

Stunning house and gardens both are beautifully cared for. Staff were wonderful and vegan food was delicious. Thank you for a wonderful day.

Melissa - Sept 2022

Just a short note of thanks for my wonderful day at St. Katherine's yesterday. It was such a fruitful and blessed time with God. Please pass on my thanks for the warmth of the welcome. I look forward to booking another day with you in the future and will be in touch then.

Sheila - April 2022

I just wanted to say thank you to you and your staff for a wonderful retreat weekend. Everything was just lovely - the location, the accommodation and the food. It was a truly refreshing time and having everything arranged so perfectly meant that there were no distractions to relaxing and hearing from God

Rachel - April 2022

Just wanted to thank you for the lovely day we spent on Saturday. I felt very welcome, the food was delicious and the grounds were so peaceful. It was really good to get away from the hustle and bustle for a few hours.

Jenny - March 2022

Many thanks to all those who made our retreat such a success. Peaceful surroundings with ideal facilities and great hospitality made for a memorable time.

VW - Nov 22

We had a marvellous time last week. The house is so clean and tidy and beautifully supportive of quiet yet productive prayer. It is a credit to you all.

LD - Nov 22

I was with you today for the Deanery Retreat Day and it was so lovely to be there, and we were so well looked after – thank you so much!

JD - Nov 22

It was a WONDERFUL venue and we very much enjoyed meeting you, and were blessed by the amazing hospitality by you and your team. Thank you so much.

DH - Dec 2022

Please pass on my thanks and appreciation for my two day stay last week. The meals were all great and my stay was a real help to me and I hope to be coming back again in the next few months.

TP - Feb 2023

Thanks for letting us use St Katherine's this last couple of days. We had a lovely time and were very well looked after. The ladies really loved being there and felt very much that they had got away from the stresses of everyday life.

RM - March 2023

Thank you for a super day on Saturday. There has only been positive feedback from everyone. We were well looked after by your catering team. The Prayer Room worked well - and the sun came out in the afternoon, so the team up top also doing marvellous work.

LW - March 2023

A huge thanks for a WONDERFUL time at our men's weekend away.

SB - March 2023

We had a wonderful day in so many ways. Loved the food and the setting, the sense of space and peace there is so tangible.

SW - May 2023