We all feel it, especially when we lack it. Rest is a necessity. We all need it, whether daily, weekly, or annually, to recover from work fatigue, to reclaim personal space, to restore our physical and mental strength, to regenerate, to recuperate, and to appreciate life in all its dimensions. Its absence is not without consequences…

What is rest? It is a break from regular activity to experience something different or simply to let oneself be for a given time. We dream of vacations, we think about them months in advance. And that’s already a form of rest! What will I do for my next vacation? Will I visit family members who live far away? Will I go alone, as a couple, with family, or with friends? What budget will I have?

During the vacation period, we can enjoy simple things like a good picnic with family in a local park, aimless walks, time to stroll, to let off steam, to escape from all stress. Of course, depending on financial means, we can have bigger ambitions, but in any case, relaxation should be the goal.

If we rest by stepping away from our usual activities, it’s to better resume them upon return.

Spiritual places can well serve our vacation objectives. In recent years, there has been much talk of religious tourism. For example, there are shrines, churches, and pilgrimage sites to visit. We can go abroad or find them close to our residence. In the province of Quebec of course there is Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Our Lady of the Cape, the Ermitage Saint-Antoine of Lac-Bouchette, and other small shrines. Why not discover or rediscover them, taking the time to be impressed and inspired by what they are and represent?

To each and every one of you, I wish a beautiful vacation, a well-deserved time of rest and rejuvenation!