Our Father, Who Art Off Piste

It's the perfect getaway for those who like to mix hurtling downhill with contemplative prayer: "ski-spi," or skiing-and-spirituality holidays, are now offered in the French Alps.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

Arts & Society, Lifestyle

Topics

Religion & Spirituality, Travel & Tourism, Leisure & Recreation

Places

France

Transcript

SCRIPT: They've come to the French Alps on what's called a "ski-spi" trip -- skiing and spirituality. All practising Catholics, they'll be combining downhill action with more meditative activities designed to aid their religious development. SOUNDBITE 1, Joséphine Chastenet, Ski-Spi participant (French, 21 sec): "Coming here is a mixture of the agreeable and the essential. The agreeable is the skiing part. The essential is turning towards Christ, especially now -- this is Lent. So spending a family holiday here is very peaceful, we're a long way from the hustle and bustle of the big ski stations, and what we're looking for as a family is tranquility. It's peaceful, it's beautiful." ["Venir ici, c’est mêler l’agréable à l’essentiel. L’agréable c’est venir faire du ski. Et l’essentiel c’est se tourner vers le Christ, surtout en ce moment, c’est le carême pour nous. Et donc passer des vacances en famille ici c’est très tranquille, on est loin de l’agitation des grandes stations de ski et c’est justement ce qu’on cherche en famille, la tranquillité. C’est paisible, c’est beau ».] They're staying in a 17th-century sanctuary nestled at the foot of the moutains here in Nore-Dame du Laus. Food and transport is all taken care of, so the visitors can devote themselves to religious reflection. Today's schedule: theology in the morning, followed by a few red runs. SOUNDBITE 2, Father Ludovic, Ski-Spi Leader (French, 14 sec): "We try with ski-spi to follow Faith. That is, faith informs life; faith does not stop when you come out of the chapel, it is experienced on the slopes too, in the way people behave to each other." [« On essaye dans notre « ski-spi » de faire comme ce qu’est la Foi, c’est à dire la foi informe la vie. Et donc la foi ne s’arrête pas quand on sort de la chapelle, elle se vit également par la manière d’être les uns avec les autres sur les pistes »] For Father Ludovic, the beauty of the landscape is a good way to get people turning towards religion.... As far as he's concerned faith should come just as easily on a ski-lift as it does in a pew. SOUNDBITE 3, Father Ludovic, Ski-Spi Leader (French, 11 sec): "Those are precious moments, because you have time, you're not looking each other in the eyes, and in my opinion that can give a real sense of complicity -- you can dare to say things that you wouldn't easily say face to face." [« C’est des moments privilégiés parce qu’on a du temps, on ne se regarde pas dans les yeux, et ça il y a aussi quelque chose qui peut se faire à mon avis, une vraie complicité parce que on peut oser dire des choses qu’on ne dirait pas facilement en face »] And when the sport is done, it's back to base for some much-needed après-ski. Which for these holidaymakers, of course, means a long bout of prayer and contemplation. SHOTLIST NOTRE-DAME DU LAUS, France, 17-8 Feb 2013 SOURCE: AFPTV -GVs skiing downhill -GVs during Mass -SOUNDBITE -GVs inside church -GVs singing hymns -SOUNDBITE -GVs on mountainside -GVs on ski-lift -SOUNDBITE -GVs during Mass