Spring MVC Get file under WEB-INF without a request

I am trying to get hold of a file ( or a directory ) under /WEB-INF/.../

outside of a request. I need it in a bean loaded at server startup.

All solutions I can find either wants an XML file using ClassPathXmlApplicationContext or a request to get the servlet context or using the current executing class. Seems ugly to me.

How can I get a File("/WEB-INF/myDir/"). There has to be a way, no!?