WELCOME TO BELMONT ABBEY


It gives us great joy to welcome you to our website, as it would to our monastery.
We are a community of about 30 monks whose home is at Belmont, just outside Hereford  on the borders of England and Wales.
 Following the 6th century Rule of St Benedict, and under the guidance of the Abbot, we seek to live the ancient wisdom of the monastic life in a contemporary way so that as St Benedict says, "in all things, God may be glorified." The rhythm of each day is shaped  by the liturgy, our daily cycle of prayer and praise. Our work in the monastery includes the welcome of many guests and visitors, but our reach is much wider through our monks working in parishes and chaplaincies in Herefordshire and beyond, and as far away as Peru, our monastery at Lurin outside Lima. Through this website we hope to share with you something of the spirit of our monastic life and to remain in contact with our friends and supporters scattered throughout the world.

Sadly, Hedley Lodge, our guesthouse, is currently closed and will hopefully reopen after refurbishment in Summer 2024.

News & Events

News from Belmont Abbey


By Abbot Paul 18 Mar, 2024
​Today is the Solemnity of St Joseph, so we pause to celebrate the carpenter of Nazareth, who acted as earthly father to the incarnate Son of God. Could he, even in his wildest dreams, ever have imagined that this would happen? Today, we recognise him to be Protector of the Church, as in his earthly life he was protector of Mary, the Virgin Mother of God and of her son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Gospel reading today comes from Matthew, (Mt 1: 16, 18-21, 24), and begins with the very last sentence of the genealogy of Jesus that precedes the account of the circumstances surrounding his conception and birth. “Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.” Matthew tells us that Joseph was the husband of Mary and that she was the mother of Jesus, known as the Christ, the Messiah or Anointed One. Matthew takes great care, as do the other Evangelists, to make clear that he was not the father of Jesus. ​Matthew begins his Infancy Narrative by saying, “This is how Jesus Christ came to be born.” This short sentence already gives the hearer an indication that this is no ordinary person and no ordinary birth. Also, from the start, he talks about “Jesus Christ” and not simply about Jesus. The story he is about to tell could not have been invented! “His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally.” The scene is set. Mary and Joseph are betrothed to be married, when it’s discovered that Mary is pregnant “by the Holy Spirit.” The account of the Annunciation is found in Luke’s Infancy Narrative, but not in Matthew’s. Here the story is told through the eyes of Joseph rather than of Mary. What we are told of Joseph is that he is a just man, “a man of honour,” and so to avoid scandal, not so much for himself as for Mary, he decides not to proceed further with the marriage but to divorce her privately. Just when he’s made his decision, he has a dream. ​“He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.” In Luke the angel of the Lord appears to Mary to ask if she is prepared to become the mother of the Saviour, whom she must name Jesus, whereas in Matthew the angel appears to Joseph in a dream to encourage him to take Mary as his wife, for the child in her womb has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. She is to have a son whom he must name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Joseph does not doubt or question the word of the angel, but on waking up, does what the angel has told him to do. Joseph is portrayed as a man of faith, humility, tenderness and obedience. Joseph is such an attractive figure, it’s little wonder he is so admired and loved by Christians everywhere. May he pray for us today and pray for our families and for all those who stand in need of God’s love and protection.
By Abbot Paul 17 Mar, 2024
​Sundays are a great joy to me now as I celebrate Mass for the parishes of Leominster and Bromyard. I love driving around the Herefordshire countryside, especially early on Sunday mornings, that are so special. Then there’s the reinvigorating contact and effusive prayer with enthusiastic congregations, made up of people from many nations. Even in rural Herefordshire we are truly a Catholic or universal Church. To crown all God’s gifts there’s also the added blessing of spending precious time with treasured friends and relaxing in their presence. How good God is to those who love him, to quote the Psalmist. ​Our Gospel reading is taken from John, (Jn 8: 1-11), and recounts that moving story of the woman caught in adultery, which we also find in Luke, (Lk 7: 36-50). The event takes place on the Mount of Olives. “Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.” Jesus teaches seated and in the open air, the crowds gathered around him. While he is thus engaged, some scribes and Pharisees appear, but they are not alone. “The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’” Are they really interested in what Jesus has to say? The unfortunate woman has apparently been caught in the very act. What about the man she was with, you might ask, was he not guilty too? But the Law was loaded against women and still is in many countries, as we know all too sadly. They were not really interested in what Jesus might have to say, for, even without listening, they had already judged him as being wrong. Sad to say, there are Catholics in the Church today, who are not interesting in what Pope Francis has to say. They are always the first to say that he is wrong, a heretic even. God have mercy and forgive them. The Pope certainly does. ​What does Jesus do? We read, “But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again.” We don’t know what he was writing in the sand, we are not told, but his words have become proverbial, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” At least the scribes and Pharisees are honest men, who recognise their sins, for we read, “When they heard this, they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there.” The eldest had the most sins and the most blame, that’s usually the case. In the end, no one is left but Jesus and the woman, just the two of them. “He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and sin no more.’” Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save and to forgive, but forgiveness always comes with sound advice, “Be sure not to sin again.” ​Lord, we are not without sin, and we readily confess our sins to you. Forgive us our sins, we pray. Above all, grant us the grace to sin no more and never to judge others. Amen.
By Abbot Paul 16 Mar, 2024
​The last two weeks of Lent are traditionally known as Passiontide, when the minds of Christians begin to focus on the final stages of our Lenten journey with Jesus, a journey that will take us through the events of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday to the glory, joy and hope of Easter Sunday. In the Liturgy and in our daily prayer and reading, we walk with Jesus as he walks with us, trusting in our heavenly Father and desirous to offer our lives with Jesus in sacrifice for the salvation of all people, especially those who are farthest from the faith. Now that phrase “offering our lives with Jesus in sacrifice” really means to love as Jesus loves with God the Father’s love in the power of the Holy Spirit who is love. Only our love will bring others to salvation and to new life in the Risen Christ. What a powerful and life-motivating thought that is. God wants us to be ablaze with his love and to share that love with others. Today’s Gospel passage from John, (Jn 12: 20-33), presents us with Jesus speaking to his disciples about his imminent passion and death. They are in Jerusalem when he says to them, ​​“Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.” One of the constant themes in John is that of the death of Jesus as glorification, the way in which he will give glory to God the Father, who in return will glorify his Son. Hence the wonderful symbolism of the grain of wheat, that falls to the ground and dies, so that it might burst into life and bear much fruit. Not only does Jesus see himself as a such a grain, but his disciples too and all those who give up their lives with him and for his sake. Hence what follows: ​​“Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.” The words love and hate are powerful words and evoke strong images, especially the word hate. What does it mean for a Christian to hate his life in this world? It means not preferring this life to the next, not preferring earth to heaven, but to have faith in the life to come, in fact, to begin living the life to come in the here and now. It’s not an easy concept to grasp and yet life is so fragile, so precarious, that perhaps we should put more store by it than we do. What a privilege it is to follow Jesus and to know that we will be honoured by the Father, indeed that we are already honoured and loved eternally by him. ​Suddenly, unexpectedly, Jesus feels the anguish of the moment. Jesus shows us time and again that he can be perplexed or saddened and that he can share our human emotions, doubts and fears. He says; ​​“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” He will not ask to be saved from this moment, as he knows that this is his destiny, his purpose, his vocation: obedience and submission to the Father’s will, which is the ultimate good and perfect love. At that moment, just as at his Baptism and at the Transfiguration, the Father’s voice is heard. “A voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ People standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, ‘It was an angel speaking to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours.’” The Father’s words are described by Jesus as a “sentence… passed on this world,” for “the prince of this world is to be overthrown.” In death he sees life, in defeat he sees victory. This is the very essence of Christian hope. Jesus ends the discourse with a promise that will give heart to his disciples and hope when all seems lost. ​​“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all men to myself.” They realise now that, “By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die.” ​Lord, through your death and resurrection, you have set us free from sin and death. Grant us the grace to live by faith, walk in hope and serve with love. May we come to say with St Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Amen.
By Abbot Paul 15 Mar, 2024
​I’m not sure exactly when I began writing these daily messages, but it was sometime mid-March 2020. I came back to Belmont from Rome on Friday, 13th March, after conducting the Canonical Visitation of Sant’Anselmo, the Benedictine curia and university on the Aventine, and went immediately into self-isolation. When I came out on 28th, we were already into our first lockdown. The fact that places of worship were made to close their doors and public services forbidden, led me think that the best way I could keep in touch with Belmont parishioners and friends of the Abbey, would be to write a daily message for the Parish and Monastery websites and Parish Facebook page. Never for a moment did I imagine that four years later I would still be writing these daily messages. I would like to thank all those who have been in touch in many ways for their encouragement to keep at it and not give up. As I approach my retirement as Abbot of Belmont on May 1st, I’m not quite sure what I’ll do. I leave that to the Lord and his infinite love for us, his beloved children. ​Today’s Gospel passage sees us once more with John, (Jn 7: 40-52), and with the aftermath of the discourse of Jesus on his relationship with the Father, that left his enemies seething with anger. Yet, not all were against him for there were some convinced that he might be the Messiah. “Several people who had been listening to Jesus said, ‘Surely he must be the prophet’, and some said, ‘He is the Christ’, but others said, ‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be descended from David and come from the town of Bethlehem?’ So the people could not agree about him. Some would have liked to arrest him, but no one actually laid hands on him.” Jesus was an enigma and people couldn’t agree on who or what he was, as we can see. The Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke are at pains to show that, although he came from Nazareth in Galilee, nevertheless Mary and Joseph were of David’s line and that Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judea. ​It could be said that the Passion story begins from the very start of Jesus’ ministry, once he begins to preach and work miracles, that bring him to the attention of the religious authorities of Israel and into conflict with them. John continues, “The police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, ‘Why haven’t you brought him?’ The police replied, ‘There has never been anybody who has spoken like him.’ ‘So’ the Pharisees answered ‘you have been led astray as well? Have any of the authorities believed in him? Any of the Pharisees? This rabble knows nothing about the Law – they are damned.’ One of them, Nicodemus – the same man who had come to Jesus earlier – said to them, ‘But surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?’ To this they answered, ‘Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not come out of Galilee.’” The chief priests already want him arrested, yet even their own police have to admit that they have never heard anyone speak like Jesus. Irony is one of the characteristics of John, for his enemies, including the high priests, often prophesy the truth inadvertently when speaking about Jesus. We meet Nicodemus again, who in an oblique way stands up for Jesus. Surely you can give the man a just hearing, or words to that effect he states bravely. When Jesus dies at Calvary, it is Nicodemus who will accompany Joseph of Arimathea to ask Pontius Pilate for the body of Jesus for burial. ​Lord, give us the faith and courage of Nicodemus to stand up for you when you are insulted, criticised and blasphemed against. Lord, give us the grace to trust in you and to live according to your word. Lord, help us to proclaim the Gospel by the quality and integrity of our lives, by the love we have for you and our neighbour. Lord, be with us today and always. Amen.
By Abbot Paul 14 Mar, 2024
​You’ll be pleased to hear that I’m getting my cold under control, taming the beast, so to speak. People had been telling me of colds lasting weeks and of sore throats that had become a permanent nuisance and I had visions of this happening to me, but God is good and prayer is powerful. I am beginning to feel very much better and not so much under the weather as floating on air. Yesterday I drove to Bromyard for a weekday Mass and had the distinct sensation that I was being borne on angels’ wings. What an amazing experience that is! ​Our Gospel today is a shortened version of the first half of chapter 7 of John, (Jn 7: 1-2; 10; 25-30), in which Jesus leaves Galilee and goes alone to Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles, so as not to draw attention to himself. Meanwhile, the people debate as to whether he will be coming or not and as to his identity. Is he or is he not the Messiah? ​Even so, Jesus begins teaching in the Temple and this leads to further animosity on the part of the religious authorities. We read, “As Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out: ‘Yes, you know me and you know where I came from. Yet I have not come of myself: no, there is one who sent me and I really come from him, and you do not know him, but I know him because I have come from him and it was he who sent me.’ They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.” Once more we meet this phrase: “his time had not yet come.” In John, it is a phrase that occurs frequently, referring to his death and resurrection as his time. We first meet it at the wedding feast of Cana, when Mary his mother asks him to perform a miracle on behalf of the bride and groom, who have run out of wine. In John the miracles are prophetic signs of the coming ‘time’ of Christ, the coming of God’s kingdom, the dawning of salvation. That is why we pray, “Thy kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven.”
By Abbot Paul 13 Mar, 2024
I appear to have a heavy cold at the moment, possibly made worse by that long walk on the beach with Toby and our frequent walks in the rain at Belmont. At first, I confused it with hay fever, which also affected me badly at the beginning of February, To relieve my chest a little, I am drinking a fiery hot ginger and honey drink, into which I put more honey and, as I get closer to bedtime, a tot or two of something stronger and possibly more medicinal. I hope it passes quickly. ​​Today’s Gospel passage is the continuation of yesterday’s reading. Jesus continues his response to “the Jews” as to his true identity, but here in John 5: 31-47 he also speaks about John the Baptist, as religious leaders were still perplexed as to his identity too. “John was a lamp alight and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave.” ​​ ​ But my testimony is greater than John’s: The works my Father has given me to carry out, these same works of mine testify that the Father has sent me.” When John was questioned as to his identity, he simply gave testimony for himself. However, Jesus says that when he gives testimony as to who he is and what he does, then it is the Father who bears witness to Jesus as Son and Messiah. Not only the Father, but also the Scriptures bear witness to Jesus. ​​ ​ “You study the scriptures, ​ believing that in them you have eternal life; ​ now these same scriptures testify to me, ​ and yet you refuse to come to me for life!” In fact, he goes further: ​​​ “I have come in the name of my Father and you refuse to accept me; if someone else comes in his own name you will accept him. How can you believe, since you look to one another for approval and are not concerned with the approval that comes from the one God?” ​It’s quite clear that he sees no hope of faith in his enemies; they are far from conversion and belief; they are far from the scriptures and from God. ​​We pray today that our faith may grow deeper and become more robust as we continue on our Lenten journey towards Holy Week and Easter. We walk in the company of Jesus; he is our guide and he speaks to our hearts. In him may we discover and adore the fulness of the mystery of God, the love which is the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
By Abbot Paul 12 Mar, 2024
​Yesterday I visited my mother together with Toby. Now 97 years’ old, she still amazes both of us with the most spectacular meals. Of course, she’s not an easy person to get on with and over our lifetime together we’ve had a number of ups and downs. I’m blessed in having a very special friend who prays for me each time I go home, not only that I have a safe journey there and back, but also that my mum and I discover that maternal and filial love that at times has been missing from our lives. Yesterday his prayer was particularly powerful enabling us both to cherish the glory of God’s love. ​​I will just say a few words about today’s Gospel from John, (Jn 5: 17-30). Our passage is the continuation of yesterday’s reading, where we heard of the third sign that Jesus gave in healing a sick man at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem. John frequently talks about “the Jews,” by which he usually means the religious leaders in Jerusalem, high priests, scribes and Pharisees. This doesn’t refer to ordinary folk, let alone the sick and the outcast. Jesus tries to explain why he does the things he does, especially healing on the Sabbath. “Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only enrages them more and they become intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he speaks of God as his own Father, and so makes himself God’s equal.” John’s Gospel is powerfully Christological and doesn’t shy away from presenting Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God. Little wonder the religious authorities take exception to his teaching and oppose him from the start. He is not the sort of Messiah they’re expecting and certainly not the one they want. To the accusation, Jesus replies, and here I only give a brief summary. You will need to read the text yourselves. Jesus develops in some detail the theme of his relationship with God, of the Son to the Father. He says, “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing: and whatever the Father does the Son does too.” You will notice that this monologue of Jesus is written in poetic form, following the Hebrew tradition of the Prophets and Wisdom Literature. ​​“Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses; for the Father judges no one; he has entrusted all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son as they honour the Father.” Already, at this stage in his ministry, Jesus is talking of raising the dead and giving them new life. He is talking about his own death and resurrection and that of those who believe in him, for he also goes on to say, ​​“I tell you most solemnly, whoever listens to my words, and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life; without being brought to judgement he has passed from death to life.” Later in the Gospel, Jesus will tell his disciples that, “I and the Father are one.” But for now, he concludes, saying, ​“my aim is to do not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” ​Heavenly Father, may it be our desire, as it was always that of Jesus to do your will, and your will only, as we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen
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Our community here at Belmont Abbey dedicate our lives to God through prayer and work. We receive various requests from those who have had a direct or indirect connection with the Abbey, but for whatever reasons are unable to visit.
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