Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 17th November 2023
Abbot Paul • November 17, 2023
When you read this, I hope to be driving back to Belmont after our Benedictine superiors’ meeting at Ampleforth. It was an excellent meeting in so many ways and well worth the effort and hard work. The hospitality, too, afforded us by the Ampleforth community was second to none and concluded with a delightful supper taken with the community, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. It was also a great joy to meet up with Abbot Nicholas of Downside, who is a Belmont monk and was for many years Prior and Parish Priest of Belmont.
Our Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 17: 26-37), carries on the theme of yesterday’s reading, the day of the Son of Man, the Second Coming and Judgement. Jesus compares it with Noah’s day, when the flood came and yet most people carried on as though nothing were happening and failed to read the signs of the times and were drowned. He then compares it with Lot’s day, when the same thing happened, and the people of Sodom were submerged in fire and brimstone. Jesus warns us to be alert, to be prepared, and to remember Lot’s wife. She stopped to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt! Vigilance is the word to live by and to focus on God, who alone can and will save us.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
