Message of Abbot Paul - Friday - 19th April 2024
Abbot Paul • April 19, 2024
I apologise for the brevity of today’s message, but I know you will understand. The journey door to door, including long car rides both ends, waiting at airports and changing planes in Paris, takes around 24 hours, so I spent part of Thursday resting, reading, chatting with the brethren, as well as meeting with the officials of the television company that’s going to film the Profession of Br Miguel this coming Tuesday. Then there were emails and messages from home, some urgent, some not, and a long conversation with my mother on FaceTime. It was also a great joy to speak with a dear friend just before lunch. It’s really warm here still, as it’s coming to the end of Summer, so sleep is easiest just lying on top of the bed. In England the days are lengthening, but here near Lima it remains roughly 12 hours of day and 12 of night.
Our Gospel today continues with the Discourse on the Bread of Life, (Jn 6: 33-39). His hearers begin to argue amongst themselves about what Jesus has just said. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” To this Jesus replies, “If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.” His words are clear, indeed as clear as can be, and he is not speaking figuratively. He says what he means and he means what he says. He goes onto say, “Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.” So our resurrection on the last day is dependent on our eating his flesh and drinking his blood. He emphasises this point by saying, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.” So again, we can only live in Christ and he live in us if we eat and drink his flesh and blood. He goes on to say that this is the way in which we draw life from him, as he draws life from the Father. Those who ate manna in the desert died, but those who eat of this bread, feed on him and draw life from him. They will live for ever, as he lives for ever in the Father. Eternal life, then, is bound up with feeding on Christ, the Bread of Life.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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.