Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 19th May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 18, 2023
It’s really difficult putting things together again once they’ve been torn apart, and that’s true of the Church’s Calendar too. I can’t remember how many years’ ago our bishops made us transfer important solemnities of Our Lord, other than Christmas Day, from the appropriate weekday to a Sunday, thus knocking out a fair number of the Sundays of the year into the bargain. A year or two ago, some but not all of these were restored to their rightful date, provided they don’t fall on a Monday or a Saturday, when they’re still transferred to a Sunday. Confused? I am. Hence people don’t know if they’re coming or going. This was clear yesterday, when only about 20% of the usual congregation came to Mass for the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord, sad and upsetting, especially if you happen to be the priest celebrating those Masses. I’m not sure what the solution is. What do you think?
Our short Gospel passage for today, the feast of the great English Benedictine bishops, Saints Dunstan, Ethelwold and Oswald, follows on from our pre-Ascension readings from John, (Jn 16: 20-23). Jesus is speaking with his disciples.
“I tell you most solemnly,
you will be weeping and wailing
while the world will rejoice;
you will be sorrowful,
but your sorrow will turn to joy.
A woman in childbirth suffers,
because her time has come;
but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering
in her joy that a man has been born into the world.
So it is with you: you are sad now,
but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy,
and that joy no one shall take from you.
When that day comes,
you will not ask me any questions.”
This is a particularly graphic passage, in which Jesus compares the change from sorrow to joy among his disciples, either at his Resurrection or at the coming of the Holy Spirit, with the joy of a woman, who after the pain and trauma of childbirth, holds a new-born babe in her arms. Only a woman can know what Jesus is talking about. The rest of us can barely imagine. When will Jesus see them again? At his Resurrection? But that is only temporary, so it must be with the coming of the Holy Spirit, when Christ will remain with his Church and with his friends for ever. The gift of eternal life cannot be taken from us, but we begin to live it and enjoy it from the moment we open our eyes and see Christ alongside us and become aware of his presence within us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
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.