Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 6th October 2023
Abbot Paul • October 5, 2023
Today, 6th October, we remember St Bruno, founder of the Carthusians, who died on this day at Serra San Bruno, Calabria, in the year 1101. Born in Cologne around 1030, he studied in Germany and France, was ordained and became a canon. He taught at Rheims and was a renowned scholar, a friend and teacher of Popes and other leaders. All the while he felt that God was calling him to the solitary life, but with the help of a community of brothers. He founded the first two Carthusian houses of Calabria himself and refused the Archbishopric of Reggio Calabria. In many ways one of the most attractive of saintly founders, we ask his intercession today for the Church and for the Synod taking place in Rome.
Yesterday we visited the old market to do the rounds of the usual store owners where my cases are filled for the return to the U.K. A large amount of incense from Mount Athos for Peru, olives and olive oil for my mother and myself, then loukoumia, mastica and other local delicacies, visits to bakers, cheese sellers, fishmongers, butchers, fruit and vegetable sellers. Everything has to be touched and tasted for quality, even grains of incense burnt to see if the perfume is intense enough. Real, old fashioned shopping, and it takes a long time, especially if you stop for a drink and a snack, and long discussions putting the world to rights.
Today’s Gospel from Luke, (Lk10: 13-16), sees the lament of Jesus for the towns, where he had preached the Good News, for their lack of repentance and conversion. I wonder what he is saying today of the towns and villages where we live. Even Capernaum is singled out for lamentation. He ends by telling his disciples, “Anyone who listens to you, listens to me; anyone who rejects you, rejects me, and those who reject me, reject the one who sent me.” We pray for the grace never to reject Jesus.
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.
