Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 8th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 7, 2023
Today we keep the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, the ancient belief of the Church that Mary was conceived without sin, pure and spotless, as the Advent carols sing, because she was conceived and born to be the Mother of God, the Theotokos, she who conceived the Word Incarnate and shared with him her lifeblood, thereby giving him the gift of human life.
You might be wondering if l am writing this message on an airplane, but I’m not, in fact, I’m in a hotel in Amsterdam! Due to extreme weather conditions, the flight from Birmingham was over four hours late, so missing the connection to Lima. KLM kindly looked after me in every possible way and rebooked me to fly to Lima on Friday. I must say, it’s been a very tiring day and I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep. Normal service will resume as soon as possible.
It was wonderful to see so many people at the annual torchlight procession in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We also enjoyed an evening of wonderful magic and music with Fr Dominic and friends... all in a good cause.
At a solemn Mass, the feast of St Basil and St Gregory, Br Alban makes his promises as a claustral oblate.
