Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 12th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 11, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Monday, 12th September 2022
It was good to return to Tintern Abbey for the annual celebration of Vespers after a break of two years. This time we were unable to pray inside the church as there is some problem with loose stonework that is being repaired and made safe. We were able to hold our ecumenical service on the lawn below the great east window. The view was quite stunning. It struck me that monasteries often look better from the outside, leaving you to imagine and perhaps invent the perfect life of the community within. How I would love to return to Tintern in its heyday to see what the life of the monks was really like at that time.
Our Gospel passage from Luke today, (Lk 7: 1-10), sees Jesus back in Capernaum, which he had made his headquarters and centre of activity. He’s approached by some Jewish elders who come asking a favour for the local centurion, whose servant is gravely ill. They plead earnestly with Jesus. “He deserves this of you, because he is friendly towards our people; in fact, he is the one who built the synagogue.” A Roman citizen and a Gentile, but obviously a God-fearer well disposed towards the Jewish population. Jesus goes with them, but not far from the centurion’s house, messengers come with a message from the man himself, “Sir, do not put yourself to trouble; because I am not worthy to have you under my roof; and for this same reason I did not presume to come to you myself; but give the word and let my servant be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.” Jesus is astonished by the centurion’s faith and humility. In fact, so surprised is he, that he turns round and says to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith like this.” In Luke’s Gospel we often find Jesus saying similar things about other pagans. Indeed, he often contrasts the lack of faith among his co-religionists with the faith and devotion of foreigners, pagans or Samaritans, a group of people hated by the Jews of his day. The desired miracle originally asked for takes place, for “when the messengers got back to the house, they found the servant in perfect health.”
The reading teaches us not to judge the faith of others. Only God knows what is in each one of us and his way of judging the quality and depth of faith might well be very different to our own. Lord, help us to see the goodness in others and to rejoice in their faith.
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.
