Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 18th July
Abbot Paul • July 18, 2022
Yesterday was a free day as far as Chapter is concerned, so I literally took the day off my agenda. After a cooked breakfast, useful as I wasn’t planning on having lunch, and Mass with the small congregation at nearby Ashburton, a beautiful town now on my list for a future visit next time I’m here, I set off with one of the other participants at Chapter on a church crawl, planning to end up at Exeter Cathedral. First of all, we made for the church of St Paul de Leon at Staverton, a large church with a magnificent rood screen and loft, dedicated to this strange Welsh saint and disciple of St Illtud. We then made for the village of Torbryan, not at all easy to find, and the magnificent church, now closed for worship, dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity. It is exceptionally well cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust and has a collection of fascination visual aids to assist visitors enhance their experience. Sadly, there were very few names in the visitors book. The rood screen is spectacular with the most exquisite painted panels depicting saints, including the Coronation of Our Lady. We then moved on to the small town of Ipplepen and the affluent and well-kept church of St Andrew, which also possesses a fine rood screen, loft and pulpit. From there we drove on to Exeter and its famous cathedral, that I had never previously visited. At first sight, it looks like a miniature Metz or Milan, but one you step inside and pay your £7.50 entrance fee, you suddenly realise how vast and light it is and very beautiful. Although I love these churches, I must confess to feeling a deep sadness that they are no longer Catholic and regret the causes and effects of the English Reformation. So as not to confuse you, each day I will post a few photographs of just one church, starting with Staverton today.
Our Gospel reading comes from Matthew, (Mt 12: 38-42), when the scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. “Master, we should like to see a sign from you.” They call him Master or Rabbi, so show a certain respect and recognition of his learning and ability to teach. Jesus, however, doesn’t take kindly to their request. He replies, “It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign.” Although he says he will only give them one sign, that of Jonah, in fact he also gives them a second, that of the Queen of Sheba. Jonah preached repentance at Nineveh and everyone, even the beasts, repented. The Queen came from Sheba to witness the wisdom of Solomon and she did not return home disappointed. Surely Jesus is greater than Jonah, and is he not also greater than Solomon too? The question is, do we rate the teachers and leaders of this age as more important and greater than Jesus? I wonder!
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.
