Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 2nd October 2023
Abbot Paul • October 2, 2023
Today, whilst the Universal Church celebrates the feast of the Guardian Angels, in Herefordshire we keep the feast of St Thomas of Hereford, Thomas Cantilupe. At Belmont a relic of his skull is venerated at the Memorial Altar. St Thomas Cantilupe, 45th Bishop of Hereford, Chancellor of Oxford University and Lord Chancellor of England, was canonised by Pope John XXII in 1320. Born at Hambleden, Bucks, in 1218, he died near Orvieto, in Italy, on 25th August 1282. He was returning to England from visiting the Pope who had revoked the decree of excommunication imposed on him by Archbishop John Peckham of Canterbury. The Roman Martyrology describes him as being “resplendent with learning, severe toward himself, to the poor however he showed himself a generous benefactor.”
Yesterday afternoon, the monastic community returned to Hereford Cathedral after the hiatus of Covid lockdowns, at the invitation of the Dean and Chapter, to sing Vespers in his honour. I find the cathedral particularly prayerful and it’s always a powerful experience to sing Vespers there or just to pop in when in town to say a short prayer. The restored tomb of St Thomas adds a certain spiritual edge to that house of prayer, the place where so many miracles took place at his shrine in the Middle Ages. I’ll attach a few photographs of the celebration. We were truly blessed to be present.
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.
