Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 9th October 2023
Abbot Paul • October 9, 2023
Yesterday was a very busy day, including the whole morning in a Greek Orthodox Church for the Liturgy and all that goes with it, added to which, the local elections and news from Palestine and Israel kept us glued to the television. War in the Holy Land fils us with horror and sorrow and impels us to pray for peace, a peace that can only be based on justice and respect for the integrity of the rights of all peoples who share that small area of land. In many ways the world seems to be spinning out of control. Also yesterday I was talking with a farmer friend in Peru, who was lamenting the effects of climate change on his land: his mango harvest is down this year by 90% and is worth only £45. There is so much to pray for, but prayer alone is not enough.
Today the Church remembers St John Henry Newman, the 19th century English theologian. We pray that he will soon be declared a Doctor of the Church.
Our Gospel comes from Matthew, (Mt 13: 47-52), the Parable of the Dragnet, in which Jesus compares fishermen sorting out their catch and throwing the useless fish back into the sea with the angels at the end of time separating the good from the evil, only that the fires of hell replace the comfort of the sea. Jesus ends by saying, “Every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both old and new.” We can apply this to St John Henry Newman. May he pray for us today.
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.
