Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 11th March 2023
Abbot Paul • March 11, 2023
The internet appears not to be working at the moment. Not sure why, but it could be the rain that’s falling on Lima this evening. It began as we processed into Vespers. I can’t exaggerate how unusual this is, as they say that in Lima it never rains. Nevertheless, for the past four or five days there have been torrential rains in the north of the country, with many roads and bridges washed away, including some very important ones, so cities like Piura and Talara can no longer be reached. Smaller towns and villages are in dire straits as no one was prepared for the severe flooding caused by the Niño current. Please pray for the poor people, as it’s impossible to get help to many of them. The Peruvian people are long suffering and resilient. Please keep them in your prayers. If by any chance, I can’t get this to you for tomorrow, you’ll know why when you eventually read it.
Today’s Gospel is that of the Prodigal Son, that we find in Luke, (Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32), one of three parables used together by Jesus to explore and explain the accusation of the scribes and Pharisees that, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” I won’t repeat the parable, that we all know so well. The question is whether it answers the accusation. The important figure is the father rather than the younger son, who is obviously the most colourful of the three characters and the one most people focus on. He has become a proverbial figure, perhaps because most of us are or have been like him at sometime in our lives. Even Jesus becomes the prodigal son, when he takes our sins upon himself, and through his death and resurrection enables the Father to forgive them. Jesus becomes the friend of sinners in order to seek the Father’s forgiveness and reconciliation. The scribes and Pharisees are like the older son, the good and obedient one, yet the one who is unable to forgive and be reconciled with his repentant younger brother. Will he ever learn the art of forgiveness from his father? The parable teaches us that God is merciful and forgiving, wanting only the return of sinners to his loving arms. God is mercy, God is love, a lesson we all need to remember.
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.
