Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 12th August 2023
Abbot Paul • August 11, 2023
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 12th August 2023
These past few days my messages have been on the long side, so today I’ll be brief for a change, mainly because I’m dead tired. It’s hard to believe that I went over to Italy for the weekend a fortnight ago: it’s beginning to feel like a lifetime. While I was there, I slept eight hours each night and had time to relax and read. Since I returned, there have been nights when I’ve barely managed four hours’ sleep, my usual quota being around four and a half. I’m not complaining, it’s simply a fact. I wish it were different. I can sense what it was like for Jesus and his disciples,
In today’s Gospel, (Mt 17: 14-20), Jesus is confronted by a father whose son was possessed by an unclean spirit, although his father calls him a lunatic. Nevertheless, he loves the boy and approaches Jesus on his knees, pleading for mercy and compassion. “Lord, take pity on my son: he is a lunatic and in a wretched state; he is always falling into the fire or into the water. I took him to your disciples and they were unable to cure him.” Jesus appears angered by his disciples’ inability to cure the boy. On the other hand, it could also be the lack of faith of those who ask for a cure. He says, “Faithless and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”
Matthew tells us that Jesus alone can cure the boy. “When Jesus rebuked it, the devil came out of the boy who was cured from that moment.” We hear no more of the boy or of his father, for the focus of the story is on the inability of the disciples to cure the boy.
“Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ they asked. He answered, ‘Because you have little faith. I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you.’” The disciples can’t understand why they were unable to heal the boy and Jesus explains that it’s their lack of faith, combined with a lack of prayer. Some spirits, most spirits I would say, can only be cast out by faith and prayer. If one or the other is missing, then we are powerless to heal. Faith the size of a mustard seed would suffice. No one wants to move mountains, but we would like to help those in need. So let us pray, Lord, increase our faith, so that we can help others. Amen.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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.