Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 30th September 2023
Abbot Paul • September 29, 2023
So it is that we come to the end of the month of September and the feast of St Jerome, the great biblical scholar, who translated the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek into Latin. He also wrote extensive commentaries on the books of the Bible and wonderful homilies. He was born in Dalmatia in about 347 and died in Bethlehem in 420, so it is over 1600 years since his death. We also come to the end of the third quarter of the year. How quickly today becomes yesterday.
We have the briefest of Gospel passages today, a continuation of yesterday’s, from Luke, (Lk 9: 43-45). “At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”’ But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.” Whilst the crowds are full of admiration for the things he is doing, Jesus feels obliged to insist on what he has started telling the disciples, that he is destined to be handed over into the hands of his opponents and those who do not accept his mission to reconcile all peoples with God. Sadly, for the moment, neither do his disciples understand what he is talking about. They cannot envisage a suffering Messiah or one who falls under the power of evil men. Not only that, but they are afraid to ask, but why be afraid of Jesus? Were they fearful of the truth? Was the truth too hard to take? What do you think? Of course, we read the Gospels with the hindsight of 2.000 years’ development of study in Scripture and Theology. What must it have been like to be one of the disciples or even an evangelist? This gives us much to think and pray about as followers of Jesus.
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.
