Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 6th August
Abbot Paul • August 5, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 6th August 2022
I find it really sad that the Transfiguration isn’t kept as a major feast or solemnity by the Western Church. Today is an enormous feast in the Eastern Churches and especially in monasteries. I remember my student days in Greece, spending the feast on Mount Athos with the Greek monks, the steep climb to the top of the Holy Mountain, the all-night vigil, the dawn Liturgy and the picnic of bread and olives, peaches and cherries that followed, all washed down with the resinated wine I love so much. Such happy memories of a deep living faith have kept me going ever since. I occasionally buy a bottle of retsina. Not only does it help me digest my food, but it also helps me to pray better. When he became Pope, St Gregory the Great had it imported from Constantinople as an aid to his digestion.
Our Gospel this year comes from Luke, (Lk 9: 28-36). Here it is.
“Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ – He did not know what he was saying. As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’ And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.”
Luke is always keen to show Jesus at prayer and we are told specifically that Jesus took Peter, James and John with him up the mountain to pray. While at prayer, the appearance of his face and even of his clothes changes dramatically. He becomes “brilliant as lightening.” Not only that, but Moses and Elijah appear on either side of him, talking of what is soon to happen in Jerusalem. Although heavy with sleep, the disciples “see his glory.” You can’t but think of the Prologue to John’s Gospel. It is the glory that Jesus shares with his heavenly Father. Peter unthinkingly ventures to say that he would like to set up three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, yet his reaction is spot on. “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here.” These words often come to me at Mass and at Adoration. How wonderful it is to live in the presence of Jesus. They then enter into a thick cloud and can see nothing. The disciples begin to be afraid, but a voice comes from the cloud. They can hear the Father but not see him. The Father declares and confirms that Jesus is his Son, his Chosen One, and that they are to listen to him. When the voice stops speaking and the cloud evaporates, they can see only Jesus. They know for certain that he is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Saviour, and this leads them into a respectful silence. Even Peter, for the moment, is struck dumb.
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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.
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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.
