Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 25th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 25, 2022
Yesterday we celebrated the feast of Our Lady, so I thought you might like to see one of the oldest statues of Our Lady we have in the monastery, one of La Candelaria, Our Lady of the Taper or Candles, celebrated on 2nd February, Candlemas. She stands above the grave of the two founders of this monastery, mother and daughter, both widows, Lucrecia de Sanzoles and Mencia de Vargas, in Lima in the year 1584. I think she’s my favourite. There are at least half a dozen others.
Yesterday we also began our Canonical Visitation in the Chapter Room after Terce with an encouraging conference given by Abbot Benito. This was followed by interviews from 9.30 to 1.15pm and again after None from 3.15 to 5.30pm, no tea or coffee breaks in Peru. It was hard work concentrating, but only good can come of it. The great thing is that I’ve overcome the intense tiredness I was feeling at Belmont in recent weeks and am quite reinvigorated. Please keep praying for us.
In our Sunday Gospel from Luke, (Lk 16: 19-31), Jesus tells the Pharisees a story as a parable. This might well have been a popular story at the time, which Jesus used as a parable to move them to repentance and conversion, having had little luck so far. It’s known as Dives and Lazarus, a rich man and the poor man at his gate, whose only friends were the dogs who came to lick his wounds, while the rich man banqueted daily and ignored Lazarus. But Lazarus dies and goes to heaven, carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. Not long after, so does the rich man, but he goes to hell, having enjoyed his heaven on earth. He catches a glimpse of Lazarus and begs for a nail full of water, but Abraham says no. Lazarus suffered on earth, when Dives did nothing to help him, so he is now paying for his sins. For Jesus, however, the crunch comes at the end. Abraham tells Dives that if he and his five brothers took no notice of Moses and the prophets, they are hardly going to listen to Lazarus, even if he were to return from the dead, a clear reference to Jesus and the Resurrection. It’s a parable more than relevant for today, a parable that not only invites us to a greater generosity and care for the poor, but also to believe in the Risen Christ with a deeper and more committed faith.
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.
