Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 2nd October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 1, 2022
I do apologise for not writing a short message for yesterday, but I was so exhausted when I returned to Belmont from Peru on Friday evening, that the moment I got to my room, I lay down on Toby’s sofa (he was still in kennels), fell fast asleep and didn’t wake up until 7.30 on Saturday morning, by which time it was too late. All I can say is that I enjoyed the rest and needed it. I’ve also come to realise that I’m getting older and don’t have the energy I had before Covid and lockdown. Peru is still very strict about Covid restrictions. I had to laugh one day when Fr Alex and I popped into a downtown supermarket to collect a few things for the community. We were stopped by an armed guard and asked to show proof of vaccination in order to be allowed in. I didn’t quite understand what the man was saying, so I showed him my passport. He said to Alex, “This gentleman is of the “Third Age”, so he must have been vaccinated. Now I know I’m of the “Third Age”!
In our Gospel passage today, (Lk 17: 5-10), the Apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. His reply is somewhat unexpected. All Jesus says is, “Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” What is he implying? In the first place, that there are no easy answers, no easy solutions to their request, “Lord, increase our faith.” Rather, it is a question of faith and of trust in God. Were our faith the size of a mustard seed, (How small can you get?), then that would be enough, because God would do the rest. Faith is a question of trusting in God and believing that he can do what we can’t.
Jesus then goes on to talk about duty, doing our duty before God, and gives the example of a servant and his master. He concludes by saying, “When you have done all you have been told to do, say, ‘We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.’” In other words, faith is also a question of obedience and duty. If we have faith, no matter how little, we listen to God and obey his voice, simply doing our duty before him and our fellow human beings, trusting that it gives him joy and that he will reward us appropriately. It all sounds rather simple and straightforward when Jesus speaks with his disciples. God has given us so many gifts and talents. How can we not please him by doing what he asks of us?
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.
