Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 11th May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 10, 2023
We all look forward to the May Procession each year and last night’s was one to remember, as the great number of pilgrims snaked their way around the monastery gardens praying the Rosary and singing beautiful, traditional hymns to Our Lady. I’ll attach a few photographs I took myself, but no doubt far better ones will appear online in the next few days. Archbishop Mark spoke movingly of Our Lady’s involvement in his own priestly vocation and of how she shows us the way to respond lovingly to God’s will for us, which applies to all Christians at every stage and every day of their lives.
Our short Gospel reading today comes from John, (Jn 15: 9-11), and is the continuation of the Parable of the True Vine. The words might be few, but they are of the deepest significance.
“As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.”
In and through Christ we receive the Father’s love and Jesus longs for us to abide in the Father’s love. This we will do if we keep his commandments, just as Jesus has done his Father’s will and so abides for ever in his love. God’s love is eternal as God is eternal. Christ shares his words with us, so that his joy might be with us and so our joy be complete. What greater joy can there be than that of knowing that God’s love fills our hearts?
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.
