Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 14th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 14, 2023
I apologise for there being no message today. Yesterday turned out to be such a busy day, that in the end there wasn’t a spare moment to sit down and write. I hope today will be different.
Today we keep the feast of St John of the Cross, the 16th century Spanish Carmelite, known as the Mystical Doctor, for his outstanding writings on prayer and the spiritual life. May he pray for us and the whole Church today, where I believe more prayer and less talk is needed.
Today is also the 23rd anniversary of my election as Abbot of Belmont. The brethren here were reminiscing last night how Br Mario had just made his First Profession and Fr Alex was a novice, when I left Peru for a few days to be present at the election at Belmont, never for a moment imagining that I would be elected abbot. As I begin my 24th and last year, I ask for your prayers as the communities in England and Peru discern the way forward and prepare to elect a new abbot. May St John of the Cross guide our hearts and minds.
At a solemn Mass, the feast of St Basil and St Gregory, Br Alban makes his promises as a claustral oblate.
Belmont Abbey Organ is the second largest organ in the County of Herefordshire. It has 3 manuals (keyboards) and 54 stops and is second only to the organ of Hereford Cathedral (4 Manuals and 67 stops) - Belmont has the largest organ in our Catholic Diocese.