Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 14th July
Abbot Paul • July 13, 2022
Another excellent day’s discussion and learning at General Chapter yesterday with experienced professionals in the field of Safeguarding to guide us. The days are passing by quickly and it will soon be the weekend. So far there has been no free time, even to see the abbey grounds or pay a visit to the abbey shops. On Sunday I am hoping to visit Exeter Cathedral, which I have never seen.
Our Gospel passage today is very short. Again it’s from Matthew, (Mt 11: 28-30) and is one of Jesus’ most famous sayings. Chapter 11 of Matthew does read rather like a collection of sayings pronounced by Jesus at various times and simply put together for convenience and in order not to lose them. Here it is: “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yolk and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.”
Jesus came to befriend us, forgive us our sins, reconcile us with our heavenly Father and give us new life. He invites us to hand over our burdens to him and, in exchange, to shoulder his yoke and learn from him how to be truly gentle and humble of heart, peace-loving and the servant of all. Lord, transform our lives, we pray, by the Grace of the Holy Spirit, that we might always walk with Jesus. Amen.
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.
