Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 22nd December 2022
Abbot Paul • December 21, 2022
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
O King of the nations, and their Desire,
the Cornerstone, who makest both one:
Come, and save mankind, whom thou formest of clay.
Yesterday I had the great joy of visiting my mother and it turned out to be a perfect day. It was mild, calm and sunny, the journey in both directions quick and traffic-free. I was able to stop on the way home and visit my father’s grave at Cadoxton church, before the Dissolution of the monasteries one of the many parishes staffed by the Cistercian monks of Neath Abbey. My mother was in good spirits and overjoyed to see me and Toby. She prepared a magnificent lunch and, after a short siesta, Toby and I went down to the beach and spent an hour there, probably his longest walk since surgery a year and more ago. On our return, there was afternoon tea and later on a light supper, before the journey back to Belmont.
Today’s O Antiphon focusses on the kingship of Jesus, as Messiah and Saviour of the world. Just as the people of Israel longed for his coming, so we, his disciples of all the nations of the world, long for his return in glory at the end of time to judge both the quick and the dead. He is the cornerstone who joins together Jew and Gentile and who alone can unite mankind in living faith and saving grace, thereby lifting us up from the clay with which we were fashioned.
Our Gospel passage today consists of the Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise and thanksgiving, sung at her Visitation to Elizabeth and sung in the name of both women and the children in their wombs. It is the song the whole Church in all her branches sings each evening as Christians lift up their hearts and souls to God in recognition that, “the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.”
Here is the complete text, (Lk 1: 26-36):
Mary said:
‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
For the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm,
he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –
of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.”
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.
