Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 26th October 2023
Abbot Paul • October 25, 2023
Today the Church in Herefordshire celebrates the feast of St Eadfrith of Leominster, a missionary Benedictine monk from Northumbria, who in the year 660 founded a small monastic community at Leominster, near the River Lugg, where he died in 675. This monastery was destroyed by the Danes and later rebuilt as an abbey for nuns, which became famous in the Anglo-Saxon period, although it was supressed just before the Conquest. In the 12th century, Henry I incorporated the lands at Leominster into the foundation of Reading Abbey and the minster was rebuilt, becoming a priory dependant on Reading until is dissolution at the Reformation. St Eadfrith, however, is considered to be the founder of Leominster and today we ask this Benedictine saint for his intercession for the people of the whole of Herefordshire.
Our Gospel passage from Luke, (Lk 12: 49-53), today is very short and carries on from yesterday’s reading. Jesus is speaking with his disciples, “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over!
‘’Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
What is this fire that Jesus talks about other than the flame of conversion and forgiveness which ultimately leads to the flame of the Holy Spirit, the flame of God’s love? And what is this division among men that he has come to bring rather than peace? God’s peace is not a human peace, which is simply the absence of chaos and disagreement, the absence of hatred and war. God’s peace is not an absence but a presence, his presence, for where God is, there is peace, there is love. The division he talks about is that caused by the decision we all must make: are we for Christ of against him? There can be no halfway house, no taking of two roads. When you come to a fork in the road of life, you can only go one way, not both. Lord, may we always choose your way, may we always choose you. Amen.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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.