Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 7th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 6, 2023
Today is the feast of St Ambrose, Doctor of the Church, elected Bishop of Milan by public acclamation before he was ordained a priest or even baptised, a man of profound learning, outstanding holiness and organisational skills, a poet and hymn writer, and he who baptised St Augustine of Hippo. We still read his homilies and treaties today and derive much wisdom and understanding from them and we sing the hymns he wrote, either in Latin or translated into English.
Today I will also be travelling from Belmont to Peru, to spend ten days or so with the community at Lurin and receive the First Profession of one of our Peruvian novices, Br Antonio Quispe Canlla. As you will notice from his Quechua surnames, Br Antonio hails from Cuzco, capital of the Inca Empire and is Quechua speaking.
Advent is rather like Lent in that it is a period of preparation and penance. The great difference, of course, is that Advent is shorter and now obliterated in the world around us by commercial festivities, devoid of any religious connotation. Who apart from practising Christians of the historic Churches would even be aware today that Advent exists at all, let alone what it is about, and that fact can have a negative influence even on us. The idea of a vigil in preparation for a feast, of fasting for a religious purpose, the concept vigil as a time of prayer and preparation, let alone confession and spiritual wellbeing is sadly unknown and unappreciated by the vast majority. This is not a criticism, but a statement of fact. For us part of that vigil of prayer, penance and preparation is to hear Gospel passages that invite us to a rather more committed Christian way of life, closely following the teaching of Jesus in all we think, do and say, and today is no exception. Our Gospel passage from Matthew is, in fact, from the Sermon on the Mount, (Mt 7: 21; 24-27).
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’”
Jesus calls his disciples to a life of integrity and coherence, that consists in doing the Father’s will. Prayer and supplication without integrity and obedience are of no value. True prayer comes from an obedient heart. So that we might know more clearly exactly what the Father’s will for us is, Jesus invites us to listen to his words and to act on them. What is more, he has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide and enlighten us and to give us good sense, strength and courage. What Jesus says is so simple and straightforward, that there is our rule of life. Advent is a time to remember this and to renew our good intentions and the very fabric of our lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 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.
