Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 8th June 2023
Abbot Paul • June 7, 2023
This evening I’ll be returning to Belmont, God willing. Pray that the planes are in time. As I did when flying out last Wednesday, I’ll be changing planes at Frankfurt. It was easy and relaxing coming out, so I hope it will be the same going back. I would have enjoyed another week, perhaps at the beach swimming two or three times a day. Who knows, that might be possible next visit. Yesterday we went over Mount Chortiatis to the lake and town of St Basil, such a beautiful ride through the Macedonian countryside, bedecked with wild flowers of every colour. The town of St Basil is famous throughout Greece for the traditional walking and dancing through bonfires that takes place on 1st January to celebrate his feast day. It amazes me to see the number of new monasteries of both men and women that have been built in recent years on the outskirts of the city. We passed by several of them yesterday, vast establishments, full to overflowing, so I am told, of young monks and nuns. There’s certainly big money invested in the modern, state of the art buildings. I wonder what’s holding us back in the U.K.?
Today’s Gospel passage from Mark, (Mk 12: 28-34), tells of the visit of one of the scribes to Jesus. He questions Jesus on the commandments. “Which is the first?” he asks. He finds himself in total agreement with Jesus that the greatest commandment is twofold, to love God above all and our neighbour as ourselves. Jesus comments on his wisdom. “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark comments that as a result of this agreement, no one else dares to ask Jesus another question. The question for us is whether we truly agree with Jesus as the scribe did.
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.
