Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 13th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 12, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 13th September 2022
I’ll be brief today as I wasn’t feeling too good yesterday and tried to have an early night. This coming Thursday I’ll be travelling out to Peru, so I hope to be in good shape for that long journey. It’s almost three years since I was last there and this visit includes the Canonical Visitation of the monastery, which I’ll conduct with the help of an abbot from Chile.
Our Gospel reading today is that of the Raising of the Widow of Nain’s Son, in which Luke shows us vividly the compassion of Jesus both for the living and the dead, (Lk 7: 11-17). This is the only occasion that Nain is mentioned in the Bible. “Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her.” We don’t know why Jesus was there nor why such a large crowd of people was following him. Rather like the confluence of two vast rivers, these large crowds of Jesus’ followers and those accompanying the burial of the young man meet. We are told that the dead man was the only son of a widowed mother. Jesus himself was the only son both of God and of Mary and his mother might well have been a widow by now. This miracle is prophetic of the passion and death of Jesus.
“When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.” Not only is Jesus compassionate, but he can heal the sick and raise the dead. In raising the young man to life and restoring him to his mother, he is saving the woman from certain destitution, as the young man was the only one to care for his mother. On the cross, Jesus will commend his mother to the loving care of the Beloved Disciple.
Lord God, in Christ Jesus you have visited your people. Have compassion on us today, heal our infirmities and raise our fallen spirits. 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.