Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 19th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 19, 2023
I’m on my way back to Belmont, though I’ve not got very far. We took a long, roundabout route to the airport that involved an amazing shortcut. This can only happen in Peru, an underground Via Expresa that goes right under the centre of old Lima for about three miles. It came quite unexpectedly after the worst of Lima traffic jams, when you wonder whether we’ll ever get out of this mess. Then came the airport, where I’m sitting comfortably now in an airline lounge, enjoying a comfortable seat and quality refreshments. The funny thing is that I now look so much like an old man that kind Peruvians direct me to queueless security and immigration lines, so I was whisked through the airport both on arriving and leaving. Not only that, whereas at European airports our passports now have to be stamped, not so in Lima, where everything is computerised.
Our Gospel today comes from Luke, (Lk 1: 5-25), the annunciation of the conception and birth of John the Baptist to his father Zechariah, while serving as a priest in the Temple. The lives of Jesus and John are so interwoven, that John is as much part of the Good News as Jesus, though each in his appointed role: John the Prophet, Jesus the Messiah, John the voice, Jesus the Word, John the witness, Jesus the Light, John the Baptist, Jesus the Christ. Today’s Gospel is exquisitely told by Luke, as only Luke can, even in translation. I won’t spoil it by commenting on it, not that I’m in the right place to set about doing so! Tomorrow I’ll be writing from a lounge in Paris.
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.
