Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 20th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 20, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 20th September 2022
I was overjoyed yesterday to be able to follow most of the service at Westminster Abbey between Vigils and Lauds, when the brethren were engaged in Lectio Divina. In fact, following that magnificent service was a wonderful form of lectio and I felt deeply blessed and rewarded. What an enormous privilege it was, even on the small screen of my mini iPad and wearing headphones! The picture and sound were as clear as a bell. I felt I was there in person. How I envied the young men carrying our beloved Queen’s coffin. Then after Mass, breakfast and Terce, and before the Baptism of an old friend’s grandson, I was privileged to join the procession arriving at Windsor and was able to be present at the burial service at St George’s. It was all profoundly moving and poignantly so, especially the returning of the symbols of regal office to God on the High Altar, from whom she had received them at her Coronation, and the snapping of the staff in two. I kept thinking of those words of Jesus from the Parable in Matthew’s Gospel, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.” Queen Elizabeth’s life and death have been a wonderful and outstanding lesson for us all.
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.
