Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 26th September 2023
Abbot Paul • September 26, 2023
Today the Church remembers the twin 3rd century physician martyr saints of Syria, Cosmas and Damian, so popular in the early Church that they even appear in the Roman Canon. They are the patron saints of medicine and pharmacy and were renowned for attending to the sick without any charge. So many miracles were wrought through their intercession that their cult spread throughout Europe and the Middle East. One of the small medieval churches well worth visiting in Herefordshire is that of Saints Cosmas and Damian at Stretford, just a few miles south of Leominster off the A4110. You mustn’t miss it. May this day’s saints pray for doctors, surgeons, nurses and pharmacists and for the NHS.
Our short Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 8: 19-21), focusses on a visit made to Jesus by his mother and other family members. “The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’” Jesus uses their visit to teach the crowds who follow him what it means to belong to God’s family, the family of the faithful. All can be the brothers and sisters of Jesus if they “hear the word of God and put it into practice.” We are not told by Luke why it is that his mother and brothers wish to see him, nor are we told whether he left the crowds in order to them. We know that his mother is Mary, the wife of Joseph the carpenter, but who are these brothers? Could they have been the sons of Joseph by an earlier marriage? Tradition points in that direction. Personally, being an only son, I’ve often wondered what it must be like to have brothers and sisters. One of the sorrows I’ve carried through life is that of not having a brother or sister. I envy those who do. Yet Jesus has chosen and called me to be one of his brothers and for that I’m truly grateful.
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.
