Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday - 7th May 2024
Abbot Paul • May 6, 2024
Not such a bad Bank Holiday after all! The sun is shining still here at Belmont as I write this message, and it’s warm. There’s been a dog show practice on the lawns before the monastery and the sound of happy dogs interacting and enjoying the exercises. The first big move to Leominster will soon be on its way: at least there will be plenty of pictures for the blank walls and a fridge to keep things cool and fresh. I am grateful to the brethren and to dear friends for their help, more than help in fact, for they have done all the work. I have never lived alone, so this will be a new experience for me, which I’m looking forward to. Of course, I had hoped to have Toby with me, but that was not to be. The Lord works in mysterious ways!
Our Gospel reading today, (Jn 16: 5-11), continues where yesterday’s left off. We are in John’s account of the Last Supper and listening to Jesus talking with his disciples, preparing them for his death and what lies beyond. He says,
“Now I am going to the one who sent me.
Not one of you has asked, “Where are you going?”
Yet you are sad at heart because I have told you this.
Still, I must tell you the truth:
it is for your own good that I am going
because unless I go,
the Advocate will not come to you;
but if I do go,
I will send him to you.”
Jesus is about to return to the Father. His telling them this has saddened his disciples, but he assures them that he is not leaving them, but will still be with them through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate or Paraclete. He says that his going from them is for their own good, for unless he leaves them, the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, will not come to them. Jesus himself will send them the Spirit who proceeds from the Father. But what will the Spirit do?
“And when he comes,
he will show the world how wrong it was,
about sin,
and about who was in the right,
and about judgement:
about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me;
about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more;
about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.”
This is quite difficult to understand and to explain in a few words, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit to enlighten people and convince them of sin, judgement and faith. Essentially, what is sin but the rejection of God and of his Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ? On that sin will we be judged. Belief or faith is really trust and obedience, conforming our lives to God’s will and acknowledging that he knows what is best for us. Lord, increase my faith and grant me the grace each day to live by faith in you. Amen.
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.
