Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 16th November 2022
Abbot Paul • November 15, 2022
You will be pleased to hear that our retreat is going well. I just wish we could switch off our computers and mobile phones for the week and be allowed a real retreat in peace and quiet. Perhaps, that’s too much to hope for. Today we keep the feast of St Gertrude the Great, born on the feast of the Epiphany in 1256. She entered the monastery school at Helfta in Germany at the age of four and joined the monastic community at the age of ten. She received a thorough education and it was only at the age of 25 that she started receiving visions. She became one of the great mystics of the 13th century, dying in the year 1302. She produced numerous writings, not all of which survive, but she is a true teacher of the art of contemplative prayer and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to this day. We ask for her prayers as we, too, walk the path of Christian discipleship.
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.
