Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 17th May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 16, 2023
Meetings, meetings, meetings! I’ve never been a meetings man, so any meeting is a taste of purgatory for me. Now I accept they can be important and that necessary decisions have to be made that affect our lives as well as the lives of others, but I just wish I didn’t have to take part in the meetings myself. Monday night it was Churches Together, last night the Parish Council and tonight the Fete Committee. Still, following on from last night’s meeting, and after speaking with my mother, I did have the joy of walking with Toby and Fr Alex in the cemetery and the monastery garden. I’ll attach a few photographs.
Our short Gospel passage for the eve of the Ascension completes the text we were reading from John yesterday, (Jn 16: 12-15).
“I still have many things to say to you
but they would be too much for you now.
But when the Spirit of truth comes
he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking as from himself
but will say only what he has learnt;
and he will tell you of the things to come.
He will glorify me,
since all he tells you
will be taken from what is mine.
Everything the Father has is mine;
that is why I said:
All he tells you
will be taken from what is mine.”
Jesus is aware that his time with the disciples is coming to an end. Now the interesting thing about the Farewell Discourse is that, although given at the Last Supper before his Passion, Death and Resurrection, it could equally have been given in preparation for his Ascension and return to the Father. There is only so much the disciples can take in and understand, just like ourselves, but when they receive the Spirit of truth, the Spirit will lead them into the complete truth and they will understand at last what Jesus has been telling them. Just as Christ and the Father are one, so Christ and the Spirit are one and what the Spirit teaches will be the words and teaching of Christ himself. The Spirit of truth will speak for the Father and the Son, for God is One and his teaching is one.
Abbot Brendan Reflects on Pope Leo's words to the Benedictines worldwide
July and August 2026: 3 workshops let by Fr Alex Echeandia, Prior of the Monastery of Lurin
9th to 11th January 2026 A weekend for young men to experience the monastic life and join in the prayer and life of the community.
28th November at 6.45pm You are welcome to join an informal service for healing prayer on the last Friday of November. No need to book.
Sat 13th December, 10.00am-12.30am We are delighted that the acclaimed Cistercian writer, Fr Michael Casey will be with us in December.
Monday 1st to Thursday 4th December 2025. Our first Advent retreat in our newly opened guesthouse
Good Shepherd, Good Priest “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed; I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” Those words, spoken by the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel, describe the heart of God, the Good Shepherd — but they also describe the life and ministry of a good monk and priest. They could well be written of Fr Stephen’s years of service as a pastor in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford, and Weobley. In each of those places, he shared in the Shepherd’s work: seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, strengthening the weary, and leading God’s people with quiet faithfulness. And like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who came close to his people, Fr Stephen did not serve from a distance. He knew his people; he was among them. He shared their sorrows and their joys, their hopes and their disappointments. He bore their burdens with prayer and patience he brought the joy of the Gospel and the grace of the Sacraments. His mission amongst us is complete. He has served God’s good purpose. So today we ask Christ the Good Shepherd to take Stephen on his sacred shoulders and carry him home to the house of the Father. Bind up his wounds, give him eternal rest and lead him at last to the green pastures and still waters of eternal life.
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.