Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 20th September 2023
Abbot Paul • September 19, 2023
Just a short message today as yesterday was a busy working day for A.I.M in Paris, meeting from 8am to 6pm with just a short break for lunch. When you read this, I will be on my way back to Belmont. I’ve been warned that the weather is windy and wet and to take special care driving. It’s interesting to see that the French are being a little more careful about Covid, with sanitising liquid to be seen in restaurants and churches, masks more frequently worn and Holy Communion being given in only one kind at Mass. I’ll add some photos of the three images of Our Lady in the Monastery of St Bathilde at Vanves, where A.I,M. has its offices and a short clip from Vespers.
Today’s Gospel passage from Luke, (Lk 7: 31-35), records Jesus’ frustration with the attitude of people towards him. He compares them with children in the marketplace, playing games and singing rhymes. He even quotes one of the rhymes they sing. Then he says, “For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say he is possessed; the Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say he is a glutton and a drunkard, the friend of tax-collectors and sinners.” Nothing satisfies them and they find fault everywhere. I wonder if anything has changed. What do people make of Jesus today? Are we still like children in the marketplace?
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.
