Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 21st December 2022
Abbot Paul • December 20, 2022
O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justitiæ;
veni et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Dayspring, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Whatever we say about Advent and Christmas in our Northern Hemisphere, we can never get away from the interplay of dark and light. We experience in December long, dark nights and a few days before the festival of Christ's Nativity, the more ancient festival of the Solstice, the longest night and shortest day, which is today, 21st December. Isaiah prophesied that, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who lived in a land of deep darkness, light has shone." (Is 9: 2). Saint Bede the Venerable wrote a wonderful evocation of this light, Christ, our true Morning Star: 'Christ is the morning star who when the night of this world is past brings to his saints the promise of the light of life and opens everlasting day'. Jesus Christ is, as John’s Gospel Prologue proclaims, “The Light that shines in the darkness; the Light that darkness cannot overcome.” (Jn 1: 5)
Today’s Gospel passage from Luke, (Lk 1: 39-45), recounts Mary’s visitation to her aged relative Elizabeth, which follows on that of the Annunciation.
“Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’”
Jesus will tell his hearers that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb and here it is Elizabeth who is filled with the Holy Spirit as the child in her womb leaps for joy at the coming of Mary bearing Christ in her womb. Filled with the Spirit she prophesises that Mary is the most blessed of all women, for the child in her womb is blessed. In fact, Mary bears God made man, and the fruit of her womb is the Saviour of the world, the Kyrios, the Lord. Mary’s greeting causes John to leap for joy, for the whole world is filled with joy at Christ’s Incarnation. Today themes of joy and light fill our own hearts as we look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth as Light of the world at Christmas.
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.
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Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.