Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 25th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 25, 2023
Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. I started keeping this as my feast day while studying in Rome, because we always left for home before 29th June, the official end to the summer semester, and so I would miss out on a party with my fellow students. So powerful an experience was it for St Paul himself, that there are no less than four accounts of it in the New Testament, as well as further allusions to it. Since those happy, long-off days, I have continued to keep it as my feast day, conscious as I am of the need for continuous conversion and renewal in my life. I’ve still a long way to go. Today is also the last day in the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. Sadly, I was unable to take part in our zoomed Night Prayer last night, organised by Ewyas Harold and District Christians Together. I rushed back from visiting my mother in order to be at Belmont at 8.30, only to discover that yet again our Internet connection had gone down. This is now becoming a regular occurrence and it's an embarrassing nuisance and a hindrance to work. I have no idea when or if it will return, so heaven knows when you will get to see this message.
As I mentioned, yesterday I was able to visit my mother and what a glorious day it was. I believe that Herefordshire remained shrouded in mist, while in South Wales we enjoyed a glorious, sunny day, warm and calm. Toby and I went down to the beach, where he met a number of friends and played with them. I found the walk restful and invigorating. The sky was truly breath-taking and I took a number of photographs to share with you. We’ll see if that will be possible.
Our Gospel passage for today comes from Mark, (Mk 16: 15-18) where Jesus appears to the Eleven, the Twelve less Judas, after his Resurrection and instructs them, saying, “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus himself went out to share the Good News with Saul, the great persecutor of Christians, and caught up with him on the road to Damascus, whither he was going in search of Christians to persecute and kill, as he had son with Stephen. He believed, was baptised and was saved. Not only that, but from persecuting the Church, he became its greatest missionary, evangelist and theologian. We might well ask what would have become of that small group of Jesus’ disciples had Paul not been converted. But then, his conversion was all part of God’s plan and the work of the Holy Spirit and for this we give thanks to God today.
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.
