Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 4th October 2023
Abbot Paul • October 3, 2023
Today the Church keeps the feast of St Francis of Assisi, probably the most popular and best loved of all Christian saints and certainly my favourite. This is partly due to the fact that I spent so much of my childhood and youth in Umbria, land of saints, the land of Francis and Benedict, with my grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. My memories are vivid treasures and many of them are connected with St Francis. I’ve written before about the ancient chapel on the farm land of my Zio Beniamino and Zia Annunziata on the bank of the River Chiascio less than a mile from the village of Valfrabbrica, where Francis often stopped to pray and spent the night when walking between Assisi and Gubbio. There was a stone there it was said he used as a pillow. I loved lying on the dirt floor with my head on that stone, running there after lunch to take my siesta. Zia Annunziata called me her little saint! Sadly, it takes more than using a stone for a pillow to become a saint, but I was a kid then, too young to understand. St Francis, pray for us today, that the lives of all Christians may be blessed by your joyful living of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Yesterday I traveled from Belmont to Thessaloniki, a wonderfully straightforward journey, thanks to Fr Alex, who kindly drove me to Birmingham Airport at 3am and Lufthansa, who flew me punctuality and comfortably from Birmingham to Thessaloniki via Munich. My plan for rest and relaxation with my friends has begun and I look forward to a week of just taking things easy.
Our Gospel passage today comes from Luke, (Lk 9: 57-62), three brief encounters between Jesus and aspiring disciples on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus reminds them, as he reminds us and as St Francis shows us so clearly, that a life of discipleship is no easy option, but a challenge and a true vocation. He concludes by telling the third would be disciple, “Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Words we should never forget.
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.