Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 5th October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 5, 2022
One of the things that fascinated the disciples about Jesus was his personal prayer life or inner life of prayer. It’s difficult to know how exactly to describe it. All four Evangelists tell us that he would seek places and periods of quiet solitude when he would pray, communicating with his heavenly Father in silent contemplation. Luke tells us, (Lk 11: 1-4), that it was after one such moment of prayer, which at times could last all night, that the disciples approached Jesus to ask a question. “Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’” They could see him praying and were so acutely aware of the benefits he derived from such prayer, that they too wanted to pray as he did, but not only as he did. “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” This is the first we hear of John the Baptist teaching his disciples to pray. I wonder how John and his disciples did pray!
Jesus replies, making no allusion to John’s method of prayer, by teaching them a simple prayer, the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer. You will notice that the form of it found in Luke differs somewhat and is shorter than that found in Matthew, where it occurs in the Sermon on the Mount. This is what we read in Luke.
“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”
Although shorter than Matthew’s Our Father that became the official version for the Church’s Liturgy and the personal devotion of all Christians, nevertheless it contains all that Matthew’s version contains. It remains in the plural form (we/us), yet God is the Father of all that exists and not just of believing Jews or Christians. We pray for the coming of the kingdom or reign of God, for all our needs, symbolised in the bread of life, and for forgiveness of sin, provided we forgive those who have sinned against us. And we ask not to be put to the test, we request deliverance from temptation that can cripple or destroy the soul. It might take extra effort, but why not learn this version of the Lord’s Prayer by heart and use it to pray with as an alternative to the better known one?
The photographs I attach today are of our monks in Peru restoring the Stations of the Cross from a Lima parish church in their restoration workshop.
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.