Blessing and Official Opening of our New Shop
On the feast of St James, 25th July
Rather like one of those winters that seems never to end so it has been, for many people, and in many differing ways, a seemingly endless and challenging journey to see off the effects of the Covid pandemic. So it’s a cause of great joy and celebration today to welcome the formal “return” of our much loved shop here at Belmont. And we are pleased and privileged to be able to see our wonderful volunteers, inspired and directed by our dear Fr. James, who are eager and waiting to offer their time honoured welcome to customers, browsers and the simply inquisitive.
We are also delighted to have with us Madeleine Carroll and her family; Madeleine is an accomplished author and her presence today, alongside Fr. Bernard Sixtus, Archdiocesan Director of Education and Lucy Fox from Gracewing books will, I’m sure, make sure that our re-launched shop gets off to the best possible start. As Lucy says “it’s wonderful to have a local partner with whom to share our books for a local, as well as farther afield audience”.
Of course, the most significant presence today, as every day, is the Lord himself, and it’s fitting that our re-opening has at its heart a service of blessing conducted by Fr. Abbot. In his rule for monks St. Benedict talks about goods being sold by the monastery: “prices, therefore, should always be set a little lower than people outside the monastery are able to set” (Chapter 57). That, surely, is a very clear message to Fr. James and his team.
Humour aside, St. Benedict is making the point that selling goods, having a shop, is something that is not simply about commerce - it’s about people, monks and their relations with the local and, in the days of the internet, not so local community. A shop, our shop, is an integral part of our monastic outreach, it offers a small hub where people can come to seek inspiration, whether in the many books, or cards, or religious artefacts. It is, in short, an essential part of our call to spread the good news of the gospel and, thanks to the internet, we can embrace many more people in our mission than previously envisaged.
Fr. Bernard reminded me that, especially as there is in longer a Catholic bookshop in Cardiff, having this resource at Belmont is something greatly valued by the archdiocese and will be a potential source of inspiration to future generations. For our faith is something that we are called to pass on and, in a moving tribute to her late father (whose birthday it is today) Madeleine shared with us that it was her father’s encouragement to see holy pictures, religious objects and books as a help on her own journey of faith that fostered and developed her own response to God’s call as a mother and as a Catholic author.
So today is a cause of real celebration; celebration and, of course, thanks. Thanks to our guests for their time and helping to re-launch this important part of our apostolate; thanks to our loyal and, we hope many new prospective customers; thanks to our great team of volunteers and to Fr. James; and, above all, thanks to almighty God for keeping alive in so many that flame of hope that has seen us through the last few years.
D.Alex
