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Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 1 st October 2023 Yesterday was a busy but happy day in the service of the Lord. In the morning, after Conventual Mass and Toby’s second walk of the day, I drove up to Leominster for Mass and Confessions, then came back to Belmont for a joyful wedding, elegant, homely and relaxed. Then came the Mass of Thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee of Fr Richard’s Priestly Ordination, an uplifting celebration followed by a magnificent, traditional tea party. It was lovely to see so many well-known faces from all the parishes where Fr Richard has served. As a monk can never have too much of a good thing, this was followed by Solemn Vespers. Today, I will be at Leominster for Mass in the morning and again in the early afternoon, as well as at Bromyard for Mass later in the morning. Then, at 5.30pm the monastic community will sing Vespers at Hereford Cathedral for the vigil of the feast of St Thomas Cantilupe at the invitation of the Dean and Chapter. We are all looking forward enormously to returning to the Cathedral for the first time since lockdown. All are welcome to join us for Vespers. Fr Michael will preside and preach. Today’s Gospel from Matthew (Mt 21: 28-32) has Jesus asking the chief priests and elders of the people a question. “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, ‘My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not go,’ but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, ‘Certainly, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?” His question is based on the short parable of the two sons and the answer is obvious, but by getting the answer right, his adversaries fall into a trap. When they answer, “The first,” Jesus is able to compare them unfavourably with tax collectors and prostitutes, i.e. with public sinners. He contrasts the way they responded to John the Baptist’s preaching, which was to ignore him, and the response of sinners, which was to repent of their sins and change their way of life. Jesus says, “Tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.” Now it’s fine to talk about the high priests of Jesus’ time, about the elders of the people, the scribes and Pharisees, but what about us? What about me? Which son am I like? How closely do I listen to Jesus and take his teaching to heart? Does his teaching call me to repentance? Does his example move me to conversion and new life? These are important questions we should be asking ourselves today. Lord, I have often been disobedient to your will and have let myself down; help me out of my indolence and give me grace always to do what is right and just. Amen.

Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 14 th October 2023 It was good to drive to Bromyard yesterday morning for Mass and to take Toby with me. This wasn’t new to him, of course, as in the past he had been there many times and always accompanied me when I went church crawling nearby. As you know, I love visiting ancient churches and love praying in them and singing the chant. I always get the feeling that the stones remember and rejoice. When I eventually move to Leominster and Bromyard next year on my retirement as abbot, one of the many things I’m looking forward to doing is visiting every ancient church in the north of Herefordshire, not that I can say that I’ve visited every medieval church in the south of the county, but I’m getting pretty close. Toby always accompanies me, as he loves sniffing around old churches and churchyards as much as I do. Today’s brief Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 11: 27-28), is a most suitable passage to be heard on Saturday, which is usually dedicated to Our Lady. Here it is: “As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” It’s somewhat similar to the short account we read recently of a visit made by Mary and his brothers to Jesus, when he was preaching to the crowds and healing them. “Who are my mother and my sisters and brothers?” he asked, replying that those who hear the word and kept it are his mother and sisters and brothers. This time it is a woman in the crowd, who shouts out, “Blessed are the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked.” It’s not that Jesus disagrees with what she says, but he takes her thought a stage further. “Even more blest those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Who is more blessed than Mary his mother, who heard the word of God and kept it? We ask Mary’s prayers today that we, like her, may hear the word of God and keep it.