Sunday 16 A, 19th July 2026, dom Brian Gerard Kelly
Weavers of Hope The great philosopher, Carmelite nun and martyr, St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, (Edith Stein) one of the six patron saints of Europe, received visits from her former philosopher colleagues at her convent. Some wanted to know more about her faith journey. To one such visitor, she simply said: “Forget cleverness. Just […]
St Benedict, 11 July, Abbot Xavier
+ Homily for the Solemnity of St Benedict, 11th July 2026 The three readings we have just heard can serve as a good introduction to the Spirit of St Benedict and his Rule. The book of Proverbs articulates the transmission of wisdom from an experienced master to younger disciples. Christian wisdom is a gift of […]
Sts Peter and Paul 2026, Abbot Xavier
+ Homily for the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Sunday 28 June 2026 Dom Guéranger, who founded our French mother house of Solesmes in 1833, loved Rome. He visited it many times. He even once stayed in Rome for more than one year at a time when he was working at establishing our Congregation. […]
Sunday 21 June 26 (12 A), Abbot Xavier
+ Sunday 12, Year A A few weeks ago, a little girl approached a group of priests among which I was standing: “May I ask a question?”, she said. “Yes, of course”. “Why do people die?” We had her repeat the question a few times, as we were not sure we had properly understood. The […]
Sunday 14th June 2026, Dom Brian Gerard Kelly
Compassion “When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Those of you who have visited Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire may have been struck by the bronze statue placed on the lawn to the north of the church. From a distance it is […]
Corpus Christi 2026, Abbot Xavier
Usually we eat our bread “in the sweat of our face”. Of course, we recognise that our daily bread is given to us by our Father in heaven. We give thanks to Him before and after our meals for we know our work is of no avail without His grace. We know that everything comes […]
Trinity 2026, Prior Gregory Corcoran
Pentecost concluded our annual liturgical celebration of the Pascal Mystery and turned our thoughts with awe towards the mystery of God, to the Blessed Trinity. We prayed for the gift of the Holy Spirit: Through thee may we know the Father and the eternal Son. Mysteries are truths of of our religion that are grasped […]
Pentecost 2026, Abbot Xavier
+ Pentecost 2026 When Jesus was on earth, He spent His time doing things for us: He called us to repentance; He spoke to us of the Kingdom; He did miracles; He prayed for us and He gave Himself for our salvation. Now that He is in heaven, He rests but at the same time […]
Seventh Easter Sunday 2026, Dom Brian Gerard Kelly
Know Yourself Written over the entrance to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi were two words: Γνῶθι σεαυτόν, – Know yourself. This short piece of wisdom, which the Greek philosopher Socrates is said to have claimed summed up his teaching, was of course known to Christian writers over the centuries. St Bernard refers to it […]
Good Shepherd Sunday, 26 April 2026, Prior Gregory Corcoran
Abbot Leo used to remind us of the differences between the shepherds we see on the Island and those he had seen in the Holy Land. Here the shepherd follows the flock and keeps an eye out for any that are getting left behind, and so that he can control his dogs. His calls and […]