Introduction For my lectio during the Easter Octave, and continuing into Low Week, I have chosen, from the many riches offered us by the liturgy at this time, the first letter of St Peter. This is used in the Roman Office for the Office of Readings, and in our own Stanbrook Office at the corresponding […]
Introduction This week I have continued to read the letter to the Romans in the New Living Translation, covering chapters 8-12. Lectio Even though I am using a less familiar translation of the letter, I find that I am drawn again to some particular passages in these chapters, those which offer praise to the Lord […]
Introduction This week I have read the final 2 chapters of the Epistle (15 and 16) and returned to the beginning and re-read chapters 1-7. For the second reading I have chosen the New Living Translation. This was published in 1996 and is the product of teachers and scholars from evangelical Bible colleges in the […]
Introduction I have continued to read slowly through St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, and this week I will be looking at chapters 8-14. Chapter 8 is a beautiful chapter about the life of the Spirit of God in us, and ends with a beautiful section on God’s invincible love for us. Sr Agnes scribed […]
We are now into the third week of Lent. All the good intentions we began the season with for prayer, fasting and almsgiving may be holding true, or yet again, they may have become a little wobbly. This is where the liturgy can feed and strengthens us in our human frailty. St Benedict calls the […]
Introduction This week I have been reading chapters 5-7 of St Paul’s letter to the Romans, and am just beginning chapter 8. I have continued the same method of slowly reading through this letter in the Jerusalem Bible. Just before the start of chapter 5, there is a big heading, ‘SALVATION’. This indicates the beginning […]
Introduction As you know, I have been given St Paul’s letter to the Romans as my Lent Book. This means I will be taking it for my daily lectio divina every day throughout Lent. We do at least 30 minutes of lectio each day, but this Lent I am extending it to 40 minutes. Lectio […]
At 3.40pm the bell rings and we begin to make our way to the Chapter House, taking seats in a circle around the room, with our Abbess, Sr Anna, at the desk at the head. She offers us a short conference to encourage us through Lent, then begins the distribution of Lent books. If I […]
The Rule of St Benedict says that during Lent each monk should be given a book from the library which he is to read straight through (RB48:15). Most monasteries still observe this precept, with varying customs surrounding the nature, selection and distribution of these books. At Stanbrook it has been the practice for a good […]
The Funeral of Dame Joanna Jamieson OSB (21.01.1935-13.10.2025), Abbess of Stanbrook 1983-2007 The photograph that illustrates this post was one of a series taken, at the instigation of M. Joanna, shortly after she was elected abbess in 1983, of each member of the Stanbrook community. M. Joanna is holding a branch of what seems to […]
In November our thoughts turn to who have died, especially as we commemorate All Saints, All Souls and Remembrance Sunday. Of course, we like to think that our loved ones are in heaven, but we might be anxious that they died without being fully prepared to meet God. In this season we can draw hope […]
On Thursday 3 July we were pleased to welcome Brs Meinrad and Gildas, both junior monks in their first vows, from Belmont Abbey, who were visiting at Ampleforth Abbey for a few days and came across to Stanbrook with Fr Gabriel (Everitt) to spend part of the day with us and particularly to meet up […]