All year we have been reflecting on the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ which Pope Francis proposed for this Jubilee Year, 2025. The feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord lends itself most gloriously to this theme as the Lord shows us his radiant face and form, even his clothes dazzling bright, as the hope of […]
ST BENEDICT: PATRON OF ALL EUROPE Context and history On 24 October 1964 Pope Paul VI declared St Benedict, ‘Patron of All Europe’ via the Apostolic Letter, Pacis Nuntius (‘Herald of Peace’). On that same day the Pope had re-consecrated St Benedict’s monastery of Monte Cassino which had been destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944 […]
We both reflected upon our day at Mount Grace Priory on our way home and without a doubt we both focussed in on how special it was to share midday prayer together in such a beautiful, peaceful and prayerful place. However, a ‘place’ is just that – it is a point of meeting; a location […]
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 […]
July 2025: St Benedict and the Jubilee Year of Hope When we first moved to Yorkshire the forest behind the monastery was very dense. It was easy to get lost when you walked in the woodland rides unless you left yourself guides for the return journey, or, safest of all, that you made sure when […]
For 50 days the Paschal Candle has stood in church near the ambo – a strong reminder of the presence of the Risen Christ in our midst. After Vespers on Pentecost Sunday the candle will be transferred to the entrance of the church and will continue to remind us that ‘we are an Easter people’ […]
10 MAY 2025, 12th Annual STUDY DAY for community, oblates and friends: Fr AUGUSTINE BAKER, an ENDURING LEGACY? DR ROWAN WILLIAMS On a glorious May Day about 40 participants gathered in the Conference Room for the second Jubilee Study Day on our Cambrai heritage (the first was on Dame Gertrude More with Dr Jacob Riyeff […]
The psalm we sing on Fridays at Compline ends “Be strong, let your heart take courage, all who hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31(30): 25 Abbey Psalter) I enjoy feeling built up by the strength this psalm imparts. In the English Standard Version (ESV) the same verse reads: “Be strong, and let your heart take […]
The Eighth Day God speaks again and not in repetition – the first, a sending, now, a calling back. He says: ‘Let there be Light,’ and the Son, obedient, rises, glorious as seven noons in one. This day will have no night. It bids us follow Christ above to enter and to rest in bright […]
What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and […]
Good Friday, the day on which we solemnly celebrate the Passion, suffering and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, can seem daunting, depressing, even terrifying at first sight. Julian of Norwich experienced a vision of the crucified Christ. In her book, ‘Revelations of Divine Love’, she relates in detail how, in the eighth revelation, she […]
Our journey thus far through Lent has led us to this ‘Thursday of Mysteries’, the term used in the Maronite and Syriac Orthodox churches, officially beginning the Paschal Triduum at the Mass of the Last Supper and the end of Lent. Also known in English as ‘Shere Lent’ meaning clean or bright, when it was […]