Year of the Book We are delighted to have received several responses to our appeal for Year of the Book entries: a book which has changed your life; maybe your first book or one that you return to often. We shall be sharing these in the coming months on the website and in Stanbrook Benedictines. […]
GOLDEN JUBILEE OF DAME BENEDICTA WHITE Saturday 16 May 2026 A glorious May morning dawned, in contradiction to the grey skies predicted by the weather forecast. There was also, at last, some warmth in the sun to cheer the fifty or so who gathered at Stanbrook to celebrate Dame Benedicta White’s fifty years in the […]
Introduction After the Easter Octave I returned to my Lent Book, St Paul’s letter to the Romans, for my lectio, reading it this time in the RSV translation in a study bible which gives lots of insight into the context and meaning of St Paul’s words and message. Looking back, I found that I was […]
As well as being the Lunar Year of the Horse, this is also the Year of the Book, or, more accurately, ‘The National Year of Reading’, an initiative by the National Literacy Trust to celebrate and encourage reading. Studies show the urgency of such an initiative: a YouGov poll in March 2026 showed that 40% […]
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 […]
House Chronicle for HOLY WEEK and EASTER 2026 Our oblate, Canon Christopher Jackson, arrived the Saturday before Palm Sunday (28 March). The lodges, which were already filling up, looked splendid, as if floating on a sea of daffodils and primroses. There was a good crowd for the Palm Sunday procession. Fr Chris preached on Jesus’ […]
The poem below, written by Theodulf of Orleans, was translated by Helen Waddell and included in More Latin Lyrics from Virgil to Milton edited with an introduction by Dame Felicitas Corrigan which was published by Victor Gollancz Ltd in 1976. THEODULF OF ORLEANS (750 – 821) Wherefore the scars of Christ‘s passion remained in the […]
TIMES OF OFFICE & MASS HOLY WEEK & THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM 29 March – 11 April 2026 HOLY WEEK & EASTER TIMETABLE 2026 MAUNDY THURSDAY (2 APRIL) 6.45am VIGILS 8.30am LAUDS 12.30pm MIDDAY OFFICE 6.00pm MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER 8.15pm READING & COMPLINE GOOD FRIDAY (3 APRIL) 6.45am VIGILS 8.30am […]
He comes, the shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep, the king who will proclaim peace, the Bridegroom for his wedding. He will drink the cup, give himself entirely, strip off his robe of equality with God, wash the feet of his bride, clothe her in his own royal dignity, feed and […]
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 […]
One can’t get much more ‘laid low’ than a pile of dry bones scattered about in the desert. Yet, this unpromising state of affairs is just what the divine Physician needs to work with in order to restore a situation of hopelessness to one of resurrection. In the first Mass reading of Sunday V […]
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 […]