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 […]
At last, we reach the climax of our Lenten journey, the last days before we begin the Triduum. They have a special quality, days full of anticipation as we await the unfolding of the Paschal Mystery. It is well worth spending time with the Mass readings, especially the Gospels for these days as they each […]
The Donkey by G. K. Chesterton When fishes flew and forests walked, And figs grew upon thorn, Some moment when the moon was blood, Then surely I was born. With monstrous head and sickening cry, And ears like errant wings, The devil’s walking parody Of all four-footed things. The tattered outlaw of the earth, Of […]
TIMES OF OFFICE & MASS HOLY WEEK & THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM HOLY WEEK & EASTER TIMETABLE 2025 PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY (13 APRIL) 6.00am VIGILS 7.30am LAUDS 10.00am OFFICE 12.00pm MASS 6.00pm VESPERS 7.30pm COMPLINE MAUNDY THURSDAY (17 APRIL) 6.45am VIGILS 8.30am LAUDS 12.30pm MIDDAY OFFICE 6.00pm MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER 8.15pm READING & COMPLINE […]
Ash Wednesday 5 March 2025 Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. We start a journey and like all journeys it has a destination and ours is Easter. St Benedict encourages us in the chapter on Lent, to look forward with the joy of spiritual longing to the holy feast of […]
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – Candlemas This year, as the feast falls on a Sunday, we have the joy of celebrating both first and second Vespers. Sr Philippa shares some thoughts on this day. Malachi 3,1-4; Hebrews 2, 14-18; Luke 2, 22-40 The feast of the Presentation of the Lord in […]
An Epiphany in Snow It was predicted, forecast, expected, but, like death, still took us by surprise: everything the same yet changed, a landscape both familiar and strange. Our senses numbed and heightened, pierced, muffled, blinded by the white on every side; the pale white of mourning before enlightenment descends slowly to hush outward frenzy, […]
Reflection for 1 January ‘Red sky at night, shepherds’ delight…’ Many will be familiar with this saying which foretells fine weather the next day. Heavenly phenomena – the sun, moon, stars, rainbows – have an endless capacity to lift the spirits, even in the most unpromising circumstances. Memorably, in his Holocaust memoir ‘Man’s Search for […]