Celebrating St Benedict with meet-ups

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The LCSB responded bigheartedly to the idea of meeting up locally around St Benedict’s feast day. 

James Westlake (East Anglia Group), and Rob MacKay (Northern Lights Group, joining from Scotland), started us off with a visit to Ely Cathedral on 19 June, followed hot on their heels two days later with a visit to the same cathedral by others from the East Anglia Group. Three enthusiastic attendees recounted the amazing Threads Through Creation exhibition with a recommendation that we visit it if we see it coming to our area: https://www.jacqui-textile.com/bible/

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East Anglia had wonderful weather for a bring-and-share lunch, tea and cake later on, the opportunity for a couple to climb the beautiful Lantern Tower, and join the cathedral choir in the chancel for choral evensong.

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At the end of June the Wolverhampton Benedict Way faithfully met up to share the Rule, Lectio and prayer, as they do every month.

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On 5 July the Northern Lights Group enjoyed the Heslops’ hospitality, with delicious home cooking, and a historical walk round the locality of Sale. Some fascinating facts about famous people were discovered. They enjoyed a beautiful time of prayer and reflection accompanied by music, led by three of the guests. There was yet more eating to round off what was described as a joyous and spirit-filled day. Mark and Anne lit a candle for each of their guests’ intentions at church the following morning.

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On 9 July we saw another first: Adam had contacted Chilworth Abbey, and a sizeable group of members and friends met at the monastery to attend Vespers and then enjoy the grounds with a relaxed picnic, where Fr John came to join them and extend warm Benedictine hospitality.

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Two gatherings took place on 10 July! The Thames and Chiltern Group had lunch at the Abbot’s Kitchen Café at St Alban’s Cathedral and afterwards were treated to a Bach Corner organ recital before admiring more of the cathedral interior. Others had a lovely time in Bushy Park, benefitting from the shelter of an ancient tree whilst pondering the Rule of St Benedict, sharing their favourite passages with each other.

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Hopefully not the last group to meet was the Southeastern Group at Malling Abbey. A fellow fan of St Benedict, Reverend Jane Winter, an oblate of Malling Abbey, joined us, and we learnt a great deal from her about Bishop Gundulf and the abbey’s foundation. The sisters were praying for us as we chatted, prayed, lunched and went on our Emmaus walks in their idyllic grounds – a blessed day indeed.

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Alain and Nicole Anderton, from our Northern Group, went to Mass on Sunday 20 July at the Abbaye de Valognes, which is a French Benedictine Abbey for nuns about 20 minutes’ drive from their house in France.

 

And to end the month , Peter F and Peter A met at The Oval for the 1st day of the 5th Test on 31 July.

 

Isn’t it wonderful that all these meet-ups were inspired by one man 1500 years ago!