Homilies

Fr. Prior’s Homily for Palm Sunday, 29 March 2026

Matthew 21:1-11   Isaiah 50:4-7   Phillipians 2:6-11   Matthew 26:14-27:66

“And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying: ‘Who is this?’” Literally, the whole city quaked. Our Lord's entry into “his own city” caused a disturbance of seismic proportions.

Homily for the Feast of St. Joseph, 19 March 2026

Two Gospels are given for today. We have just heard St Luke’s account of the finding of Jesus in the Temple after being lost for three days (Luke 2:41-51). The other is from St Matthew – when Mary is found to be with child through the Holy Spirit and St Joseph receives the news of this through the message of an Angel in a dream (Matt 1:16, 18-21.24).

Homily by Fr. Prior Simon for the Solemnity of St Aelred, 5th March 2026

David I, King of Scotland, died on the 24th of May 1153 in Carlisle. Soon afterwards St Aelred, who in his youth had served at David's court, wrote the celebrated Lament in his honour. That same year in England, king Stephen, under pressure from an invading army and from public opinion in his own realm, agreed to name his second cousin Henry of Anjou as his successor.

Homily for Lent 1A, Sunday, 22 February 2026

From the earliest times the Church has imitated the 40 days fast of Jesus. As Jesus prepared for his public ministry by a fast of 40 days, so we all together prepare for the annual celebration of Easter by a fast of 40 days. Lent for us is always a time of special grace.

Fr. Prior Simon’s Homily for Ash Wednesday: 18 February 2026

Once there was a monk whose name was Zossima. He was “renowned for his way of life and gift of words”. “From his infancy he was nourished in the monastic way of life” and, staying in the same monastery for fifty years, “he observed in everything the rule”; adding to it exercises and devotions of his own.

Homily for 15 February 2026, Sunday 6A

You have heard that it was said of old… But I say to you… (Mt 5:21).

Six times in the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded by St. Matthew, our Lord uses this formula. Next week is the First Sunday of Lent: so we will miss the continuation and completion of this series of sayings, which contrast the standards of the law with the standards of the Kingdom.

Homily for 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time Year A- 18th January 2026

We have just journeyed through Advent and Christmas – contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation. In a month’s time we will enter the season of Lent as the Church prepares for the central mystery of this year and all years (until the end of time itself) namely that through his Passion Jesus will definitively defeat the power of sin and death and then, after three days, rise from the dead this Easter.