Ampleforth Abbey Podcast

On Monday 25th May Pope Leo released his first encyclical entitled: Magnifica Humanitas. In this Home Retreat Fr Richard shares his reactions.

The Passing of Our Holy Father St Benedict, as described by St Gregory the Great in his Dialogues, reminds us of what is central to our lives as Christians and specifically to any such life guided by the teaching of St Benedict, namely learning to prefer nothing whatever to the love of Christ, so that in purity of heart we might be brought to the vision of God.

This Home Retreat explores how we might come to find true rest in God.

I would like to reflect with you again on the message of Laudato Si on its 10th Anniversary – but from a different angle. Daniel O’Leary has written a book called An Astonishing Secret, using quotes from Laudato Si. It has 40 Chapters. I will probably not read all of them, but certainly the most relevant. The first is called: Loving the Earth – God’s Living Body. (Daniel wrote during Pope Francis’ Pontificate, so his words are in the present tense. I have not changed them!

Tomorrow is Pentecost or Whit Sunday, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, all huddled together in fear in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. It transformed them from being wretched fugitives into being courageous missioners of the Good News..

Home Retreat 'How does the cross save us?' by Fr Richard

St Benedict’s approach to Lent is a paradox—while it calls for self-denial, it is also marked by joy. True joy, he teaches, comes from our renewed efforts in faith, as we set aside compromises and distractions to embrace a more intentional spiritual life. The journey begins with an honest examination of conscience, recognizing where we fall short and how we might grow in love and kindness.

Throughout Lent, the Sunday Gospels guide our reflection, from Jesus’ testing in the desert to the Transfiguration, his encounters with the Samaritan woman and the man born blind, and the ra...

Home Retreat: 'The Message of Lourdes and the Jubilee' by Fr Oswald

https://www.ampleforthlourdes.org.uk/

How might we invigorate our sometimes detached assent to the faith we profess? Without expecting some kind of unrealistic quick-fix, surely a quest for inspiration in the great Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah would be a good place to seek new fire and fervour. With Lent and Passiontide not so far off, we have a rich seam to explore.

The longer we live in this world, we’re forced to ask the question,
‘What makes so many people so mean? What creates mean-spirited people’? What is behind that hate and what I just called mean-spiritedness?’ Maybe that’s really what we see more often than overt hatred.

As Advent begins, this retreat invites us to explore the infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke, uncovering their rich connections to the Old Testament. From the annunciations to Mary, Joseph, and Zechariah to the visit of the wise men, these stories reveal Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plan for His people.

We’ll reflect on themes of divine purpose, joy, and the biblical parallels that shape these narratives—such as Jesus as the new Moses, the significance of Joseph’s adoptive fatherhood, and the role of Mary’s Magnificat. Join us for a journey through Scripture...

Each year, the Church ends the annual liturgical cycle with the Solemnity of Christ the King. In this Home Retreat, Fr Oswald reflects on the history and significance of this great feast, and what it might mean for each of us as we move as "Pilgrims of Hope" into the Great Jubilee Year of 2025.

This Home Retreat considers how by sharing in God’s mercy and love the believer may truly become like Him. 

Nothing, it is said, succeeds like success. Failing that, a euphoric  ‘feel-good factor’ is the salesman’s staunch friend in loosening purse-strings and skewing judgement. The theological virtue of hope, however, cannot be confused with mere human optimism. What might the Word of God offer us to help distinguish between these two ‘non-siblings?’

The commemoration of All Souls provides a moment to reflect on how we die. Is death something that just happens to us, the thief in the night?

Or is the great transition which we learn how to embrace, the welcome guest?

23 October marks the sixtieth anniversary of the proclamation of St Benedict as Patron of Europe by Pope St Paul VI. Fr Luke reflects on what this means today.

What should our attitude to God be? Should we fear God, be in terror of God, dread God, or revere God? It all began with a question: how should the Hebrew word pahat be translated when applied to the attitude of a believer to God? The obvious, common meaning is ‘fear’ But is ‘fear’ too sharp. Should we be frightened of God? Is it inappropriate to have fear between lovers?

..chosen born nurtured & entrusted to make a real difference to real life & real faith October 2024

‘Richard Rohr asks how we came to populate a religion whose characteristic is ‘belonging’ rather than a religion which is transformative. This retreat addresses this question.

Suggested Timetable for the Home Retreat Day (But do make your own).

11.00 Home Retreat: Transformative Religion

11.20 Coffee Break

11.45 Read the Talk again.

12.00 Watch the video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhPr75g0Ors

13.00 Lunch break

14.00 Garden/Walk/Sleep

16.30 Tea Break

17.00 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnTC4NNIACk

18.00 Vespers Live Stream

Starting from Psalm 118 verse 143 ‘Though anguish and distress have found me, your commands are my delight’, this home retreat will consider briefly the experience of Elijah, Jeremiah, the suffering servant, Job, Jonah, Tobit, the author of Psalm 87 and then focus particularly on the experience of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Home Retreats Archive:

This Home Retreat is from 26th November 2022.

Abbot Robert offers six pointers on what to do when you are going through a time when God seems absent and silent.

Next month, October, is the month of the Rosary.  The Rosary is not everyone’s cup of tea.  Fr Richard will offer one way of using the Rosary to pray, pondering the different mysteries.  

"I wish to consider the Crucifixion of the Son of God. I should begin by saying that this is going to be a tough one, intellectually and emotionally. Should the truth always be told? Tough though it may be, it helps us to understand more fully the limitless love of Jesus for ourselves..."