Ampleforth Abbey Podcast

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 raising of Lazarus. Each story deepens our understanding of God's saving plan, leading us to Holy Week—the ultimate revelation of Christ's love. As we journey through this sacred season, may we return to the heart of our faith, preparing with longing for the joy of Easter.

Home Retreat: 'The Message of Lourdes and the Jubilee' by Fr Oswaldhttps://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 that deepens our understanding of the Nativity's profound meaning.

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 Religion11.20 Coffee Break11.45 Read the Talk again.12.00 Watch the video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhPr75g0Ors13.00 Lunch break14.00 Garden/Walk/Sleep16.30 Tea Break17.00 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnTC4NNIACk18.00 Vespers Live Stream20.00 Compline 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..."

We all know the value of fair-weather friends. And fair-weather faith is no better. In a world with so many reasons for discouragement – how does one retain a genuine trust in God's Providence which possesses deeper roots than wishful thinking?

The Holy Father has announced that next year's Jubilee will take the theme "Pilgrims of Hope". In this Home Retreat, Fr Oswald will reflect on pilgrimage, and how we might prepare in this year of prayer for our celebration of the great Jubilee of 2025.

Fr Cedd discusses a sermon of the sixteenth century German Carthusian monk, Johannes Justus Landsperg, known as Lanspergius.

This Home Retreat considers how our recognition of our fundamental need for God draws us close to Christ.

‘Some scientists have this wonderful ability to show there is one world, one truth. Maybe they have come to it through their own thinking, but we're coming to that same thing through our being.'

In the week that we celebrate St Benedict as patron of Europe, this talk will look at his continuing relevance to our world today, and how both his Rule and his life can inspire our response to this time of crisis.

This home retreat begins with Psalm 118 verse 132: “Turn and have mercy on me, as is your rule for those who love your name” and then moves to the story of the blind beggar Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10 verses 46 to 52

Everyone has hopes and dreams and these sometimes come to fulfilment sometimes not. Jesus said the moth speaks of what fills the heart, so what fills your heart? How sound is your heart? What is it really looking for, something or someone? We will explore some of this together in this Home Retreat.

Fr Henry will take a glance at the joy (and pain) found by mystics in prayer.

What's the difference between wisdom and intelligence? What is it? Where does it come from? Can we acquire it? Is it anything to do with God?

This Home Retreat reflects upon the meaning of Jesus' Resurrection for Christian life today.

Following the exposure of three illusions in Richard Rohr's last reflection - called Action and Contemplation, he reflects that we move on to adopt a different viewpoint or world view.

Are you almost ready to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to begin to renew the face of your local acre of the world?..& can “she” rely on you?an insight into a Confirmation weekend retreat for a group of 30 young disciples preparing to receive a new name& a new relationship with the Holy Spirit....are you ready to be inspired by their insights?

Following the exposure of three illusions in Richard Rohr's last reflection - called Action and Contemplation, he reflects that we move on to adopt a different viewpoint or world view.

In a culture seemingly afraid of losing autonomy and anxious to maintain youth, how does God call us to age gracefully, to aim for wisdom not success, to let go without giving up.

Although it is now more than 50 years since the revision of the Lectionary after Vatican II, there are still many riches to discover. In this short talk, we will reflect on the Gospels which the Church sets before us on the Sundays of Eastertide, and what they might mean for our growing discipleship of the Risen Lord.

We are told in Isaiah that ‘my thoughts are not your thoughts. Your ways are not my ways.' This is, unsurprisingly, not to our taste. However, in times of distress or confusion, we can draw encouragement from the plentiful signs of God's bringing new life from apparently hopeless situations.

This home retreat is a meditation on Psalm 118 verse 73 ‘It was your hands that made me and shaped me' and it will explore themes of creation and resurrection, arising from a lectio divina on this verse.

Often, we can fall back to things that are familiar, just because we are used to doing them or reacting in certain ways. The invitation of the Gospel is to stop, look and evaluate, am I in the right position to make this wisest choice or respond to this situation in the most appropriate manner. If we are not in the place, where God desires us to be, we can end up making bad choices for the wrong reason.

Fr Henry speaks about Padre Pio.

Fr Ambrose: 'Why do your disciples not fast?'

In this Home Retreat, Fr Wulstan explores how Lent can help us to overcome our inner dividedness and strengthen our hope in God.

Fr Bede: Home Retreat: '..Your heart is greater than your wounds..'

It seems to me that meditation, as John Main taught it, overcomes three foundational illusions that make it almost inevitable that your politics is going to change, your economics is going to be called into question, your socio-economic perspective by which you critique the world will be pretty quickly taken away from you. 

What can we learn from the account of Saint Benedict's life by Gregory the Great? This talk will look at his leaving Rome, his time as a hermit, his different monasteries at Subiaco and Monte Cassino and his death.