This was the challenge laid down by Abbot Robert in his Easter Sunday homily addressed to nearly 300 people from near and far who had gathered at Ampleforth Abbey for the Easter Triduum retreat and liturgies, culminating in the celebration of the Mass of Easter Sunday morning.
The Abbot reflected on the transformation brought about by an encounter with the Risen Lord, and asked: “Wouldn’t it be marvellous if those whom you meet when you leave here after lunch, when you return home or go back to work or University or meet your neighbours or people on the train. Wouldn’t it be marvellous if they could see that you had met someone very special during these days of the Triduum and when they asked ‘Why are you different? What is his name?’, you could with deep conviction say: “His name is Jesus.”
Considering the rhetoric of social media and the world of politics, Abbot Robert said that the world does not need louder opinions, it needs credible witnesses, disciples on fire with the Gospel: “So go, share, live the faith boldly. Let us now be fearless ambassadors of this risen Lord. We do not want to lose further generations, because we kept silent”.
The Easter Triduum retreat, which began on Holy Thursday evening before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, took its theme from the Prologue in the Rule of St Benedict: “Are you yearning for life?”. Retreat conferences were given by Fr Cedd, Fr Oswald and Martha Byrne-Hill, a Benedictine Oblate, and can be accessed here. There were also a number of supplementary sessions given throughout the retreat.
The full texts of the Abbot’s homilies on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, can be accessed here.
If you would like more information on retreats at Ampleforth Abbey, please visit the Retreats section of the Abbey website.
