Farnborough Day of Recollection
On 1 August, the Grand Priory made its annual visit to St Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough for its August Day of Recollection, by kind invitation of the Abbot, Dom Cuthbert Brogan OSB.
Farnborough Abbey was founded by Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III - the imperial couple and their son, Napoleon IV, are buried in the crypt of the abbey church - and is a beautiful, late-19th century, French neo-Gothic construction, recently carefully restored.
The Day of Recollection was led by Fr Lawrence Lew OP, Promoter-General of the Rosary. After sung Lauds of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fr Lawrence celebrated a votive Mass of Our Lady. The Gospel of the day related the martyrdom of our Holy Patron, St John the Baptist and, in the context of the upcoming election of our new Grand Prior, Fr Lawrence preached an adapted version of the sermon that he preached on the same text seven years ago when he presided as sub-prior over the prioral election of his own community. The sermon emphasised the purpose of the religious life as one which should enable us, like John the Baptist, to die well, and the evangelical character of both religious leadership and religious obedience as different expressions of self-abasement before the Lord.
In the afternoon, Fr Lawrence gave a spiritual conference on the first Saturday devotions enjoined by Our Lady in her apparitions at Fatima as acts of reparation for sins and blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Fr Lawrence explained how acts of reparation are an important part of our Order’s duty of tuitio fidei, in tandem with more positive acts of defence of the Faith. Reparation is also a chivalric act in keeping with the noble character of our Order, helping to repair the wounds caused by sin and thereby comforting the Immaculate Heart of Our Blessed Lady. In this context, he urged us to adopt the first Saturday devotions, and Lady Celestria Hales reminded all present that the late Fra’ Marco Luzzago, Lieutenant of the Grand Master, had reconsecrated the Order to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 2020.
The day concluded with sung Vespers, and adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Grand Priory’s next day of Recollection will take place on 26 September 2026 at New Wardour Castle in Wiltshire.