Dear Friends,
Now that the new year has started in earnest we are working in the
Abbey Press on a number of projects.
At least four new books will be published
in the course of this summer. Three are works
of Dom Prosper Guéranger. It was he who
re-founded the monastery of Solesmes after
the French Revolution, and it was one of his
successors, Dom Delatte, who first sent monks
to Farnborough in 1895. Dom Guéranger’s
cause for beatification has recently been
opened, and the Abbey Press is keen to
promote his works and those of the Solesmes
monks of Farnborough.
Although he is mainly known for his ‘Liturgical Year,’ a monumental
work on the liturgy in fifteen volumes, we are publishing a lesserknown
work. ‘On the Holy Mass’ is a collection of notes made from
his conferences which gives a very simple and readable overview of
the ceremonies of the Mass. It is both a devotional and historical work,
and very much meant for the man in the pew,
though the scholar will also find much food
for thought therein.
The greatest task on which we are engaged
is the editing of Guéranger’s work ‘On the
Immaculate Conception.’ Although this work
is of tremendous theological significance, it
has never been published in an English edition.
A Benedictine nun of the enclosed community
at Ryde on the Isle of Wight has translated the
work, and we are working closely with the Ryde nuns to ensure that
the design and typesetting of the book will be worthy of the author, the
translator, and the subject.
Translating ‘On the Religious Life’ from the
French has been a great challenge. Countless
letters and emails have passed between
Farnborough and Ryde as we hammer out the
best turn of phrase to express what Guéranger
was expressing in his ‘Notions sur la Vie
Religieuse et Monastique.’ This is a gem of a
book. It can be handed to anyone, be it wouldbe
novice or lay enthusiast of the religious life
and it will give them a thorough understanding
of the principals and demands of our life. I hope that this will prove to
be a useful tool in the formation of future novices.
Although we still receive many compliments about our internet
site, it is hurtling already towards its tenth birthday and we are keen
to update it. Since theabbeyshop.com is now a significant part of our
income, we are updating the website this year. Our plan is to have
many photographs on the new site and to run it in parallel with the
older site, using the latter for tourism and education. We will keep you
informed as to the progress of this project.
Please keep us in your prayers. Pray especially for those who are
trying their vocation with us at present and for those who are thinking
of coming to us later this year. May the Lord who has begun this good
work in them bring it to completion.
Sincerely in the Lord,
rchived 
ews
