Message of Abbot Paul - Easter Monday 10th April 2023
Abbot Paul • April 11, 2023
​As a young lad, I often spent Holy Week and Easter with my Italian grandmother in Perugia, Italy. It was easy to do so, as school holidays in the U.K. in those days coincided with religious festivals. I was always struck by the fact that Italians called Easter Monday ‘Pasquetta” (Little Easter) or ‘Lunedì dell’Angelo’ (Monday of the Angel), celebrating the Angel of the Resurrection who proclaimed to the women that Jesus had risen from the dead. The Gospel, in fact, begins and ends with an Annunciation: that God would become Man in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and that Jesus Christ, true God and true man, had risen from the dead and was alive. The Angel told the women, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.” (Mk 16: 6)
In addition, in the Roman Gradual today’s Offertory Chant is the exquisite ‘Angelus Domini descendit de caelis.” (The Angel of the Lord came down from heaven). My hope is that we will manage to sing it at Belmont, not an easy task. What for most people is just another Bank Holiday with no religious connotation whatever, for us Christians today is the second day of the Easter Octave, when we continue celebrating with joy the fact that Jesus, who was crucified, dead and buried, rose from the dead and is alive in the hearts of all those who believe in him and accept him to be their Lord and Saviour.
​The Angel of the Lord came down from heaven and said to the women, “The one you are looking for is risen, just as he said he would. Alleluia.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully last night. He served this community well for many years, not least Abbot of the Community and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
A homily by Abbot Brendan at a special Easter Mass for Pope Francis, attended by Catholics from across the Deanery.
Pope Francis RIP Pope 2013-2025 Born 1936, Died 2025 We are deeply saddened at the passing of Pope Francis. As the successor of St Peter he has been a spiritual father and shepherd to the church in our day, challenging us, and calling as to reach out to those on the peripheries. He was the first Jesuit Pope, but took the name Francis after the Poor Man of Assisi who modelled for him a closeness to the poor, a concern for those on the margins of society and a care for all of creation In his preaching Pope Francis always spoke of the joy of the Gospel and encouraged us to reflect the joy of our faith in our lives. He showed the compassion of Jesus to everyone. He worked tirelessly for the unity of the church and travelled even to non-Christian countries promoting a message of peace. He has left a great legacy. With the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio with the community over Easter we were able to express our closeness to the Holy Father in his final suffering. There will be a special Mass at Belmont this Thursday 24th April at 11am to pray for Pope Francis as he makes his final journey to the house of the Father. On the day of his funeral, the Office of the Dead will be sung, and Mass that day will be a Requiem. May the angels lead him into paradise; may the martyrs receive him at his arrival and lead him to the holy city Jerusalem. May choirs of angels receive him and with Lazarus, the poor man grant him eternal rest." (The In Paradisum, words from the Funeral Liturgy)
We were were honoured and delighted to be joined by the Apostolic Nuncio to celebrate Easter. His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía is the representative of the Holy See in Great Britain, and therefore of the Holy Father. His presence on Easter Sunday morning brought us more consciously in communion with Pope Francis, the successor of St Peter, as we heard the Gospel story of Peter running to the tomb. His patron saint is St Michael, so afterwards, at a festive lunch we were able to present him with some Belmont cufflinks with the monastery coat of arms - very similar to his as Archbishop. We were able to pray for him and his work in this country.
