Message of Abbot Paul - Easter Saturday 15th April 2023
Abbot Paul • April 14, 2023
I enjoy reading novels and most nights I get to read a chapter of my current novel in bed before turning out the light. More often than not I fall asleep before getting to the end of the chapter and wake up in the middle of the night with the light still on and my iPad still held firmly in my hand. It’s a way of relaxing at the very end of the day, a way of clearing the mind of all that I have dealt with in the course of the day and will have to deal with the following day. There are times I would like to write an alternative ending to the novel in an effort to draw all the threads together, dotting the I’s and crossing the t’s. It’s clear that those who redacted or edited the Gospel texts early on also did something similar. I mentioned the case of John chapter 21 yesterday. Today we have the case of Mark 16. It’s clear that the Gospel originally ended with verse 8, unsatisfactory as it may appear, with the women frightened out of their wits as they run away from the tomb. It’s possible that there were further verses that brought the Resurrection narrative to a more positive conclusion, but somehow these were lost. So a new ending was composed, a summary of what is found in the other Gospels or might well have been found in the original Marcan ending. These constitute today’s Gospel reading, (Mk 16: 9-15).
“Having risen in the morning on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom he had cast out seven devils. She then went to those who had been his companions, and who were mourning and in tears, and told them. But they did not believe her when they heard her say that he was alive and that she had seen him.
After this, he showed himself under another form to two of them as they were on their way into the country. These went back and told the others, who did not believe them either.
Lastly, he showed himself to the Eleven themselves while they were at table. He reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy, because they had refused to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.’”
This reads very nicely, containing as it does in the first place the appearance of Jesus to Mary of Magdala. She goes to tell the disciples, often called companions in the Resurrection narratives, yet they do not believe her. This reflects the initial disbelief of the disciples when faced with the news that Jesus is risen from the dead. Next follows his appearance to two disciples, possibly on the road to Emmaus. They too return to tell the disciples, who do not believe them. Finally, he appears to the Eleven when at table, where he reproaches them for their incredulity and obstinacy. reflecting perhaps the account in John 20. Yet, even here, there is something new, the great mission on which the disciples are sent: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.” That mission remains ours today and is what Jesus is telling his Church, and that includes you and me. We must never forget that it is a mission to the whole of creation. How could we forget that in Spring, when the whole of creation bursts into life anew?
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.
