Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 14th July 2023
Abbot Paul • July 14, 2023
Another weekend is upon us and we’re fast approaching the midway point of the month of July. Please can I remind parishioners of Belmont and neighbours in Herefordshire that this coming Monday, 17th July, at 3pm we have a concert in the Abbey given by the Orchestra of Woking High School, thirty young musicians aged between 11 and 16. Please come and support them. They are one of the very best school orchestras in the country.
​Today we continue our reading of the 10th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, (Mt 10: 16-23), in which Jesus continues to give instructions to his disciples on how he wants them to carry out the mission on which he is sending them out as apostles.
“Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.” This is one of the most famous of the sayings of Jesus and one we do well to remember. We are not a Church of experts and professionals, but men and women who have been chosen by God to be channels of his grace, forgiveness and many blessings.
​He warns his disciples of coming persecutions for the sake of the Gospel and that these might well lead to death and the attempt of emperors and states to annihilate the Church and curtail its freedom to preach the Gospel in the name of Jesus. Disciples will have to withstand hatred and betrayal in the power of the Spirit, for when they speak, Jesus will make sure that it’s the Spirit speaking in and through them. Let’s hear what Jesus actually told them. “Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Let us pray for those suffering persecution on account of their faith in Jesus today. A true Christian is never far from persecution.
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.
