Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 21st October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 20, 2022
A number of readers have written in to ask why I make no reference to the political and economic turmoil the United Kingdom is going through at the moment. I am certainly well aware of what’s going on and am following every twist and turn of the tragicomedy the government has landed us in. We could see this coming even before Covid took over our lives almost three years’ ago, although the situation has been seriously aggravated by Putin’s grotesque war against Ukraine. Russia, after all, was one of the signatories and guarantors of Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity. What could I add to the present debate that would lend light to the discussions? I prefer to pray constantly for all those concerned, especially those who are suffering on account of inflation and the enormous price hikes, and are worried about the coming winter and their ability to keep warm and feed their families. If the situation is bad in these isles, then it is much worse in poorer countries. There is so much to pray for.
By the way, I was at Abergavenny yesterday for the Thanksgiving Mass for the presence and work of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, who have now left. At one time they had 14 convents in Wales and their work in education was especially valued by both Catholics and Protestants, long before Ecumenism existed. They were at Abergavenny from 1906 to 2021. My photograph shows Fr Matthew and Sr Anne, Provincial, cutting the cake at the reception afterwards.
Our Gospel passage today continues our reading of Luke, (Lk 12: 54-59), which sees Jesus addressing the crowds rather than his disciples. He talks to them about interpreting the signs of the times. “When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?” People have a pretty shrewd idea of what the weather’s going to be like by simply looking at the sky. How come they cannot see what’s happening around them, both in the country and in the wider world. What do we make of the present moment? How do we read and understand the times in which we live? He goes on to ask an important question: why can we often not judge for ourselves what is right? In every situation, Jesus asks us to make the right decision for ourselves, based on our conscience that has been informed by the Scriptures, the word of God and his own teaching, which for us includes the teaching of the Church. Jesus has given us the wisdom to do what is right. May we always ask him to guide us as we journey through life.
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.
