Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 24th November 2023
Abbot Paul • November 23, 2023
Today the Church remembers the Vietnamese Martyrs, who were martyred for the Catholic faith between 1745 and 1862. Christians were martyred in horrific ways in Vietnam, their bodies were mutilated and some were tortured with the use of psychoactive drugs. Many were branded on the face, and whole towns known to hold Christians were wiped out. An 1862 treaty with the French granted religious freedom to Catholics, but did not stop all persecutions throughout the country. More recently, in the last century, the Communist government tried to purge the nation of religion, and more than 600,000 Christians fled, leaving everything behind. Do you remember the Vietnamese boat people? We ask the intercession of the Martyrs and pray for the Church in Vietnam and for Vietnamese Christians throughout the world, especially in Britain.
Yesterday we read how Jesus shed tears over the city of Jerusalem. Like all pilgrims to the Holy City, he would have been reciting the Song of Ascents or Gradual Psalms, such as Psalm 121 (122) “I rejoiced when I heard them say, let us go to God’s house; and now are feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.” Instead of rejoicing, Jesus wept when saw the city that was about to reject him, the Anointed of the Lord, the Word made flesh. It’s a tragic scene. Today we read of Jesus’ first action in Jerusalem, his visit to the Temple, the centre of worship for devout Jews, but things don’t go to plan. His weeping for the city now becomes an act of pastoral defiance.
Luke’s account of the Cleansing of the Temple (Lk 19: 45-48) is short and succinct: “Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling. ‘According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’” Here there are none of the details we find in the other Gospels. However, what is essential, what has to be said, is said. Jesus points to scripture, God’s word, as his authority for what he does. Obviously, all places of worship need money for their upkeep and all congregations contribute to the charitable works of their community, but what is going on at the Temple in Jerusalem is something else. Then again, in all places of pilgrimage, work and a livelihood are guaranteed for many people, but what Jesus sees and objects to obviously goes beyond what is acceptable both in the eyes of God and of his sons and daughters.
Both in his Gospel and in the Acts of the Apostles, which he also wrote, Luke gives us the occasional summary of the situation at hand. He does so now: “He taught in the Temple every day. The chief priests and the scribes, with the support of the leading citizens, tried to do away with him, but they did not see how they could carry this out because the people as a whole hung on his words.” If you look closely, you will see that it’s a brilliant, minimalist resume of what happened that first week or so after Jesus arrived at Jerusalem. The big question for each one of us is: do I hang on his words?
As we come towards the end of the Liturgical Year, this coming Sunday being the Solemnity of Christ the King, on weekdays we draw our reading of Luke’s Gospel to a close. Could I remind those living nearby that this Sunday there will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Abbey all afternoon from 1.00pm until the end of Vespers and Benediction about 6.45pm. You are welcome to drop in at any time and stay for as long as you can.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
