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.
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.
