Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 27th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 27, 2023
As we follow the Benedictine Calendar, yesterday we kept the feast of the Holy Founders of the Cistercian Order, Saints Robert, Alberic and Stephen. As a result, today we are keeping the feast of St Paul’s two great friends and protégés, Saints Timothy and Titus. Three Letters traditionally attributed to Paul are addressed to them. Paul held Timothy in high esteem: when Paul was passing through Lystra at the beginning of his second missionary journey, he chose Timothy to be his companion. Paul took Titus with him to Jerusalem for the so-called Apostolic Council, where the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles that freed them from the constraints of Mosaic Law was solemnly accepted. We ask them to intercede for the Church today and especially for the Synod, that it might bring many fruits to the Church’s mission.
​Our Gospel passage from Mark, (Mk 4: 26-34), presents us with two Parables of the Kingdom, with which Jesus wishes to encourage his followers not to give up hope but to continue preaching the Good News of salvation. This is the first. “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.” Jesus explains how from a small seed there eventually grows a large shrub that produces much fruit. All the farmer has to do is plant the seed. Nature takes care of the rest. Likewise, the disciple sows the seed and God does the rest. We should not stop sowing the seed of the word; in God’s own time it will bear much fruit.
​The second is similar, but the emphasis is on the size of the seed compared with the size of the shrub. “What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.” Here it’s not a question of the fruit produced but the fact that the shrub is so large it has branches, where birds may rest in the shade the foliage produces. In both parables, the plants produced by the seed are live-giving.
​Mark then comments on Jesus’ method of teaching. “Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.” Inspired by Jesus’ example, may we find exciting new ways of preaching the Gospel today.
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.
