Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 6th May
Abbot Paul • May 6, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Friday, 6th May 2022
I did warn you yesterday that things might get difficult over the next few days, but I hadn’t imagined that it would happen so soon and in the U.K. Having paid extra for WiFi at a Travelodge near Heathrow, it didn’t work and my iPad refused to accept it as it only provided an insecure connection. Not to worry, I’ll try sending this brief message early in the morning from Heathrow. I particularly enjoyed the drive from Burford along country lanes rather than on the motorway and it took less than an hour and a half.
Our Gospel reading for today, John 6: 52-59, presents us with the conclusion of the discourse on the Bread of Life. His hearers comment on Jesus’ words, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Admittedly, it was an unexpected turn in his discourse, which reminds us of his words over the bread and wine at the Last Supper, “This is my body. This is my blood.” In fact, Jesus replies that if they do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, they will not have life in them, for only those who eat his flesh and drink his blood have eternal life. His words are clear and have no need of explanation, only of acceptance. This is what the Church accepted and believed from the beginning and continues to believe today. This is what we believe the Eucharist to be. He states categorically, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I in them.” Tomorrow we will hear the reaction of the crowd and of his disciples too. I wonder how we would have reacted had we been in Capernaum that day. What do you think?
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.
