Message of Abbot Paul - Monday - 12th February 2024
Abbot Paul • February 11, 2024
​Yesterday I was richly blessed by the Lord, being given the grace to celebrate Mass at Leominster and Bromyard, as I do now every Sunday and on certain weekdays. What a joy and a privilege it is to serve as a priest, and how I am growing to love the parishioners in these two very different but wonderful parishes. I was also greatly blessed in spending precious time with dear friends, feeling at home, relaxing, talking about the love of God, coming to know Jesus and walking through life guided by the Holy Spirit, all powerfully uplifting. Friendship must be truly one of God’s greatest gifts to all his creatures.
​There are just two days to go before Ash Wednesday, so no doubt, like me, you’re wondering what best to do to keep a good Lent this year. St Benedict says in his Rule that the life of a monk should be like a permanent Lent. I wonder if my life is like that! A valuable Lenten exercise could be to meditate on how the present state of the world and of our own country has affected our faith and our view of life. Let us ask the Lord to lighten the darkness of our hearts and minds and to transform our knowledge into wisdom by his love for us made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
​In today’s short Gospel passage from Mark, (Mk 8: 11-13), we find the Pharisees trying to start an argument with Jesus and asking for a sign. “The Pharisees came up and started a discussion with Jesus; they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to test him.” We have reached that stage in the Gospel narrative, where the Pharisees are constantly following Jesus, questioning him and trying to set him a trap, so as to get him arrested. They find his presence among the people a threat to their own authority and privilege. On this occasion they ask for a sign from heaven, as though the miracles they have witnessed or the teaching they have heard are not enough. “And with a sigh that came straight from the heart, Jesus said, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’ And leaving them again and re-embarking, he went away to the opposite shore.” Jesus is getting worn down by the Pharisees and their negative attitude towards him. They show no sign of repentance or desire for conversion. All Jesus can do in response is sigh from the heart and tell them that there are to be no signs for them, nothing that they would recognise as a sign, as their hearts are closed to the wisdom and love of God. Let us pray earnestly this coming Lent that our hearts may never be closed to God’s invitation in Christ to repentance and forgiveness and to a new life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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.
