Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 13th March 2023
Abbot Paul • March 13, 2023
Yesterday was a special day for the monastic community here in Lurin and, therefore, for Belmont too, which is the mother house, as Br Bernard always used to remind us. How we miss him and how our Peruvian brethren miss him, too, for they all had a special love for him. At 6.50am, following on from Lauds, we processed to the Chapter Room, where in a moving ceremony our postulant Saul Castillo, entered the noviciate and was clothed in the habit of the English Benedictine Congregation. He asked to keep his baptismal name. I was reminded by Dom Richard Yeo, the Novice Master, that there should be a homily on the Scripture reading as well as a few words about humility and obedience after the novice has been clothed and given a copy of the Rule of St Benedict. So, no corners were cut and we had the full Rite of Clothing as described in the Monastic Ritual. I hope I can attach a few photographs this evening, as it’s raining again and we’re told that Lima could well be hit by a cyclone, possibly on Tuesday. I hope it spends itself out further north, where things are very bad indeed, poor people.
In today’s Gospel from Luke, (Lk 4: 24-30), Jesus is rejected by his own people and forced to leave his own town. This reminds me to ask for prayers for the Church in Nicaragua that is being persecuted by the government. My beloved Cistercian nuns, whom I have visited many times, and supported through AIM, have been forced to leave the country and are now in exile in Panama, experiencing in their own flesh what Jesus experiences in today’s Gospel.
When Jesus tells the synagogue congregation that, “A prophet is never accepted in his own country,” and points to examples in the lives of the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, he so angers his hearers that they physically hurl him out of the town and try to throw him over the brow of a hill and down a cliff. Jesus is able to save himself at the last minute. This episode is surely a prophecy of his arrest, trial and crucifixion. I wonder how we might have reacted had we been in the synagogue that day. Would we have joined in with the crowds or done something to help Jesus? What do you think?
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.
