Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 16th May
Abbot Paul • May 15, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Monday, 16th May 2022
Today we continue reading from the Farewell Discourse of Jesus in John, (Jn 14: 21-26). Jesus is speaking with his disciples, when Judas, the disciple we usually speak of as St Jude, asks a question.
“Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them
will be one who loves me;
and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I shall love him and show myself to him.’
Judas – this was not Judas Iscariot – said to him, ‘Lord, what is all this about? Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’” It’s not enough simply to know the commandments, we have to keep them, if we want to show that we really love Jesus. These words of Jesus always remind me of my mother. How many times did she say to me when I was a boy, ‘Don’t say you love me, when you never do what I ask you!’ Obedience is the proof of love, but obedience in the true sense of the word means listening to the heart and mind of the other, of Jesus, of God. Our greatest weakness and sin must surely be not listening to others, to God or even to our own conscience. But Jesus assures us that if we love him, then his heavenly Father will love us too, thus increasing Jesus’ love for the Father. The disciples are confused and this time it is Jude who asks what Jesus means. Is he only going to show himself to the small band of followers and not to others?
Jesus tries to make his meaning clearer for his disciples.
“If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.”
This is much clearer and things now begin to make sense. If we love Jesus, we will keep his word. The Father will love us and in the power of the Spirit, Father and Son will make their home in our hearts and souls. We will become the dwelling place, the tabernacle of God. That’s an amazing thought. As the word Jesus preaches is not his own but the Father’s, to obey Jesus is to obey the Father. However, Jesus now promises us the presence of the Holy Spirit to help us remember and understand his teaching. The Father sends the Spirit in the name of the Son. He comes to teach us all things, the truth of God and our own truth, and in reminding us of the words of Jesus, he will also interpret them, so that we understand them fully. The very thought of what Jesus is saying blows our minds away.
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.
