Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 18th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 18, 2023
As I write this message on Sunday evening before supper, we have just spent an hour in church for Solemn Vespers and Adoration. Everything is celebrated as beautifully as can be and the brethren take great care of every detail. The altar linen, for example, is always spotlessly clean and perfectly ironed and changed everyday, and there is no outside help. Everything is done by the monks. Another example is the meticulous way in which they pack and prepare their panettone’s and other products for delivery. Amazon could learn a lesson from our Peruvian monks. Just before Vespers, I checked in with Air France on my iPad and already have my boarding passes ready for this evening. I hope to arrive back at Belmont late in Tuesday night just in time for the Christmas rush.
Our Gospel today is Matthew’s account of the Annunciation to Joseph, (Mt 1: 18-24), such a beautiful and well known passage. Matthew tells us that, “This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” It can’t have been easy for the couple. They had not lived together and yet Mary was already expecting a child. Did anyone believe her story of the Annunciation and Incarnation? Were there any witnesses? Joseph appears to be unaware of the facts and has made up his mind to divorce her informally in order to “spare her publicity.” But at that very moment the angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream, explaining exactly what has happened and telling him what God wants him to do. Joseph is the epitome of charity and obedience.
The angel tells Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” Joseph, then, is to be the protector of Mary and Jesus. Into his care are given God made Man and his mother. In many ways, given the precariousness of human existence, God’s plan of salvation is laid on Joseph’s shoulders, just as one day Jesus will carry the cross. Matthew comments that all this took place to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah, “The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us.” When Joseph wakes up, he immediately does what the angel asked of him in his dream. Lord, grant us the obedience and the wisdom of Joseph.
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.
