Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 21st August 2023
Abbot Paul • August 20, 2023
Today the Church remembers Pope St Pius X, a saint I came to know and love when I was taken as a small boy to visit the village and the house where he was born at Riese in the Veneto region of Italy. One of my aunts, Zia Luciana, lived in Padua for many years and part of my summer holiday was always spent with her, the very best of all Italian chefs I have ever known, and this meant the excitement of many trips all over that most wonderful part of northern Italy. San Pio Decimo was born to a very poor farming family and was a true pastor, even as Pope, like many other popes before and after him, Pope St John XXIII, Pope John Paul I and Pope Francis come to mind, devout men close to the heart of Jesus and who could speak to the hearts of ordinary people, struggling to keep alive, to look after their families and live obedient to the law of the love of God.
​Today’s Gospel reading comes again from Matthew, (Mt 19: 16-22), and tells of Jesus’ encounter with the “rich young man.” You know the story well, but here it is to refresh our memories. “There was a man who came to Jesus and asked, ‘Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said, ‘Which?’ ‘These:’ Jesus replied ‘You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not bring false witness. Honour your father and mother, and: you must love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these. What more do I need to do?’ Jesus said, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard these words, he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.”
​I should imagine that many people came to Jesus to ask him that question. It’s the fundamental question we all ask. What must I do to enter the kingdom of heaven? I don’t think we’re so proud as to want to possess eternal life, so much as to be granted it and enjoy it. As far as Jesus is concerned, the answer if very simple, “Keep the commandments.” In other words, be obedient to the will of God. He could have said, “Follow my example.” Strange that the young man should ask which of the commandments. Surely, we can’t just pick and choose. Jesus lists five, the last of which is not one of the original ten, but rather a more general commandment found several times in Scripture. The young man’s answer takes us aback. Could you say what he said? I couldn’t, I can assure you. If only I had kept all the commandments. I’ve tried to, but at times failed. Haven’t we all? So, Jesus goes further. “You want to be perfect? Sell all you have. Give the money to the poor, then come, follow me.” That’s a step far too far for the young man, and with sadness in his heart, though not enough to convert him, he goes away. He was indeed very rich in that he already considered himself to be perfect, but what Jesus asked of him he was not prepared to do. Jesus always asks us to go one step further than we had hoped or planned. We must be prepared for that and follow the example of the saints by doing what Jesus asks of us.
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.
