Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 22nd May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 21, 2023
I apologise that my message yesterday was rather turgid and academic. Today I’ll try to make it short and light-hearted, not that I’m feeling that way! The real joy on Saturday afternoon was to be greeted by a lively group of house martins, that have returned to Belmont for the summer nesting season. Not enough to be a flock, nevertheless their screams of exhilaration at returning to Belmont were loud and clear and a joy to experience. I hope they have a successful stay with us and don’t decide to move on elsewhere to build their nests and rear their young.
​Our Gospel passage comes again from John, (Jn 16: 29-33), and sees the disciples thanking Jesus for no longer speaking in metaphors, but plainly and intelligibly to their hearing. They even tell him, “Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.” They recognise the omniscience of God in Jesus his Son. Jesus rejoices that at last they believe, but warns them that soon they will scatter and abandon him when he is arrested and condemned to death.
“You will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone.” Yet, he will not be alone. “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” The Father is always with Jesus as Jesus is always with the Father. This is also true of ourselves. We are never alone, for God is with us. Jesus came to make this possible and to assure us of God’s presence in our lives. This is why Jesus goes on to say. “I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.” It is in Jesus that we find our peace, for he reconciles us with the Father and, through his death and resurrection, confirms God’s presence within us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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.
