Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 28th November 2022
Abbot Paul • November 27, 2022
Advent has always been my favourite season, even when I was a small boy. It wasn’t the proximity to Christmas that made me like it so, but the even more exciting prospect of something beyond this life. It was like the science fiction aspect of the Christian faith, the idea of Christ returning at the end of time, coming on the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead, in those days known as “the quick and the dead”, an even more exciting prospect. I still haven’t lost my fascination for the end of time or, indeed, my love of Advent with all its wonderful hymns and carols and the very best readings the Scriptures have to offer. Give me Advent any day over any other season of the year.
​Today’s Gospel comes from Matthew, (Mt 8: 5-11), and tells of the faith and humility of a centurion and the healing of his servant by Jesus. “When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.’ ‘I will come myself and cure him,’ said Jesus. The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.’” It’s hardly likely that the centurion would have been a Jew; he would have been a pagan, but a God-fearer nevertheless. This makes no difference to Jesus, who offers to go to the centurion’s house to heal his servant. We note the compassion of the centurion, whose name is not given, and his care for his servant. The centurion’s response to Jesus are the very words we repeat each time we receive Holy Communion and Jesus comes into our homes, the intimate homes of our bodies. We, too, are not worthy, although there may be some who think they are. With the centurion there was no pretence as there can sometimes be with us. Jesus was astonished at his faith and humility and says so publicly. He also goes on to say that the kingdom of heaven will be full of people like this centurion, people of faith, but not necessarily of the right religion in the eyes of those who think themselves perfect. What do we think of people who are not of our faith? Are we prepared, like Jesus, to recognise the faith they have or do we reject them out of hand?
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. 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.
