Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 31st July 2023
Abbot Paul • July 31, 2023
One of the main reasons for coming over to my cousin’s was to have a peaceful weekend, sleep, rest and relaxation. Add to that meeting up again with old friends and enjoying fantastic food, the weekend has been perfect. It was good to go to Mass in a Catholic country, all so straightforward and matter of fact. Italians are so natural when it comes to religion. It was great seeing old friends at Mass and being able to chat afterwards. Then I went with my cousin to her niece’s for lunch at her beautiful new villa near the lake. I’ve known Alessandra since she was a newborn baby and now she and her husband are the proud parents of a handsome, intelligent and self-disciplined son, Andrea, who speaks English better than he speaks Italian, better in fact than I do. At present, he’s working on his thesis. We had a wonderful al fresco lunch, course after course, all cold as it was rather hot today, other than in the shady spot where we sat around the family table. A perfect day!
This afternoon I will be returning to the U.K., flying with KLM from Milan Linate to Birmingham via Amsterdam. Then I’ll drive back to Belmont, just like the old days when I did that journey so often. Our Gospel passage today sees us continuing to read more Parables of the Kingdom from Matthew, (Mt 13: 31-35). We’ve read so many of these parables recently, that I feel sure that I’ve already commented on them several times in recent weeks. Each parable, for short and simple as it might be, is a work of art. The first is of the mustard seed, but a gardener or a farmer has to sow the seed in order for it to grow. It won’t grow if it remains in his shed or in his pocket. He has to prepare the soil and sow it, and then take care of it, as the plant grows into a shrub that will bear fruit. Likewise the yeast that a housewife or a baker adds to three measures of flour. If she leaves it on the shelf or forgets to add it, then the dough fails to leaven and bread can’t be made. Yes, God gives the increase and the raw materials, but we have to play our part, we can’t just sit back and do nothing, leaving it all to God or to others.
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.
