Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 31st October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 31, 2022
Today is the Vigil of All Saints, at one time a day of fasting and abstinence in preparation for the great feast. The old English word Halloween simply means the Vigil of All Saints and has nothing whatever to do with what it has been turned into commercially the world over. We pray for the young people who were killed or injured in that horrific accident in Korea and for their families. What on earth were they celebrating?
This evening, we will be blessed at Belmont by the Clothing of our two postulants in the habit of St Benedict as they enter the Novitiate and begin their monastic formation as novices. As a sign of conversion and new life, they will be given new names by which they will be known for the rest of their lives as monks of Belmont. I ask you to pray for their perseverance and for the blessing of new vocations to the Benedictine life both at Belmont and in our foundation in Peru.
Today’s short Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 14: 12-14), sees Jesus at table in the house of a leading Pharisee. He had already warned people about rushing to take the best seats. He now continues with his critical advice. This is what he has to say. “When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.” The words of Jesus couldn’t be clearer and have no need of interpretation. The Pharisees weren’t too happy with what Jesus taught and responded with criticism and, ultimately, arrest and death. When I listen to Pope Francis speak, I can’t help but think that here is Jesus speaking with the scribes and Pharisees. I realise that there is a problem in how to translate his nuanced remarks and homilies that are spoken in Italian or Spanish. Lord, grant us the humility to listen carefully with the ears of our heart to the words of Jesus and to the teaching of the Holy Father. Amen.
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.
