Message of Abbot Paul - Monday - 6th May 2024
Abbot Paul • May 5, 2024
​What a lovely change yesterday and this morning, at least, to have some decent warm sunny weather for a change. Has this been the coldest and wettest Spring ever? I seem to have been driving constantly through rain and negotiating flooded roads for the past months. It’s hard to believe that Summer is just around the corner. This week, with the help of community and friends, I will begin clearing my quarters at Belmont in preparation for the move to Leominster and Bromyard when I retire as Abbot at the end of the month.
​We continue our reading of John, (Jn 15: 26 – 16: 4), carrying on where we left off on Saturday. Jesus has spoken of the suffering and persecution that lie ahead for his followers. No doubt they are wondering how they will cope with this and respond. Jesus promises them the Advocate, the Paraclete. He says:
“When the Advocate comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father,
the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,
he will be my witness.
And you too will be witnesses,
because you have been with me from the outset.
​​​​I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.”
​The Holy Spirit comes from the Father but is sent by the Son: an interesting dynamic. He is the Spirit of truth, who will bear witness to Jesus, just as his disciples will bear witness to Jesus. Although Jesus doesn’t say so at this stage, it is the Paraclete who will enable the disciples to bear witness with vigour and courage, for the Spirit of truth will be with them and will speak in them and on their behalf. Jesus wishes to tranquilize his disciples, lest they run away in fear.
​​Jesus becomes more specific about the kind of persecution they will have to deal with, beginning with expulsion from the synagogue.
“They will expel you from the synagogues,
and indeed the hour is coming
when anyone who kills you
will think he is doing a holy duty for God.
They will do these things
because they have never known
either the Father or myself.
But I have told you all this,
so that when the time for it comes
you may remember that I told you.”
The jump from expulsion by their coreligionists soon escalates into full-blown rejection and murder by “anyone” who thinks he is doing a duty for God or, indeed, for the state or the state religion. Those perpetrating such barbaric acts know neither Jesus nor the Father. Let’s be honest, 2,000 years on this is still happening. We need Christ’s assurance of the Advocate more than ever today, remembering that persecution takes many forms, some more subtle and destructive than others. Jesus is warning us today as he warned his first disciples back then. We must remember what Jesus promised us, that we are not alone and that the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, will never let us down. Lord, grant us a permanent awareness of the Spirit’s presence in our lives. Amen.
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.
