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.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
