Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 19th August 2023
Abbot Paul • August 19, 2023
I usually write these short messages after Compline and before going out with Toby for our last walk of the day at 9pm or shortly afterwards. I’ve had to begin wearing my miner’s torch at both ends of the day, which for me means that Summer is over and the long Winter season, that includes the whole of Autumn and the beginning of Spring, has begun. This morning we discovered that one of the most beautiful trees on the estate, a huge blue conifer, had been badly damaged, yet there had been no wind or rain overnight. It appears that a particularly heavy branch way up top had snapped off and brought three other branches below it crashing down to the ground. The tree surgeon will have to come and take a look.
​Our short Gospel passage today comes from Matthew, (Mt 19: 13-15), and focuses on Jesus’ love and acceptance of children, his respect for them as human beings and children of God. Matthew writes, “People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.” It’s difficult to understand the attitude of the disciples, who turn children away. Surely they have as much right to healing or just a blessing as do adults, even though they are probably without sin and do not necessarily need forgiveness. In any crowd the children would have been many, so perhaps it was the time such blessings were taking, but it’s quite clear, even before he speaks, that Jesus was more than happy to bless them, and say a prayer over them, as we do with babies and young children when their parents come up to the altar for Holy Communion. Jesus reminds his disciples that they too must become as little children if they hope to enter the kingdom of heaven, “for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
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.
