Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday - 20th April 2024
Abbot Paul • April 20, 2024
Today we are all such agile users of smartphones that it’s easy to forget how it was 47 years’ ago when I first went out to Peru and during the 20 years that I lived there from August 1981 to December 2000. I spent most of yesterday trying to sort out the thousands of photographs I took while I was there, of church, village, country and family life, as well as of my favourite flower, the wild orchid, of which there are many species to be admired all over the country. An old friend of mine has come down from Tambogrande to see them and, I hope, take them back with him to use on his blog about the history of the area we served. Among the countless packets of photos and negatives, there were some of Belmont and of family and friends, some whose names I can’t now remember. Who is the saint l should be turning to for help? Even if the names have faded, the memories are still vivid and happy. I never stop thanking God for the gift of friendship and for the love we give and receive each day that uplifts us, sustains us and enables us to be the person God created us to be.
We continue our reading of John chapter 6, (vv. 60-69), the conclusion. John speaks of Jesus’ doctrine and the reaction of his hearers. “This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?” Jesus is aware of this and replies, “What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” The Lord’s words are indeed spirit and life, creative, redemptive and loving. However, it appears that this wasn’t enough for most of his disciples and one by one they walk away, leaving Jesus alone with the Twelve. He asks them, “What about you? Do you want to go away as well?” I must confess that whenever I have been tempted to give up the faith, or the priesthood, or the monastic life, this is the scene that comes so vividly to mind, and the words of Peter in answer to Jesus on behalf of the Twelve. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.” Who else is there but Jesus who can reconcile and unite us with the Father in the joy of the Holy Spirit? Going back to what I wrote about friendship above, Jesus called his disciples friends. It’s friendship that gives us the deepest happiness, for ultimately it comes from God as God’s gift to us in Jesus and returns to God in the power and love of the Holy Spirit. In friendship we discover and experience eternal life.
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.
