Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 2nd December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 1, 2023
Yesterday was a glorious day for driving home to spend the day with my mother. It was cold, but sunny and dry. The beach was truly glorious and, as the tide was out, eerily silent. Coming back in the dark, we were accompanied by a moon that was excessively large and red, a looming presence that could not but remind us of the end of the world, of which our apocalyptic readings have spoken a great deal these past few days. So it is that with a deep sense of thanksgiving in our hearts, we come to the end of another year. For Christians, today is New Year’s Eve, as tomorrow, the First Sunday in Advent, we begin a New Year that will lead us through Advent to Christmas and the Epiphany, through Lent to Easter and Pentecost, then that long and varied period that will eventually lead us back to Advent and the beginning of another New Year.
​Today, then, we end the year with a short Gospel passage from Luke (Lk 21: 34-36), where Jesus sums up his teaching on the Second Coming and Final Judgement. He is speaking with his disciples and begins with a warning. “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth.” The advice is clear. They are to be watchful of themselves and take care not to give in to the many temptations on offer that would result in a hardening of heart. Likewise, if they succumb to worry and preoccupation, they will not be ready when the day of the Lord comes. It will be like falling into a trap they have set for themselves. What then is the alternative? “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” Stay awake, and keep vigil. This is exactly what Advent is, a vigil for the coming of the Lord. And how are we to keep vigil, but by praying at all times, continuous prayer. This really means focussing on God and being aware of his presence in our lives, not simply saying prayers, and praying for strength to face what is to come. That will enable us to stand in confidence before the Son of Man when he appears. In fact, the salvation, that Jesus offers us, enables us to stand with confidence before God, the total eradication of fear. Lord, grant us grace this Advent to stay awake and pray at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before you, rejoicing in the knowledge that you have saved us and given us your kingdom. Amen.
​I remind all those who would like to begin Advent in prayer and song that this evening at 7.30 we have our Advent Carol Service at the Abbey, which will be sung by Academia Musica. Everyone is cordially invited.
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.
