Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 3rd June 2023
Abbot Paul • June 2, 2023
Following a day of complete rest, yesterday my friend Vasilis took me into the old city of Saloniki for a walk through our student day haunts, hardly changed in 60 years, and to see the new market, just opened, and the ongoing works on the long-delayed underground. But to begin with, a visit to the same shop we’ve been frequenting for 30 years to buy incense from Mount Athos for Peru. Opposite there was a shop where leather belts are made to measure while you wait, so Vasilis had a couple made for his expanding waistline. We also took a look at one of the many ecclesiastical tailors making vestments. Then it was on to the new market, exaggeratedly smart and hygienic. It was time for drink and a snack, so we sat at the pavement of well known snack bar for tsipouro and homemade sausages, as we reviewed our lives and thought of the years ahead and watched the world go by.
Now it was time to walk around the old market, admiring the magnificent displays of fresh fish, meat and poultry, cheese, olives, olive oil, fruit, nuts, herbs and vegetables. Weighed down with a vast amount of shopping we gradually made our way back to the car, but there was still one shop to visit, the loukoumia shop and workshop. This is Greece, so we don’t speak of Turkish Delight, the authentic article having nothing in common with what we eat in the U.K. When we got home, I was so tired, I collapsed on my bed and slept until seven o’clock, when I celebrated Mass with Sandra, who can remember the prayers still, yet has the greatest difficulty trying to read the first reading. Her Alzheimer’s is advancing rapidly. We didn’t have lunch until 8pm, but that seemed just about right!
Today we keep the feast of St Charles Lwanga and Companions, the Uganda Martyrs, 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican young men, who welcomed death in the name of Christ rather than lose their virginity. They have much to teach us today. Interestingly, Uganda also has a flourishing autochthonous Orthodox Church.
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.
