Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 4th February 2023
Abbot Paul • February 4, 2023
Don’t you find that some days are more difficult than others? Yesterday I woke up feeling tired and things just got worse as the day wore on. I fell asleep a couple of times at my desk and even, embarrassingly, during an important meeting. Fortunately, another monk was present to take over from me. It’s good to know I can rely on the brethren. I was also saddened to receive news that one of Toby’s friends had passed away, a dear Jack Russell aged 16 ½ called Alfie. We’ll both miss him, but he will live on in our hearts and in the heart of God, for whom even the hairs of our heads are counted and not a sparrow dies but he is aware of it.
Today’s Gospel reading from Mark, (Mk 6: 30-34), in which the crowds follow Jesus wherever he goes, even if he’s searching for a little quiet and solitude in order to rest and pray with his disciples, reminds us of the vast crowds following Pope Francis on his pastoral visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, two divided and war-torn countries in the heart of Africa with large Catholic populations. Let us always keep Pope Francis in our prayers, a sensitive pastor and a man who is the very image of Jesus and the great saints of history. There’s something very special about Francis. When he speaks, we hear Jesus speaking. His words always come from the heart and speak directly to our hearts. It saddens me deeply when I hear some Catholics malign him and reject him. Are they above the Holy Spirit who chose him lead and guide the Church? I feel profoundly hurt by their words and attitude. There is no greater sin than to sow division in the Church. It is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Let us keep the people of the DRC and South Sudan in our prayers, not just today but in all times.
Let us now look briefly at our Gospel passage. “The apostles re-joined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat.” The apostles are rather full of themselves and what they’ve done on the mission they were sent by Jesus to accomplish. Jesus can see that they need to rest and pray. There is so much going on, so many people coming and going, that they can’t even sit down for a moment and have a bite to eat. “So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them.” It was bound to happen: Jesus was so popular and people wanted to see and hear him and just be where he was. In fact, as Mark states, they got there before him! “So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.” Jesus didn’t get angry, as some people do if it’s their day off, no, he had compassion on the crowds because he could see that they were like “sheep without a shepherd.” And that’s how so many people in the world are like today. Perhaps, we could introduce them to Jesus. It is Jesus whom the world needs today and we know him. Could we not share him with others. Why keep this treasure for ourselves?
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.
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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.
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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.
