Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 9th July
Abbot Paul • July 8, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 9th July 2022
I was so grateful to be able to visit my mother yesterday, albeit for a few hours. She was in good form and delighted to see me in the flesh rather than on a small screen. We enjoyed a nourishing lunch together and talked about many things. I was also able to help her do a few small jobs. One of the highlights of the day was taking a wrong turning on the Heads of the Valleys road, at a roundabout that is in the course of being rebuilt, and so taking a rather longer alternative country road, but without traffic and an abundance of almost ripe blackberries and what appeared to be wild raspberries, which I collected for my mother and tucked into straight from the bush as well. It was such a happy day that I was cured of the spirit of dejection that overwhelmed me yesterday.
Our Gospel passage today is the continuation of Jesus’ instructions to the twelve Apostles, as found in Matthew, (Mt 10: 24-33). Jesus warns them that they will be treated just as he has been treated and be called names, such as ‘sons of the devil.’ I can confess to having been called many things during my 47 years as a priest, but I’ve yet to be called that. Jesus says, “The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. It is enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household?” But what an honour and a privilege to be called and to be a disciple of Jesus and to learn from him and work along with him!
Twice he tells his apostles not to be afraid, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” He reminds them of how much they mean to his heavenly Father, who looks on them as his children and loves them. If God loves all he has created, even small, insignificant sparrows, will he not love each one of us who are so precious to him? Jesus assures his apostles that he will always be with them, to protect and strengthen them. We, too, can rejoice, for our heavenly Father is with us always, so we need never be afraid.
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.
