Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 10th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 9, 2023
I apologise for the missing day, but as you know, I was delayed 24 hours in Amsterdam due to icy fog and snow, and so spent Friday flying down to Lima, a comfortable flight, though I never fail to be amazed at Dutch food. On arrival, everything flowed rapidly and in no time I was in the car with Fr Alex, making for the monastery. There doesn’t appear to be a Lima stamp in my passport: I wonder why that is. I found the community happy and well and in good spirits, looking forward to the First Profession of Br Antonio on Tuesday. Friday was also Br Miguel’s 24th birthday, while yesterday, 9th December, was the anniversary of St Martin de Porras’ birth in Lima in 1579 and the feast of St Juan Diego, with whom Our Lady of Guadalupe spoke and on whose tilma or cloak she appeared and remains to this very day.
Today is the Second Sunday in Advent, when John the Baptist appears preaching a Gospel of penance and conversion and baptising in the waters of the River Jordan. Our Gospel passage is the opening paragraph of Mark, (Mk 1: 1-8), which opens like this, “The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” He then goes on to quote the prophet Isaiah, “Look, l am going to send my messenger before you; he will prepare your way. A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.” So it is that Mark declares John the Baptist to be that voice, knowing that Jesus himself is the Word. John also confesses and says, “Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” Lord, may we your brothers and sisters, in the spirit of John the Baptist, prepare your way in the world today, for you come to every heart which is open to you.
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.
