Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 27th November 2022
Abbot Paul • November 26, 2022
It was truly uplifting last night to begin Advent with a Carol Service, sung not by the monastic community, although we participated in the prayers and the readings, but by a choir based on Hereford Sixth Form College, called Academia Musica. I was particularly moved by some of the 15th century texts they sang, which I had not seen or heard before. I have always been struck by the theological depth of popular medieval carols and their breath-taking interpretations of the life of Christ and the implication of his Incarnation. Together with the celebration of Vespers with its Advent antiphons, it was a wonderful way to begin Advent, this season of prayer and fasting that takes us up to Christmas. My parish priest, when I was a boy, always called it Little Lent to remind us of the penitential nature of the season, which is often overlooked by Christmas talking over.
​Advent is a time when we look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of time, while at the same time looking back to his First Coming at his Incarnation and Birth, something we do by reading the prophets of Israel who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. We look back in order to look forward, while recognising and celebrating the fact that he is with us now, this Third or Intermediate Coming in the present moment. It’s a season that takes us out of ourselves into the presence of the Mystery of God. In our Gospel passage, taken from Matthew, (Mt 24: 37-44), as this year we will be reading Matthew on Sundays, apart from Lent and Eastertide, basing himself on the story of Noah and the Flood, Jesus warns his disciples in this way. “Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Just as we do not know the moment in which we are going to die, so too we do not know the day or the hour when Christ will return in the glory of his angels on the clouds of heaven. What we do know is that we will die and that Jesus will come again. What can we do but keep calm and wait in patience, simply making sure that we are ready at the time of his choosing to meet him, see him and receive his welcome into the kingdom of his Father.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. He served this community well for many years, not least Abbot of the Community and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
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.
