Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 29th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 29, 2023
At Sunday Mass today we begin reading that section of Matthew’s Gospel known as the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus is presented as the new Moses, giving to his disciples and to the Church the New Law, as he reinterprets important facets of the Law of Moses. It begins with the Beatitudes that we read today, (Mt 5: 1-12). I hope you’ll forgive me using a different translation to the one we find in the Mass Lectionary. I find the use of the word ‘happy’ to translate the Greek ‘μακαÌ€ριοi’ a somewhat unfortunate choice.
​Just as Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai and gave it to the children of Israel, so Jesus who is both God and Man now interprets that Law for his disciples and so for you and me, who are his disciples today. “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” He begins with the Beatitudes, so called because each verse or sentence begins in Latin with the word ‘beati’, the plural of ‘beatus’. Who, then, are those blessed by God and called to holiness? The poor in spirit, i.e. those who recognise their need for God, for the kingdom of heaven is already theirs, as God will satisfy their needs. Then come those who mourn, the meek and humble, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice, the merciful and kind, the pure of heart and those who practise integrity and speak the truth, those who work for peace, those who are persecuted because of their righteousness. Finally come those who are insulted, abused and columnized against. They, too, can rejoice with all their hearts because God is with them and will reward them in heaven, just as he has the prophets and saints of old.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before 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.
