Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 14th July
Abbot Paul • July 13, 2022
Another excellent day’s discussion and learning at General Chapter yesterday with experienced professionals in the field of Safeguarding to guide us. The days are passing by quickly and it will soon be the weekend. So far there has been no free time, even to see the abbey grounds or pay a visit to the abbey shops. On Sunday I am hoping to visit Exeter Cathedral, which I have never seen.
Our Gospel passage today is very short. Again it’s from Matthew, (Mt 11: 28-30) and is one of Jesus’ most famous sayings. Chapter 11 of Matthew does read rather like a collection of sayings pronounced by Jesus at various times and simply put together for convenience and in order not to lose them. Here it is: “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yolk and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.”
Jesus came to befriend us, forgive us our sins, reconcile us with our heavenly Father and give us new life. He invites us to hand over our burdens to him and, in exchange, to shoulder his yoke and learn from him how to be truly gentle and humble of heart, peace-loving and the servant of all. Lord, transform our lives, we pray, by the Grace of the Holy Spirit, that we might always walk with Jesus. Amen.
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.
