Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 16th November 2023
Abbot Paul • November 15, 2023
Yesterday was an extremely busy day for those of us taking part in the Benedictine superiors’ meeting at Ampleforth. I was up well before 5 o’clock although the monastic timetable only begins at 6am with Vigils. The sessions have been intense and demanding, with just a short break after lunch. Today we will have the same exhaustive timetable, which I hope will be as rewarding as yesterday. Tomorrow, the meeting ends and I will be driving back to Belmont. I pray the weather is kind.
In today’s Gospel from Luke, (Lk 17: 20-25), the Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God is going to come. They fail to grasp the meaning of his reply that it’s not a question of looking to the future, for, in fact, the kingdom is already among them, for where Jesus is, there is the kingdom. “For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.” Speaking with his disciples, he says that before the end of the world takes place with all its attendant signs, the Son of Man “must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.” First must come his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Only then will the time be ready for the end and kingdom to come.
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.
