Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 24th November 2022

I am always amazed at the amount of time and energy parishioners are willing to expend in the organisation and running of the many events that contribute to the pastoral, liturgical and social life of the parish and its missionary outreach. Last night, Fr Augustine and I attended a meeting of the Belmont Summer Fete Committee. We are there to support and encourage the fantastic ladies who have all the ideas and, with the help of many volunteers, do all the work. Where would we be without them? We are all immensely grateful. And this is the story of most parishes that I know or have worked in. Peru was no different. There, too, ladies did the most extraordinary amount of work, as well as having a job, keeping a home, looking after children and grandparents and keeping an eye on their husbands.

 

Yesterday was a windswept day with a lot of heavy rain. Walking with Toby between showers in the afternoon, I took the photograph which adorns this short message.

 

​Today the Church remembers the Vietnamese Martyrs, 117 canonised of the

4,799 who were martyred for the Catholic faith between 1745 and 1862. Christians were martyred in horrific ways in Vietnam, their bodies were mutilated and some were tortured with the use of psychoactive drugs. Many were branded on the face, and whole towns known to hold Christians were wiped out. An 1862 treaty with the French granted religious freedom to Catholics, but did not stop all persecutions throughout the country. Most recently, in the last century, the Communist government tried to purge the nation of religion, and more than 600,000 Christians fled, leaving everything behind. We ask the intercession of the Martyrs and pray for the Church in Vietnam and for Vietnamese Christians throughout the world today.

 

​In our Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 21: 20-28), Jesus speaks to his disciples of the fall and destruction of Jerusalem and of the religious persecution that will take place when the Roman Empire turns against Christians. “For great misery will descend on the land and wrath on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every pagan country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the pagans until the age of the pagans is completely over.” Sadly, throughout the history of the Church, persecution has happened many times, and in many countries, and is taking place even today in a number of countries. Christians must always be prepared to suffer persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian values he taught. Jesus also speaks of the Second Coming: “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.” We know neither the day nor the hour, but we must be prepared. Jesus will give us the faith and courage to be brave and to hold our heads high, for he will be with us to grant us the freedom of the beloved children of God.