Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 29th December 2022
Abbot Paul • December 28, 2022
I was delighted again yesterday at being able to visit my mother for our transferred Christmas celebration. A monk can never spend Christmas or Easter with his parents, even with an elderly parent living alone. Anyway, on Christmas Day I was so tired by the time we got to Christmas dinner, that I fell asleep at table and, later on, struggled to get through Vespers and Benediction. These great solemnities are a real marathon and I am beginning to feel my age. However, yesterday was a different story. I was wide awake and enjoyed every moment of the day, as did Toby who came with me. Yet again, practically no traffic meant that we were home in less than an hour and a half. The weather was grim, strong winds and heavy rain, and my mother’s house shrouded in a thick mist. After an amazing lunch (four courses, how does she do it?) and a short siesta, miraculously the rain had stopped and the mist cleared, so Toby and I headed for the beach. There was plenty of company for Toby and for me, too, as dog owners are always friendly people and speak at length with each other. On our return, Toby had his gourmet canine supper and, a bit later, my mother and I sat down to another spectacular meal. The return journey presented no problems and we were at Belmont in record time.
​Today the Church keeps the feast of St Thomas Becket, the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury, who gave his life for Christ and the freedom of the Church from state interference at the age of 50 or 51 on this day in the year 1170.
He was murdered in his cathedral by followers of King Henry II. Before becoming bishop on May 24th 1162, he had served as Lord Chancellor of England for seven years. He was canonised soon after his death by Pope Alexander II. He soon became one of the most popular saints in Europe, as can be testified by the rapid spread of his cult.
​The Gospel chosen for the feast comes from Luke, (Lk 22: 24-30), in which the evangelist recounts that, “A dispute arose between the disciples about which should be reckoned the greatest.” Jesus contrasts the behaviour of kings with the way he wants his disciples to behave and carry out their mission. Humility and fidelity to Christ should characterise the disciples of Jesus. Here is what he says in full.
“Among pagans it is the kings who lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are given the title Benefactor. This must not happen with you. No; the greatest among you must behave as if he were the youngest, the leader as if he were the one who serves. For who is the greater: the one at table or the one who serves? The one at table, surely? Yet here am I among you as one who serves!
You are the men who have stood by me faithfully in my trials; and now I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”
​We pray for that same fidelity to Christ and humility in service that marked the life and work of St Thomas Becket and for the Church in England, that she may fearlessly bear witness to the values of the Gospel of Jesus.
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.
