Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 30th November 2023
Abbot Paul • November 30, 2023
We are about to begin the season of Advent and a new Christian year of celebration of the life of Our Lord. But before that happens, we are called to keep the feast of St Andrew the Apostle, brother of St Peter. According to John’s Gospel, he was a disciple of St John the Baptist and the first to be called by Jesus. It was he who introduced Peter to Jesus. To Eastern Christians he is known as the ΠρωτÏŒκλητος, the First Called, and is thought to have founded the see of Constantinople. It’s strange to note that he has a Greek name and that no Hebrew equivalent is given in the Gospel; it means manly or brave. He is the patron saint of nine other countries as well as Scotland and of countless cities, towns and parishes. Try counting the number of ancient churches dedicated to him in Herefordshire alone. He was, as you know, a fisherman on the Sea of Tiberius (Galilee). On hearing the invitation of Jesus, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” he left his nets at once and followed Jesus. We pray for a portion of his obedient disposition and willingness to follow Jesus and work with him to bring others to reconciliation and peace with God.
​Here is the Gospel text:
“As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.”
What do we know of Andrew from this passage? Well, that he was Simon Peter’s brother and that they were fishermen. In fact, they were making a cast with their net in the lake when Jesus came across them. He found them working hard. At his invitation to follow him and become fishers of men, they down tools there and then and follow him. Andrew and Peter were neighbours and probably relatives of James and John and their father Zebedee. They leave their boat and their father in order to follow Jesus. Jesus must have known them already. Theories are many, but there is scant evidence here. More can be gleaned from John. Let us ask the Lord today for that same spirit of obedience which the first disciples displayed in leaving all things to follow him.
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.
