Message of Abbot Paul - Maundy Thursday 6th April 2023
Abbot Paul • April 6, 2023
Although today is Maundy Thursday, when in all parishes we commemorate the Last Supper with a Solemn Evening Mass, after which there is a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to an altar of repose, that symbolises the Garden of Gethsemane, nevertheless it is also the day when traditionally every bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass in his cathedral surrounded by his priests and deacons. Although it is called the Chrism Mass, because Holy Chrism is consecrated during the Mass, other holy oils, the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens, are also blessed. I thought that today, for a change, I would say a brief word about this Mass and the Gospel read at it.
First of all, it should be said that most dioceses now celebrate this Mass with a few days anticipation to avoid a rush on Maundy Thursday and to enable more priests and layfolk to be present at the Mass in the cathedral as well as at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in their parishes. Likewise, although traditionally the Oil of the Sick was blessed during the Eucharistic Prayer, while the Oil of Catechumens was blessed and Chrism consecrated after Communion, today bishops are free to move things around a bit, if it is more convenient. In addition to blessing and consecrating oils, it’s also now become the custom for priests to renew their priestly vows or promises, the ones they made at their ordination to the Sacred Priesthood. You can find all the texts in your Missal, so do read them, if you have a spare moment.
​The Gospel at the Chrism Mass is taken from Luke, (Lk 4: 16-21), where Jesus returns to Nazareth, where he is about to preach his first homily in the synagogue there on the sabbath day. Luke remarks that Jesus always attends synagogue on the Sabbath. The section he reads from Isaiah is the following.
“The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.”
Jesus is anointed with the Spirit, because he comes to bestow the Spirit upon us, and he does that, as Messiah, by anointing us with holy oil. Isaiah also gives an indication as to why Jesus is anointed, and so why we are anointed.
​What is really interesting is what follows in the synagogue sequence. “He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’” Jesus himself tells them that the text he has read is being fulfilled before their very eyes, that he is the Messiah foretold by Isaiah. Jesus is the anointed one and the one who will impart mercy and grace on those with whom he shares his Spirit through holy anointing. The Church is the anointed Bride of Christ and Maundy Thursday, the day on which Christ lavishes on his Church all her Sacraments, his gifts of grace and life, hope and salvation.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully last night. He served this community well for many years, not least Abbot of the Community and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
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.
