Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 9th November 2023
Abbot Paul • November 8, 2023
November 9th marks the feast of the Dedication of the Mother Church of Christendom, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in Rome. Saint Peter’s in the Vatican is not the cathedral of Rome, nor are Saint Mary Major or Saint Paul outside the Walls. All four are Papal Basilicas, but the Lateran Basilica is the oldest and highest ranking and houses the cathedra or episcopal throne of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. We say that this church is the Mater et Magistra of all the churches, the mother and teacher. In the year 324, the first church on this site was consecrated by Pope Saint Sylvester I, whose feast day is celebrated on 31st December. So today we pray especially for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and for the Church and Diocese of Rome. Many churches throughout the world called Christ Church take their names from cathedral church of Rome.
​Today’s Gospel from John (Jn 2: 13-22) finds Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem at the beginning of his ministry. He is there to celebrate the Jewish Passover. “In the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’” Because of the forms of worship that took place in the temple, especially the sacrifice of animals, it was bound to be like a market place, what with people buying and selling. Religion has been a source of work and income for many people since time began. Think of places of pilgrimage you know, Lourdes, Assisi and Rome itself, for example, and it’s the same in all religions. John reminds us: “Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me.” Words from Psalm 68 (69).
​The Jewish leaders ask Jesus why he has done this, “What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?” To which he replies, “Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.” They take his words literally and are confused. “It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?” The evangelist explains, “But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.” What Jesus is telling them is that the days of the old religion are over, that God had never intended worship to descend to these practices. They have got stuck in the old ways of animal sacrifice, as if that were pleasing to God. He tells the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, “The hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” (Jn 4: 23) Here it is clear that the new Temple is the Body of Christ and the new Sacrifice is Christ himself, true Priest and true Victim. St Paul will go on to develop a new Theology of Salvation and point out that we are members of the Mystic Body, living stones making up the Body of the Lord, Christ Jesus being our Head. The revelation and understanding of this truth began that day when Jesus cast out the money-changers and the cattle, sheep and pigeon sellers from the Temple. St Paul reminds us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, earthenware vessels that contain the treasure, which is Christ.
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.
