Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 12th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 12, 2023
Today’s will be a short message as I spent yesterday afternoon with a local dentist, who was attending to a loose crown. She will be replacing it in the course of the week. My experience with Peruvian dentists in the past has always been excellent. In the morning, I accompanied some of the brethren as they coated chocolate chip panettones with melted Belgian fondant chocolate. You can’t help but admire their patience and talent.
Today in the Americas we keep the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, that icon of a pregnant indigenous woman, Mary Mother of all God’s children, written with natural dies on the cloak of St Juan Diego, to whom she said, “Am I not here with you, I who am your Mother?” Today she will say these words to each one of us, and especially to Br Antonio, who will be making his First Profession.
Today’s Gospel passage is that of the Parable of the Sheep that went astray, from Matthew, (Mt 18: 12-14). As a story it’s an exaggeration. What shepherd would leave ninety nine sheep in the fold and go off to look for the one who had strayed? But that’s the whole point, God’s love for us is so great that he alone of all shepherds would. And that’s what Jesus came to do, to seek out and to find those who were lost and had gone astray. Jesus will not rest until each one of us is safe in his arms.
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.
