Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 12th July
Abbot Paul • July 12, 2022
My message for today will be shorter than usual, as I am at Buckfast Abbey in Devon for the General Chapter of the English Congregation. There must be about 45 people, monks and nuns, at this meeting, which will last until 21st July. Apart from Sunday, which will truly be a rest day, we will be busy working every morning, noon and night. There are compensations, of course, such as beautiful gardens, a lovely church to pray in, excellent company, stimulating conversation, good food and a variety of monastic shops to browse through. I miss Toby, but he’s on retreat at Cosy Toes, which he really loves. Belmont monks at the Chapter are Fr Richard from Whitehaven, the Belmont Delegate, Fr Brendan, Secretary to Chapter, Fr Jonathan, his Assistant, and Fr Luke, who is the Canonical Assessor. Nor must we forget Abbot Nicholas of Downside. It’s good to see younger monks taking over, as we older folk look forward to retirement. I promise more about, Chapter, Buckfast and places nearby in the days ahead.
Our Gospel reading today comes from Matthew, (Mt 11: 20-24), in which “Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.” He says that had he worked the same miracles in pagan towns, such as Tyre and Sidon, then they would have repented. We must never forget that what Jesus wants most of all of us is repentance, which is a sign of gratitude to God for all that he has done for us. So today it would be good to pray for the gift of true repentance, so that Christ may live in our hearts through faith.
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.
