Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 17th May
Abbot Paul • May 16, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Tuesday, 17th May 2022
One of the joys of Spring and Summer is feeding our goldish, koi, orfes and other fish. For some unknown reason, most of our goldfish are white rather than red. I’ve not been able to discover why that it. They seem to get bigger by the day and are a great attraction for our local grey herons and, sadly, for the occasional wild mink. There are also otters nearby, but they tend not to come to our ornamental pond. We keep a net in place day and night to protect the fish. I would be happy to give some of our white fish away, but they are quite big now. The bigger brutes we will keep! Whenever I mention fish to Toby, he rushes to the pond by a roundabout route, for it also involves a game with a football. I’m fascinated by the daily rituals we go through both with Toby and with the fish.
Our Gospel reading from John today, (Jn 14: 27-31), takes us further into the Farewell Discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper. Speaking with his disciples, he says,
“Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me, you would have been glad to know
that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.”
The peace that Jesus gives us is not the absence of war, or of noise, or
of disagreement. It is not the absence of pain and hurt, of abuse and violence, nor the absence of anxiety and worry, of fear and doubt. Rather, it is that peace of mind, that inner calm, the presence of Christ in our hearts, that enables us to remain at peace within ourselves, with the world and with God in the midst of suffering and turmoil. One of the desert fathers described the peace of Christ which passes all understanding as the ability to put our hand into the very heart of the flames of Hell and not flinch, for Christ is with us with the Father and the Holy Spirit. It is Christ’s gift and only he can give it. This is why he can say, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”. When I read these words of Jesus, I realise how far I am from that peace and unworthy of his gifts. The important thing is that we’re getting there, slowly, patiently, lovingly. That’s all that matters.
Jesus then warns his disciples of his impending death, but assures them that, “The prince of this world has no power over me.” The victory of the forces of evil and death will be apparent and momentary, but unreal and unsubstantial, for Christ shares the Father’s life and what he is doing is the Father’s will.
“The world must be brought to know
that I love the Father
and that I am doing exactly what the Father told me.”
So all that is to come, not only his Passion and Death, but also his Resurrection and Ascension and the Sending Forth of the Holy Spirit is the Father’s will. Jesus asks us, as he asked his disciples, to believe by following in his footsteps and opening our hearts to all God’s most precious gifts.
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.
