Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 19th December 2023
Abbot Paul • December 19, 2023
I’m on my way back to Belmont, though I’ve not got very far. We took a long, roundabout route to the airport that involved an amazing shortcut. This can only happen in Peru, an underground Via Expresa that goes right under the centre of old Lima for about three miles. It came quite unexpectedly after the worst of Lima traffic jams, when you wonder whether we’ll ever get out of this mess. Then came the airport, where I’m sitting comfortably now in an airline lounge, enjoying a comfortable seat and quality refreshments. The funny thing is that I now look so much like an old man that kind Peruvians direct me to queueless security and immigration lines, so I was whisked through the airport both on arriving and leaving. Not only that, whereas at European airports our passports now have to be stamped, not so in Lima, where everything is computerised.
Our Gospel today comes from Luke, (Lk 1: 5-25), the annunciation of the conception and birth of John the Baptist to his father Zechariah, while serving as a priest in the Temple. The lives of Jesus and John are so interwoven, that John is as much part of the Good News as Jesus, though each in his appointed role: John the Prophet, Jesus the Messiah, John the voice, Jesus the Word, John the witness, Jesus the Light, John the Baptist, Jesus the Christ. Today’s Gospel is exquisitely told by Luke, as only Luke can, even in translation. I won’t spoil it by commenting on it, not that I’m in the right place to set about doing so! Tomorrow I’ll be writing from a lounge in Paris.
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.
