Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 19th September 2023

One of the saints remembered today is St Januarius, Bishop of Naples, whose phial of coagulated blood liquifies on this day in his hometown of Naples. Although not a popular name in the U.K., I know a number of people called Jenaro in Spain and Latin America, and Gennaro in Italy. To them all I wish a very happy feast day

As I mentioned yesterday, l am in Paris, Vanves, to be precise, for a meeting. It’s been a long day and it feels like two days wrapped into one. I was up at 2am, after just three hours’ sleep, and drove to Birmingham Airport through a heavy mist and torrential rain. Although the place was packed with holiday makers setting off, I was able to negotiate security very quickly and settle down to a good breakfast to set me up for the day. There seemed to be a lot of heavy drinkers about the place. Why, I ask myself, would people need to be drinking gin and tonic, lager, sparkling wine and vodka before 5am? The flight to Paris was comfortable and on time, but immigration at Charles De Gaulle was a nightmare for British citizens. Why could not our government have negotiated a deal with the EU like Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein for us to continue passing through the EU channel. I was with a couple of British businessmen. I won’t repeat their comments. It’s annoying, embarrassing and totally unnecessary. Eventually, I had a comfortable taxi ride to Vanves, and so our meetings began with Midday Office and a delicious lunch. Being hardworking foreigners, there was no siesta, so it was work until Vespers and Mass, supper, then some free time before bed. I’ll say Compline before putting the lights out. Tomorrow we’ll have a full day’s work, beginning at 8am.

I don’t have tomorrow’s Gospel to hand, although I know it’s Luke’s wonderful account of the raising of the son of the widow of Nain, (Lk 7: 11-17). Let us keep in our prayers today all mothers who have lost a child, that the Lord will look on them with compassion and love.