Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 22nd November 2022
Abbot Paul • November 22, 2022
This week we have a spate of feast days as we speed towards the end of the liturgical year and the beginning of the Church’s New Year on Advent Sunday. To mark the beginning of Advent, we’ll be having our Advent Carol Service at Belmont this Saturday evening, 26th November, at 7.30pm, a service of wonderful readings and glorious Advent music. Everyone is welcome. Do come and join us. Getting back to today, we keep the feast of St Cecilia, the Roman virgin martyr, venerated by all Christians, who died a martyr’s death on this day in the year 230. There might well have been an earlier Sicilian martyr of the same name. She was martyred at the same time as her husband, Valerian, who had respected her virginity and was baptised through her influence and holiness, and brother-in-law, Tibertius. She is, of course, the patron of church music, composers, musicians, especially organists, and singers. Her popularity testifies to the importance of music in the Church’s liturgy.
​Our Gospel passage for today comes from Luke, (Lk 21: 5-11), and describes a visit that Jesus made to the Temple in Jerusalem. He listens as people talk about its beauty and wealth, its carvings and adornments. He reacts by saying, “All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.” Is this a prophecy of the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in the year 70, when the Temple was destroyed and raised to the ground? They ask for a sign. “Master, when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place? Jesus warns them to be careful of false prophets, some of whom will use his name, purporting to speak on his behalf. Even should there be wars and revolutions, they are not to be afraid. They will witness or hear of earthquakes, plagues and famines, but these too will not necessarily be signs that the end is about to come. We are to be vigilant and never lose our trust in God. In his hands we are safe, even in the midst of persecution and death. St Cecilia took these words of Jesus to heart and accepted martyrdom with joy and thanksgiving, knowing that she was in God’s hands and that he loved her.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. 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.
