Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday - 28th May 2024
Abbot Paul • May 27, 2024
Yesterday was a wonderful day in so many ways. It was a particularly happy day spent with my dear friends Sandra and Vasili. We have been close friends since our student days in Thessaloniki in the mid sixties. In the morning Vasili and I drove down into the city to visit the excavations of the Roman agora, a couple of Byzantine churches, of which Thessaloniki has many, and a number of Ottoman buildings being restored at present. There is just so much to see in this amazing city, greatly loved by St Paul and his companions. On our return, I celebrated Mass for Sandra, who is a Catholic, and her delightful Filipino carer, Cheryl. It was powerfully prayerful: we felt the touch of God as we walked with Jesus. And so the day continued in God’s presence in the most extraordinary way, sitting in the garden and reminiscing over old photographs. As always, I also chatted with my mother, who enjoyed speaking with Sandra and Vasili. My mother loves chatting with my friends: she seems to be energised by them.
Our Gospel reading today comes from Mark, (Mk 10: 28-31), in which Peter questions Jesus on the reward he and his companions will receive for leaving everything that was dear to them in order to follow Jesus. He assures them that they will be repaid a hundred times over in this world, though not without persecutions, and, in the world to come, eternal life. Jesus caps this promise by saying, “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” This is a warning we all need to heed, that we shouldn’t take things for granted, but truly dedicate our lives to the Lord.
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.
