Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday 4th October 2022
Abbot Paul • October 4, 2022
Last night I took part in a meeting of Christians Together in Ewyas Harold and District, to give its full title, until recently Churches Together, and when I was a young priest, Council of Churches. Belmont belongs to this group, as we once had a church in Ewyas Harold, dedicated to St John Kemble and because we are a rural parish, outside the city boundaries. It brings together Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics and Methodists and is a wonderful opportunity to work and pray together. It’s amazing how truly united we are in our love of Jesus and our desire to be his disciples and proclaim his presence in our world, following the example of St Francis of Assisi, whose feast all Christians celebrate today. He was born in 1181 and died in 1226 and was canonised just two years after his death.
I have always had the greatest love for St Francis ever since I was a small boy and constantly visited the places associated with his life with my Italian grandmother and my aunts, uncles and cousins. He became very real to me, a beloved friend and companion. One place in particular I adored was a small chapel, with early medieval frescos, on farmland owned by my great uncle and aunt, Zio Beniamino and Zia Annunziata, just outside the village of Valfabbrica on the banks of the river Topino, halfway between Assisi and Gubbio. Here Francis would spend the night in prayer when walking from one town to another, and there was a large stone he apparently used as a pillow. I just loved lying there and imagining I was San Francesco. Of course, I was only allowed to take a siesta there, never spend the night. Forgive me sharing a personal memory, so dear to my heart.
Our Gospel reading from Luke, (Lk 10: 38-42), is the famous account of Jesus visiting Martha and Mary. “Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’”
Although not the Gospel for the feast but for the feria, nevertheless it helps us understand the person and vocation of Francis, who was both a contemplative, blessed with the stigmata, and very much a man of action, a missionary, who preached the Gospel to the poor, not in the official language of the Church, but in the vernacular they spoke and understood. He wrote simple poems and hymns with which they could learn the truths of the Christian faith and come to know Jesus and Our Lady. He invented a visual aid in the Christmas crib. He rejected riches, power and influence in favour of the way of Christian discipleship, the poverty of Jesus and the way of the Cross. May we learn from him and follow his example as best we can.
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.
