Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday - 7th May 2024
Abbot Paul • May 6, 2024
​Not such a bad Bank Holiday after all! The sun is shining still here at Belmont as I write this message, and it’s warm. There’s been a dog show practice on the lawns before the monastery and the sound of happy dogs interacting and enjoying the exercises. The first big move to Leominster will soon be on its way: at least there will be plenty of pictures for the blank walls and a fridge to keep things cool and fresh. I am grateful to the brethren and to dear friends for their help, more than help in fact, for they have done all the work. I have never lived alone, so this will be a new experience for me, which I’m looking forward to. Of course, I had hoped to have Toby with me, but that was not to be. The Lord works in mysterious ways!
​Our Gospel reading today, (Jn 16: 5-11), continues where yesterday’s left off. We are in John’s account of the Last Supper and listening to Jesus talking with his disciples, preparing them for his death and what lies beyond. He says,
“Now I am going to the one who sent me.
Not one of you has asked, “Where are you going?”
Yet you are sad at heart because I have told you this.
Still, I must tell you the truth:
it is for your own good that I am going
because unless I go,
the Advocate will not come to you;
but if I do go,
I will send him to you.”
​Jesus is about to return to the Father. His telling them this has saddened his disciples, but he assures them that he is not leaving them, but will still be with them through the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate or Paraclete. He says that his going from them is for their own good, for unless he leaves them, the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, will not come to them. Jesus himself will send them the Spirit who proceeds from the Father. But what will the Spirit do?
“And when he comes,
he will show the world how wrong it was,
about sin,
and about who was in the right,
and about judgement:
about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me;
about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more;
about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.”
This is quite difficult to understand and to explain in a few words, but it is the work of the Holy Spirit to enlighten people and convince them of sin, judgement and faith. Essentially, what is sin but the rejection of God and of his Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ? On that sin will we be judged. Belief or faith is really trust and obedience, conforming our lives to God’s will and acknowledging that he knows what is best for us. Lord, increase my faith and grant me the grace each day to live by faith in you. Amen.
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.
