Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 18th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 17, 2023
You’ll be pleased to hear that it’s just as cold here as it is where you live. The monks at Prinknash live in an ancient building, that had been the hunting lodge of the medieval abbots of Gloucester, so it’s not easy to heat and keep warm. Still, yesterday was a pleasant and productive day and I believe we are more than halfway through the Visitation. I can already look forward to returning to Belmont on Thursday. I apologise for not sharing a few photographs, but I’ve not had the opportunity as yet to take any.
Our Gospel passage from Mark for today, (Mk 3: 1-6), finds Jesus once again in the synagogue on the Sabbath and present there is a man with a withered hand. The religious authorities were on the lookout to see if Jesus would heal the man on the Sabbath, as they were intent on putting together evidence on which to arrest him. Jesus asked the man to step forward where all could see him. He then asked the question, “Is it against the law on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save a life or to kill?” There was no answer. The Pharisees knew that he had got the better of them. Their silence aroused Jesus’ anger, so he asked the man to stretch out his hand and healed him. The Pharisees walked out and started plotting with the supporters of King Herod. We pray for the courage of Jesus always to do good, no matter what the personal cost to ourselves, and never to be afraid to stand up for the truth.
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.
