Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 18th May
Abbot Paul • May 18, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 18th May 2022
Throughout Eastertide, as each day we read John’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, we become more and more aware and enter ever more deeply into the mystery of the Holy Trinity. We reflect on the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and our own relationship with God, made possible by the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians, St Paul tells us the we are God’s temple and the Holy Spirit lives in us (!1 Co 3: 16) and that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Co: 6:19). In his first letter, St Peter calls us living stones that make up the Body of Christ (1 Pe 2: 5). St John takes great pleasure in passing on to us Jesus’ own words and images and in today’s Gospel, (Jn 15: 1-8), we have the memorable image of the vine and its branches, such a vivid, graphic image.
“I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
by means of the word that I have spoken to you.”
Jesus tells his disciples that he is the true vine, for there are other vines, which many people mistakenly follow. The picture of vine and branches reinforces the idea of communion, the communion that exists between Christ and his disciples and in Christ among his disciples. This communion is the Church. We can’t really be Christians without being in communion with other believers. We cannot live a Christian life in isolation, for Jesus calls us to be members of his body, in which we support and build each other up in faith and holiness. As we all know, fruit trees need to be pruned, sometimes radically, in order that they bear more and better fruit. They also need to be nurtured and cared for. If we allow him to do so, then Jesus will care for us. Admittedly, at times this will be painful.
He goes on to say:
“Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,
and they are burnt.”
We sometimes translate the first sentence as Abide in me, which simply means make your abode or your home in me. We are to remain with Christ, attached to him, part of him as the branches are to the vine. When the branches are separated from the vine or any other fruit bearing tree, then gradually those branches will die and so produce neither flower nor fruit. They become worthless and can serve only as firewood. Only if we remain in Christ can we produce fruit, and, as Jesus promises, much fruit. He concludes:
“If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
you may ask what you will
and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,
and then you will be my disciples.”
If we remain in Christ, not only will we bear much fruit, but he will answer our prayers. Our fruitfulness will be the result of prayer in union with Christ. Our fruit will give glory to the Father and confirm our relationship to Jesus as his disciples. How we long for that to be. Yet, if we look closely, we will see that it’s already happening. We can see Christ at work in our lives. Many Christians I know live intimately united to Christ.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully last night. 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.
