Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 22nd March 2023
Abbot Paul • March 22, 2023
It’s good to get back to Lent for three days before we keep another solemnity on Saturday, that of the Annunciation, one of the most important days in the Church’s calendar. I can’t quite remember the exact day on which I began writing these daily messages way back in March 2020. I shall have to look it up. I began writing them to keep in touch with parishioners, oblates and friends of Belmont as England went into its very first lockdown, meaning that all places of worship, except the human heart, had to close and, sadly, Belmont was among them. Looking back, it’s hard to believe what we’ve been through, in many ways the lost years. Yet, we still have parishioners coming down with Covid, so it’s with us as a permanent visitor.
​Although the weather is unsettled and we never quite know what’s going to happen next, nevertheless our Spring flowers are beginning to transform Belmont into an earthly paradise. I particularly love the cemetery with countless primroses of many shades, daffodils of all shapes and colours, some of them highly perfumed, trees in blossom and countless other flowers adorning our woods and gardens. Toby could spend hours sniffing and reading the recent history of Belmont with his nose. Yesterday he visited a most wonderful Catalan vet called Paco, sadly a locum, and was diagnosed with arthritis, so has now begun taking medication to alleviate the pain. Like his best friend, he too is growing old and has begun to slow down.
​Our Gospel passage for today comes from John, (Jn 5: 17-30), not a short passage and one that needs time and close scrutiny, something each of us can only do at home and in an atmosphere of quiet prayerfulness. It begins with a powerful reaction against Jesus on behalf of the religious authorities. These are the people John is referring to when he talks about “the Jews”. “Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only made them even more intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he spoke of God as his own Father, and so made himself God’s equal.” This is what the Gospel is all about, revealing the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God and equal of God. In fact, Jesus goes on to say and to repeat several times.
​“The Son can do nothing by himself;
he can do only what he sees the Father doing:
and whatever the Father does the Son does too.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything he does himself,
and he will show him even greater things than these,
works that will astonish you.
Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses;
for the Father judges no one;
he has entrusted all judgement to the Son,
so that all may honour the Son
as they honour the Father.”
As Jesus begins, so he continues. This is known as high Christology, which is the mark of John’s Gospel. We pray that all people will come to recognise Jesus as Son of God and come to know him as equal to the Father.
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.
