Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 23rd November 2022
Abbot Paul • November 23, 2022
Perhaps today’s Gospel from Luke, (Lk 21: 12-19), is more suited to yesterday’s feast of St Cecilia, the famous Roman virgin martyr or St Catherine of Alexandria, whom we remember this coming Friday. Today’s calendar offers us two alternatives, Pope St Clement I, the Roman martyr, and St Columban, the Irish abbot, the two of them of historic and doctrinal importance. At Belmont this year we will be keeping St Columban.
​As for our Gospel reading, we must not forget that it’s the last week of the Liturgical Year and so we are thinking very much about what Jesus warned would come the way of his followers: persecution for the faith and the importance for Christians to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel and the presence of God in their lives. They will be persecuted “because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness”. Jesus goes even further by telling his disciples not to prepare their defence, but rather to allow God to speak through them. “I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict”. As St Paul would say, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will live in their hearts through faith. It will not be they who live but Christ who lives in them. Even their families will turn against them and they will be hated and rejected by everyone, but even then, they are not to fear for “not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.” In fact, the number of persecutions the Church has suffered in her two-thousand-year history and the intensity of those persecutions cannot be exaggerated. Even so, we are still here and still prepared to face persecution and death for the sake of Jesus, the Church he founded and the Gospel he preached.
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.
