Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 29th May 2024

Yesterday was my last whole day in Greece and most of it was spent talking with my friends, discussing care options for the future as both become frailer and in greater need of help. Fortunately they have two lovely carers who come in on alternate days to help them, but soon this may not be enough. I thank God that, for the time being, I am well enough and enthusiastic enough to contemplate a new ministry in the parishes of Bromyard and Leominster, obviously with the help of many lay volunteers among parishioners. As you know, May 31st will be my last day as Abbot of Belmont and over the weekend I will move to the parish house at Leominster. I also feel that this would be a good time to stop writing this daily message for the time being until I see how to consider something similar in the future. I began writing this daily message in March 2020 as a result of Covid and the first lockdown. With just one or two exceptions, I’ve written a message every day since then. I thank my readers for your encouragement and prayers and assure you of my prayers and remembrance in my daily Mass. This evening I will be travelling back to England via Frankfurt and look forward to being welcomed home by a dear friend at the airport.

Today the Church remembers Pope St Paul VI, who died on the feast of the Transfiguration, 6th August 1978, at the age of 80. I remember that day so well, as Fr Dyfrig and I were on holiday in Italy and staying at the Abbey of St Paul outside the Walls. We were taking a stroll in the gardens after supper when the news came that this great pope had passed to his eternal reward. Today’s Gospel passage comes from Mark, (Mk 10: 32-45), in which Jesus gives his disciples a lesson on humility after they have been quarrelling amongst themselves as to who is the greatest among them. “Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to become first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” That is how we should all behave. We can find no better example than in Pope St Paul VI.