Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 29th May 2024
Abbot Paul • May 28, 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.
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.
