Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 29th November 2023
Abbot Paul • November 28, 2023
I had a most enjoyable speed awareness course yesterday at Coleford. It was fun for a change to be surrounded by Gloucester accents. The scenery there and back was stunning. All in all, a perfect day, and I learnt a lot of information that was new to me.​
Today we continue our reading of Luke (Lk 21: 12-19) with a grim warning from Jesus as to what his disciples are to expect if they remain faithful to him. In fact, by the time the Gospel came to be written, Christians had already been experiencing persecution for more than 30 years. “Men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness.” However, Jesus sees this as an opportunity to bear witness to him and to the truth of the Gospel. Not only that, but he will be with them and will inspire as well as give them fortitude and perseverance. “Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.”
​Jesus reiterates his warning, speaking of betrayal and death. He doesn’t beat around the bush, but tells them straight. “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name.” This was to be the lot of the martyrs, beginning with John the Baptist and with Jesus himself, and there have been Christians martyrs in every generation and in every country ever since. But that’s not where to story ends. They are not to fear for God will be with them and they will win the crown of eternal life. “Not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.” We live in the knowledge that we too could become martyrs for the faith, but we also know that it is not only in death that we bear witness to Christ but in life and by the way we live our lives. We must become transparent, so that others can see Christ in us. If all the Bibles in the world were to be destroyed, would others see Christ in you and in me? Could the Gospel be rewritten based on the testimony of our lives? That’s a question worth thinking about.
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.
