Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 3rd January 2024
Abbot Paul • January 2, 2024
It’s barely two weeks since the shortest day of the year and yet the evenings are already lengthening notably, as was patently visible yesterday, especially as the rains came to an end, the sun attempted an appearance and there was a double rainbow over the abbey church. One can’t help but feel that Spring is on its way, although Winter has hardly begun. Daffodils are up everywhere and soon we’ll be welcoming snowdrops and primroses, although we’re promised another cold spell by the weekend.
Today we keep the optional Memoria of the Holy Name of Jesus and the month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name. It’s a devotion that dates from the late Middle Ages and quickly became very popular. It reminds us that we are still in Christmastide and that the name of Jesus was given him by the angel even before he was conceived in Mary’s womb, as Luke informs us in his Gospel. We also remember that wonderful text of Paul in Philippians 2: 10-11: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Our Gospel reading for today is taken from John, (Jn 1: 29-34), and recounts the witness that John the Baptist gave of Jesus. Here is what John wrote.
“Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’” John is indeed the witness that Jesus is the Chosen One of God, the Messiah, who will baptise with water and the Holy Spirit and who will give his life as Lamb of God in order to take way the sins of the world and bring salvation to those who believe in him. These words of the Baptist are the very ones we repeat three times at Mass during the Breaking of Bread and again as we prepare for Holy Communion. John the Baptist, a man of humility and deep faith, was inspired by God to bear witness to Jesus, bearing witness to what he saw and heard. Let us pray for that same gift of faith and understanding, and the courage always to bear witness to Jesus in our daily lives.
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.
