Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 4th May
Abbot Paul • May 3, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Wednesday, 4th May 2022
Yesterday I was at Douai Abbey for a meeting, an exhausting thirteen hour trip altogether, including six hours’ driving. Fortunately, there was less traffic than usual, hardly surprising with the price of fuel, and no accidents or road closures. Nevertheless, I was glad to get back to Belmont safe and sound. Toby is on holiday at the moment, as I also have a meeting near Burford on Thursday and then go to Burgos in Spain to meet with the Cistercian nuns of the famous Abbey of Las Huelgas, but I will tell you more about that when I’m there. I will be back, God willing, for the May Procession, which takes place on Wednesday, 11th May. You are more than welcome to join us that evening.
Today the Church in England celebrates the feast of the English Martyrs, although at Belmont we also include the Welsh Martyrs. We ask their intercession for the Church in our land in our day and for the reinvigoration of the faith of all Christians. The Gospel chosen for the feast comes from Matthew, (Mt 10: 17-20).
This is it:
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to Sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.’”
What Jesus describes to be the fate of his followers was actually taking place when the Gospels were being written, which is why the evangelists emphasise this aspect of Jesus’ teaching. We also read about it in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Letters of St Paul and the other Apostles, not to mention the Apocalypse. Has there been an age, in fact, when Christians have not been persecuted for their faith? It’s important to remember what Jesus says, “Do not worry about what you are going to say: the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.” Persecution, in whatever form it comes, always gives us a privileged opportunity to bear witness to Christ and to our faith in him. We might not have to die for our faith as the martyrs did, but we will have to die to our fears and shame when we stand up to be counted. Holy Martyrs of England and Wales, pray for us. Amen.
I attach a photograph of the Herefordshire martyr St John Kemble’s grave at Welsh Newton and a portrait of his Welsh cousin, the Jesuit St David Lewis.
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.
