Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 7th December 2022
Abbot Paul • December 6, 2022
It’s a great joy for me to be able to write this short message from Kylemore Abbey in Ireland, where I am accompanying the delightful Benedictine nuns in their annual retreat. I arrived on Monday evening after a long, but interesting journey. I particularly enjoyed the comfortable bus ride from Dublin Airport to Galway, which included a wonderful scenic tour through the city of Dublin, such a beautiful, vibrant city. Then, after an excellent late lunch, came the fascinating car ride to Kylemore. On the way, I was taken to visit a hundred year old nun in a nursing home to pray with her and give her a special blessing. Yesterday, after a good night’s sleep, twice the usual length, I was able to admire the dramatic scenery round about, after morning office with the nuns and have a free morning until Mass at midday. The retreat began with the first conference early in the afternoon. I’m so glad I came and feel that this is doing me the world of good. I hope it will prove the same for the sisters.
Our Gospel passage today comes from Matthew, (Mt 11: 28-30), one of the loveliest and most consoling sayings of Jesus. “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.” Jesus invites all those who need his help and support to come to him. No one is excluded, but must come to him and accept the rest that he can give them. In return for his shouldering our yoke, he offers us his own, a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. Our own burdens are often the result of pride and a sinful desire to dominate others or perhaps go it alone, as though we were self-sufficient. Jesus teaches us to do things differently, in faith, hope and love, and together with others.
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.
