Dom Dominic Blaney- R.I.P.
Born December 2nd 1929 - Died January 14th 2010
Please pray for the repose of the soul
of Dom Dominic Blaney, monk of Belmont, who died on 14th January 2010
in his 81st year. He had been a monk for 61 years and a priest for 55.
His Requiem Mass and Burial will took place at Belmont on Wednesday, 27th
January attended by many friends, family former parishioners and pupils.
The Abbot's Homily is below. May he rest in peace.
The Abbot's Funeral Homily
for Dom Dominic Blaney
"There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in
the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness
of the Lord, to behold his temple." These wonderful words are from
today's Responsorial Psalm. They express what we all know to have been
at the very heart of Fr Dominic's faith. He could have written them himself,
for they are the summary of his prayer, the fullest expression of his
desire.
It's fashionable today no longer to speak of a Requiem Mass. It's quite
usual to be invited to "celebrate the life" of whoever it is,
lying there in the coffin. We should, of course, celebrate the lives of
the faithful departed, but what we remember above all is their faith in
Jesus Christ, who offered the sacrifice of his life upon the Cross and
who rose from the dead to break open for us the gates of heaven, inviting
us to see the face of God and so return to the very source of our being.
No matter how good we might be, and Fr Dominic was very good, a just man
in the biblical sense, we still need the prayers of our brethren and loved
ones in death as we did in life. We pray today, believing as we do in
the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting, that God in his merciful
love will grant him the eternal rest for which he longed.
Today's readings were chosen from the Lectionary because they help us
to understand the depth of Fr Dominic's faith, the integrity of his Christian
life and his total commitment to the Benedictine vocation. The Book of
Wisdom tells us that, "They who trust in God will understand the
truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and
mercy await those he has chosen." All who knew Fr Dominic as a schoolboy
or young monk, as a house master or head master, or parish priest speak
of his trust in God, that basic, fundamental, non-questioning, traditional
Catholic faith, into which he was born and raised and from which he never
strayed, no matter how difficult life became. Trust in God and fidelity
to the Church marked Fr Dominic's life from beginning to end.
But there was something more: an extraordinary humility. "The Lord
is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold
of my life; before whom shall I shrink," sings the psalmist. Humility
is grounded in reality. Fr Dominic had no pretensions, no complexes. He
was comfortable with himself, calm and at peace, because he knew where
he stood before God and that God was everything to him. We have all inherited
original sin from our forefathers, but Fr Dominic was one of those rare
men in whom this sin was least apparent. There was a purity of heart that
was out of the ordinary and in stark contrast to those around him, to
those with whom he lived and worked. We all experienced this unique gift
of God as it showed itself time and time again in his kindness and gentleness,
the simplicity and unclutteredness of his life, the very ordinariness
and quiet efficiency with which he did everything, never boasting, never
lording it over others, but reflecting the peace and generosity of God.
James Blaney, or Jim as he was known to everyone, was born in St Begh's
Parish, Whitehaven, the eldest child of John and Mary at the beginning
of Advent 1929. His family lived less than a stone's throw from the magnificent
parish church. Whitehaven, not far from the medieval Priory of St. Bees,
had been an English Benedictine mission since 1701and in 1929 was still
an incorporated parish of Downside. In 1934 it was transferred to Belmont,
so from the age of five it was Belmont monks that Jim, like his parents
and sisters, came to know and love. He was a pupil at St Patrick and St
Gregory's, Quay Street, until he went to St Bede's College, Manchester,
in 1942. He was brought up in a world that has, sadly, all but disappeared:
a staunchly Catholic home, parish and school. Although in later life he
would become politely ecumenical and make friends with non-Catholic ministers,
he was unflinching in his Catholic convictions. It was fascinating to
see how, towards the end of his life, when Alzheimer's was taking its
toll, how he could remember Latin prayers and chants, the Salve Regina,
for example, whereas he had lost even the Lord's Prayer in English.
Now Whitehaven is rugby league country, but at St Bede's Jim fell in love
with soccer and became a key player in every team throughout his school
career. In the sixth form the First XI were trained by Matt Busby and
Johnny Carey of Manchester United. They saw in Jim, who was captain of
the team, a first class player with a good future in the game. But it
was Manchester City that he was to support for the rest of his life. In
the years ahead Jim would turn his hand to every ball game going, both
as player and coach. In fact, he didn't consider ball-less games as real
sport. However, he had been sent to St Bede's (where, incidentally, he
was taught French by George Patrick Dwyer, future Bishop of Leeds and
Archbishop of Birmingham) because he felt called to the priesthood and
religious life. So when he left school in 1948 he came to Belmont. As
it turned out, there was another teenager on the train from Manchester
to Hereford that day going to Belmont to try his vocation. It was Charles
Holdsworth, who would become Fr Stephen. Everything in life is part of
God's plan for us: Stephen was the first person Dominic met when he came
to Belmont and the last he saw, just two days before he died, and they
were to remain close friends.
Jim was clothed on 14th September 1948 by Abbot Anselm Lightbound and
given the name Dominic, not after St Dominic, founder of the Dominicans,
as most people think, but in honour of the Italian Passionist priest Blessed
Dominic Barberi, who received Newman into the Church. He made his first
profession on 15th September 1949 and his solemn profession, also at the
hands of Abbot Anselm, on St Michael's Day 1952. In spite of the precarious
financial situation at Belmont, Dominic was sent up to Fitzwilliam College,
Cambridge, to read History. He took his M.A. but was remembered more for
his sporting achievements. Philosophy and theology were studied here at
Belmont, combining those studies with teaching in the school and coaching
sports. Typical of Dominic, he changed over without a murmur and with
great success from round ball to oval ball though in his heart of hearts
he always preferred football.
Dominic was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by Bishop Pearson at St.
Begh's on 2nd May 1954. The assistant master of ceremonies on the great
day was a young man called William McKenzie Moore, Billy for short, the
future Fr Bede. It was that ordination that set him thinking seriously
about a Benedictine vocation. After ordination, and in obedience to a
succession of abbots, Dominic worked in our schools: Alderwasley, Belmont
and Llanarth for 33 years until he became Parish Priest of Belmont and
Subprior in 1986. He taught history and coached rugby, tennis, squash,
cricket, golf, table tennis and badminton. He was not the most inspired
or original of teachers, but he never missed a class, nor did he ever
miss a trick. As a young man he had served as secretary to two head masters:
Abbot Alphege Gleeson and Fr Christopher McNulty. He served at Alderwasley
from 1955 to 57 and then at Junior House. He was house master of Vaughan
and then of Kindersley. In fact, I succeeded him in Kindersley in January
1976, when he returned to Llanarth for a second period as head master.
This move back to Llanarth was not easy for him. When he was asked to
go back by Abbot Jerome, he broke down and wept bitterly but he obeyed.
What marked Dominic out from the rest of us was that he always obeyed,
even when it hurt. He never complained and always did his duty and his
very best. He was head master of Llanarth from 1967 to 1971 and from 1976
to 1986.
The many letters I have received from staff and pupils are a testimony
to the strong affection in which he is held by so many and of the gratitude
for his many kindnesses. He was a warm, gentle and affectionate man and,
to many, a real father. Of course, on the pitch or in the court, it was
quite another story. Dominic would not and could not lose a ball game.
He underwent a radical transformation once out of his habit and into his
kit. Just because he was kind and gentle, it didn't mean that he was weak
or evasive, anything but. He had a very strong sense of justice and of
correct behaviour. He would stand no nonsense, either from the boys or
from his brethren. He had a clear tenor voice and was a cantor for many
years. One morning he confronted the fearsome choirmaster, Fr Bernard
Chambers, in the presence of the brethren. That day Dom Bernard also happened
to be the superior in choir, so there was a constant re-pitching of the
note. As often happened in those days, choir was a battle ground. Dominic
turned round and said to Fr Bernard, "Why don't you grow up and start
praying instead of giving us that note none of us can reach." The
outburst reduced everyone to silence, even Dom Bernard. Dominic, in his
quiet and disarming way, wasn't afraid to stand up and oppose powerful
characters in the community and he always spoke his mind, though with
courtesy and a twinkle in his eye. He had a good sense of humour and was
a tease. He was honest and straightforward. There was no side, no deception.
As Jesus said of Nathaniel, he was a man "without guile."
In 1986 he became Parish Priest of Belmont, where he also served the Community
as Subprior. Then he was appointed Parish Priest of Abergavenny. In both
parishes he was much loved and appreciated for those same human qualities
and Christian virtues he had shown to the boys and staff in our schools.
He was faithful and assiduous in his parish duties and particularly as
chaplain to the various hospitals in and around Abergavenny. However,
it was here that the first signs of Alzheimer's appeared. Gradual loss
of memory and other manifestations of that cruel illness made it impossible
for him to continue and early in 2000 he was brought back to Belmont by
Abbot Mark. To begin with he was able to join in the life of the Community,
but little by little this became more and more difficult. He was cared
for by Br. Bernard and Mary Jo Donnelly, who at the time were also looking
after Fr Aelred in the Infirmary. It was not easy with Dominic, because
you never knew what he was going to do next. On one occasion, while in
Hereford Hospital for tests, he signed himself out, got into a taxi and
returned to Belmont in his pyjamas. On another he was found at Lock's
garage at six o'clock in the morning, having walked the four miles along
the Abergavenny road in the dark. On yet another occasion he went missing
a whole day. That evening he was found in a bus shelter at Altringham,
a short distance from his sister Kathleen's house. With no money in his
pocket he had gone down to Hereford station, caught a train to Manchester
and then a bus. Eventually, we were advised that he needed fulltime nursing
care. This resulted in him going into a nursing home not far from Weobley.
It was here that we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his priesthood. Then
for the last years of his life he took up residence at Oakland's Nursing
Home where he was well cared for by Matron Pamela Newman and her excellent
team until the Lord took him suddenly but peacefully and painlessly early
on the afternoon of January 14th. It was a blessing that his physical
sufferings were few.
Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are, of course, a great mystery
to us, difficult to understand and hard to accept. We are helpless and
can do nothing to prevent what is taking place before our very eyes to
a loved one whom we have known to be so active and intelligent. You see
everything being taken away, disappearing bit by bit. Though he was eighty
when he died, Dominic looked much younger. It was impossible to know what
he made of our attempts at conversation, and yet it was clear that enjoyed
company and, above all, that he still liked his food, especially anything
sweet. I remember one birthday Br Bernard bought a delicious carrot cake
in Tesco's on the way to Oaklands. Once we'd greeted him, Bernard cut
three small slices, one each, but Dominic just took the rest of the cake
and ate it in a flash. He was still too quick for us. For a long time
you could pray with him and give him Holy Communion, but eventually he
stopped taking an interest in our prayers and blessings. Even so, when
you looked into those penetrating blue eyes, you got the distinct impression
that he could see right through you and, just occasionally, there was
a flash of the old Dominic
As Christians how can we begin to understand? I think the words of St
Paul to the Romans can help us penetrate the veil of this particular form
of suffering. "Neither life nor death, nothing at all can come between
us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord." Our
relationship with God is not a matter of the mind but of the heart: the
soul is undiminished by the disintegration of mind and body. St John tells
us that the Father glorified the Son in his passion and death and that
the Father was glorified in the Cross of Jesus. In his suffering Fr Dominic
glorified God and in turn God will glorify him with the gift of eternal
life once the purification of Purgatory is done. Jesus did not say to
the good thief, "I will lessen your torments and take away your suffering
and death." No, Jesus died alongside both thieves. He shared their
suffering and total degradation, he shared their pain and anguish, their
agony and death. When asked, "Lord, remember me when you come into
your kingdom," Jesus replied, "Today you will be with me in
Paradise." Dominic's cross lasted not an afternoon but ten years.
There can be no doubt that Jesus will keep his promise, "Today, dear
Dominic, faithful and true, you will be with me in paradise." Amen