Message of Abbot Paul - Friday - 12th January 2024
Abbot Paul • January 11, 2024
​While for the major feasts of the liturgical year all Christians follow roughly the same calendar, each denomination, local church and religious family also has its own particular calendar. At Belmont we follow the Benedictine Calendar with a fair number of national and local celebrations added such as the saints of Herefordshire. So it was that yesterday we celebrated the feast of that great English Cistercian abbot, St Aelred of Rievaulx, rather than today when we keep the feast of one of the patrons of the English monasteries, St Benet Biscop. Whereas Aelred was a great teacher and writer, especially on the subject of spiritual friendship, Benet was a man of great culture and learning, who brought back to Wearmouth and Jarrow from Rome, whole libraries of books and manuscripts, liturgical chant and choirmasters, stained glass and artisans and much else to enhance the life of the Church in this country, Aelred was a 12th Century Cistercian, Benet a 7th Century Benedictine. I particularly love celebrating our British saints. What a wonderful legacy of faith and spirituality they have left us.
Today’s Gospel passage from Mark (Mk 2: 1-12) is the famous miracle of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof of the house where Jesus was staying. It’s such a wonderful story, so rich in content, that I present it in its entirety. “When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’”
​There is much to discover in this passage. To begin with, Jesus has now established his centre of activity at Capernaum. From now on the crowds are never lacking; this often makes it difficult for individuals to get close to Jesus. Here we see the ingenuity and perseverance of the paralytic’s family and friends. We are told that Jesus is moved by their faith, but rather than heal he paralytic immediately, he says, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” There we have the first appearance of the scribes or doctors of the Law in Mark. They object to Jesus saying, “Your sins are forgiven.” For the time being they do not criticise Jesus openly, but Mark lays bare the thoughts of their hearts. Jesus knows exactly what they are thinking, so he heals the paralytic, asking the scribes whether it is easier to forgive or to heal, as it is through his divine power that he does both. This is not only a miracle but a lesson for the scribes and all those who care to listen to his words. The crowds, amazed, praise God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this before.” What they have seen is the hand of God at work as it was when, at the beginning, all was created. This is a new creation.
​Today we thank God for healing and forgiving us in Christ, something he does in all the Sacraments and whenever to turn to him in prayer and in any need. God is always there for us. He is never absent, even though we might forget him. He loves us and wants only what is best for us. This miracle also reminds us of how important our prayers for others are, and all forms of intercessory prayer. Let us never tire of praying for others. Lord, come among us today to heal and forgive. Above all, have mercy on those who are suffering. Amen.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
Archbishop Mark O'Toole, of Cardiff-Menevia presided at the Requiem Mass for Bishop Mark, while Abbot Brendan conducted his burial. Cardinal Vincent Nichols preached a homily full of warmth and affection for Bishop Mark which is reproduced below.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB RIP Given at his funeral by Dom Alexander Kenyon Baby Jean Pierre (Mark) Jabale was born on October 16th, 1933, in Alexandria, Egypt. As he said, himself, his background could be considered “cosmopolitan”: his father was Lebanese / French and his Mother, British / Greek / French. He also reminded people that he wasn’t Egyptian. Through his mother, Arlette, he was related to St. Jean Vianney, so it was, perhaps, no surprise that he followed in his priestly footsteps. His father, Jean, was MD of Fiat and Simca cars Europe and, maybe surprisingly or not, he did love a car – not, however, Italian cars, but German; he loved his Audis. Perhaps we should begin today by remembering his mother and father, his brothers Christian and Paul and his nieces, here today, Aline and Nathalie and Isabelle and their families – they were so dear to him and he to them and I know they miss him enormously. Young Jean wanted to join the Navy and came to England, to Belmont Abbey school but the Lord had other ideas – he ended up joining the rather land locked monastery, our dear, late Fr. Raymund opining that he wouldn’t last a month. After a rather uninspiring course of priestly studies (his words, not mine) he studied for a Licentiate in French literature in Fribourg, then a Dip Ed at Strawberry Hill and played Rugby there – the Papist Witch Doctor as he was affectionately known. Teaching followed, at Belmont, Housemaster, acting Headmaster, then to Alderwasley, our prep school in Derbyshire as Headmaster, and then back to Belmont soon after as Headmaster. In 1983 he went to Peru to build our first monastery there only to realise there was little money. So, he returned to the UK to put in a stint of fundraising with his usual zeal and determination. With his mission accomplished he was asked by Abbot Alan to return to Belmont as his prior in 1986 – Peru remained close to his heart. In 1993 he was elected Abbot. In his time as Abbot, he had to preside over the closure of the school, necessary but no less painful for him. In 2000 he was appointed coadjutor Bishop of Menevia and succeeded Bishop Mullins in 2001. He retired as Ordinary in 2008 and “retired” to Chipping Norton as parish priest, then Hendon, saying Mass for the nuns and helping with confirmations. After a spell at Archbishop’s House, Westminster, living with his great friend Cardinal Nichols, he came home to Belmont – it was as though he had never been away and he loved being back in the monastery, particularly praying the Office with the community. That’s the list, of sorts, but it doesn’t really say “who” he was. I haven’t mentioned his outstanding contribution to rowing – the 1979 coxless, lightweight four gold medal at the world championships in Bled, which almost didn’t happen as, at the last minute, he was told there was no money to send the crew. He begged, cajoled and got them there – the video footage of the final is compelling. He transformed Henley Royal Regatta, writing a computer programme for the race results – he was well ahead of his time. He coached the Oxford Boat, ran the Heads of the River Schools Regatta, and more. What an achievement from someone who had never sat in a boat but learned on the job, as he said, “from books, mainly”. It was his determination, his commitment, his love of people and his drive to share what he had that is, perhaps, one of the key things to celebrate about him. And it was underpinned by his rock-solid faith – nothing overly pious, nothing showy, but a faith and a love of the Lord built on granite. Even his occasional lack of patience (sorry Mark) extended to that faith; ‘why won’t God call me?”. At the risk of being irreverent my response was always “would you want you?”. But God did want him, and he knew it. God had a purpose for his Apostle during his life and he now rests with Him in eternity. His purpose was, simply, to bring the joy of the Lord into the lives of others, in many and varied ways. A few weeks before Mark died, Pope Francis died. When the late Pope was seriously ill the son of friends of mine who entertained Mark and I to lunch regularly, was distraught at overhearing mum and dad say the Pope may die. He couldn’t stop crying. “But darling”, they said, “you don’t know the Pope, why so very sad?”. “We do know him” came the reply, “it’s Mark”. “No, Mark isn’t the Pope”. “Oh, so when the Pope does die will Mark be Pope then?”. Mark loved that one. When Mark himself did die said son would only be pacified by picking flowers from the garden and bringing them to church for him. He wanted to show how much Mark meant to him and wanted to give a little something back. That is the real biography – a man loved, respected, a man who shared what he had, above all his faith, a man who touched so many lives and made them better.  Rest in peace our dear friend.
Our brethren in Peru were delighted with the election of Pope Leo.
