Message of Abbot Paul - Friday - 2nd February 2024
Abbot Paul • February 1, 2024
​Today we celebrate the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Candlemas and, in the Oriental Churches, the feast of Meeting or Encounter between Christ and his people in the Temple. It’s an important feast but, sadly, not a holy day of obligation. It is the fortieth and last day of Christmas, the day when, traditionally, our cribs are taken down. I don’t know if you’ll get the opportunity of attending Mass today, so I’ll begin this message with the short Introductory address in the Missal.
​“Dear brothers and sisters, forty days have passed since we celebrated the joyful feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Today is the blessed day when Jesus was presented in the temple by Mary and Joseph. Outwardly, he was fulfilling the Law, but in reality, he was coming to meet his believing people. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the Temple. Enlightened by the same Spirit, they recognised the Lord and confessed him with exultation. So, let us also, gathered together by the Holy Spirit, proceed to the house of God to encounter Christ. There we shall find him and recognise him in the breading of bread, until he comes again, revealed in glory.”
​Our Gospel passage today comes from Luke, (Lk 2: 22-40). This is the moment, in the story of our Lord Jesus Christ’s life, when the great figures of the Old Testament, symbolised in Simeon and Anna, the priest and the prophet, so to speak, recognise in the Christ Child the coming of the New Testament or Covenant. From now on, salvation will come through faith in Christ and adherence to his new law of love, not through the Law and institutions of Israel. For this reason, in the Nunc dimittis, Simeon emphasises that Jesus is both “a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of his people Israel.” Nevertheless, all this will come about through his death on a cross and resurrection from the dead. There is foreboding in the words of Simeon to Mary, “You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.” We are all called to share the sword of suffering that pierces Mary’s heart as we enter into the tomb with Jesus, so as to rise from death with him in baptism, a dying to self and a rising to God that we must live everyday as Christians. Today is the loveliest of feasts when we look back with thanksgiving to Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, while at the same time we look forward with joyful hope to Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. The old prophetess Anna, who served God night and day in the Temple with fasting and prayer, “came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.” But there is more, for Luke tells us that, “the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.”
​Usually today we walk in procession carrying lighted candles, as it’s also the day on which we bless candles for the Church’s use throughout the year. They symbolise the wisdom and favour of God that were in Christ Jesus, the Light of the world, the Light we follow in the darkness of our lives. We, too, have been called to be light. May his light shine on us and shine within us throughout the year we have just begun. As we walk in the light of Christ, may he guide us to that eternal light which is the glory of heaven and the eternal presence of God. 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.
