Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 6th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 5, 2023
“Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears. The nations come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness.”
What a blessing it is that we can celebrate the Epiphany on the right day and so keep the Twelve Days of Christmas. Sadly, the Epiphany, greatest and most important of all Christian feasts after Easter, is now overlooked, forgotten or unknown to most people. They know about the kings and the star, but that’s about all. In any case, they celebrate them together with the shepherds and the angels on Christmas Day or long before. Last night my mother was expressing her sorrow that all her neighbours had dismantled their Christmas trees and taken down their decorations on 2nd January. Mind you, some had them up since 1st November. People no longer have the patience to wait for anything and that means they are no longer able to really celebrate and enjoy the feasts and get to know the mysteries of our faith.
Advent and Christmas, like the star, guide us to the great Feast of the Epiphany, or Theophany as our eastern brethren call it. This is the Feast of Light, Easter in Winter, when in ages past whole towns and nations were baptised and received into the Church. It celebrates and allows us to meditate on the three mysteries of Christ’s appearing to the world as Messiah, Saviour and Lord.
Today we recall the coming of the wise men to Bethlehem, following the light of a star. In the cave at Bethlehem, they kneel and adore the Christ Child, God made man, and offer him their prophetic and symbolic gifts. The gifts were three; we don’t know how many wise men there were. The place where the star came to rest is itself prophetic, for he who is born in the House of Bread is himself the Bread of Life and he who is laid on the wood of the manger will die for our sins on the wood of the Cross. Today we remember the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John the Baptist, when the Father’s voice was heard declaring him to be his beloved Son, while the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove. The Baptism of Jesus is a true Theophany, where the Holy Trinity is revealed to us and Jesus is proclaimed to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Today we celebrate the Marriage Feast of Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, his first sign, at the request of his Mother, transforming water into wine just as at the Last Supper the wine would become his Blood “shed for many for the remission of sins.”
The full meaning of Advent and Christmas is not revealed until today and the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection can only be understood in the light of the Epiphany. That is why on the Epiphany it is an ancient custom, after the Gospel, to read out the dates of the moveable feasts of the year, for the seed of Easter is sown today. The Epiphany is also reflected in the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, where the three disciples see once more that vision given to the Baptist on the banks of the Jordan. From the summit of Tabor and from the height of the Epiphany, through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, we can look back at the whole History of Salvation and we can look forward to the Last Day and his Second Coming, when every tear will be wiped away and God’s Kingdom fulfilled.
Truly today, “the people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.” We rejoice on the Epiphany because we no longer walk in darkness: we walk in the light of Christ. The Child in the manger, the Man on the riverbank and the Guest at Cana is Jesus our Lord, who said to his disciples, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He also said to them, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” In Christ we too are light and in us others can see God. The Epiphany teaches us that we too are the light of the world, if we allow our star to shine and so guide others, that we too are beloved children of God, if we live each day the grace of baptism, and that we too can change our world as Jesus transformed water into wine, if we are prepared to love and sacrifice ourselves for others. The Epiphany tells us to look through the prism of Jesus at ourselves and at our world. Christ renews in us today the vocation of shedding his light on everyone we meet and on every situation.
“Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears. The nations come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness.” On behalf of the monastic community, I wish you all a blessed and fruitful Epiphany.
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.
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. Requiem Mass & Burial Thursday 5th June, 12 noon, Belmont Abbey John Peter Jabale was born on 16th October 1933 in Alexandria, Egypt of mainly European heritage. His father was Lebanese/French, and his mother British/Greek/French. He attended the Lycée Français in Alexandria until 1948, when he was sent to England, having expressed a desire to join the Navy. He enrolled at Belmont Abbey School and, upon leaving school, joined the Abbey, taking the religious name Mark. He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 July 1958. He was then sent to the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where he obtained a Licentiate in French Literature, writing his thesis on Joseph de Maistre, the French counter-revolutionary. He later completed a Diploma in Education at St Mary’s, Strawberry Hill, where he also played rugby for the University. From 1964, he taught sport and served as a housemaster at the school. In 1969, he was appointed Headmaster of Alderwasley School in Derbyshire, though he held that post for only half a term before being recalled to Belmont to serve as Headmaster there, a role he held—apart from a sabbatical—until 1983. From 1964 he was teaching sport and then was a housemaster in the School. In 1969 he was appointed Headmaster of Alderwasley School, Derbyshire, but filled that post for only half a term. He was called back to Belmont to be Headmaster where he served, apart from a sabbatical, until 1983. Fr Mark was a rowing coach of considerable repute. During his sabbatical in 1979, he assisted Dan Topolski in coaching the Oxford crew for the Boat Race. His greatest coaching triumph came when he led a lightweight coxless four to a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships in Bled, Yugoslavia — the only gold medal won by Great Britain that year. The following year, he was invited to coach for the Olympics, but he declined in order to remain committed to Belmont. He was a steward of Henley Royal Regatta and was responsible for setting up and programming its first computerised systems. He was ahead of may in seeing the potential of new technology. In 1983, he was sent to Peru to purchase land and build a new monastery, which included raising funds in the UK. The new monastery was blessed, and the first Mass was celebrated there by the Archbishop of Piura, Oscar Cantuarias Pastor, in June 1986 together with Abbot Jerome, Fr Paul, Fr Luke, Fr David as well as Fr Mark. Dom Mark returned to Belmont as Prior and was elected the 10th Abbot of Belmont in 1993. He later wrote: “My first and most painful task proved to be the overseeing of the closure of the school.” Together with the bursar, John Hubert, he negotiated with the local NHS for the 4 houses to be leased to them. In 2000, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Menevia by Pope John Paul II and was ordained bishop in St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea, on 7 December 2000. He succeeded Bishop Daniel Mullins as the 10th Bishop of Menevia on 12 June 2001. During his episcopate, he held several important offices: Chairman of the Department for Christian Life and Worship, Trustee and Visitator of the three foreign seminaries — the Venerable English College (Rome), the Beda College (Rome), and the Royal English College (Valladolid). He was also Bishop-in-Charge of on-going formation for diocesan priests. Upon reaching the age of 75, Bishop Jabale submitted his resignation to the Holy Father on 16 October 2008 and was succeeded by Bishop Tom Burns. He then moved to Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, and was inducted as Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in March 2009, a post he held until 2014. At the age of 81, he retired to Hendon in London, where he celebrated daily Mass at a local convent, assisted in various parishes, and continued to help with confirmations in the diocese. In October 2019, he moved to Archbishop’s House, Westminster, for nine months. Finally, he returned to Belmont in 2020 as a much-cherished member of the community. He described himself as “very happy.” He remained there until his death in Hereford County Hospital on 9 May 2025, aged 91. He had been a monk of Belmont for 73 years, a priest for 67 years and a bishop for 24 years. Condolences came from Pope Leo XIV: