Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 1st May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 1, 2023
You know that I walk with Toby first thing in the morning and I often give details of what we see and hear. We also go out at other times and each walk has its own features, all chosen by Toby. Around 9am we walk on the old school playing fields, now used by a Hereford football academy called Toros, which accounts for the field being so beautifully kept. On this walk he meets up with his friends Holly and Murphy, two adorable chocolate Labradors and serious walkers, and occasionally with Ben, a handsome black lab. Returning from this walk, in season we feed our fish and check out the pond for visitors and any damage caused either to fish or plants by grey herons, otters and the occasional mink. In the course of the day there are several short walks and last thing of an evening, around 9pm, we take out last walk of the day, usually in the company of Fr Alex. Again, Toby choses the route, his favourite being a lengthy inspection of the cemetery. You will have noticed that I often take photographs in the Belmont cemetery, and when I get to opportunity, in other cemeteries too.
​I just wish to say how impressed I have been by the beauty of the various liturgical celebrations that have taken place during the Holy Father Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Hungary. You can see them all on YouTube.
​Today’s Gospel is the continuation of yesterday’s, the Parable of the Good Shepherd from John, (Jn 10: 11-18).
“I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep.
The hired man, since he is not the shepherd
and the sheep do not belong to him,
abandons the sheep and runs away
as soon as he sees a wolf coming,
and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep;
this is because he is only a hired man
and has no concern for the sheep.”
This is a passage we know well, the image of God as a shepherd coming from the Old Testament. God loves his sheep, and the depth of God’s love is seen in the Incarnation, when God becomes man in order to offer his life as a sacrifice for the salvation of the world, the salvation and eternal happiness of his sheep. The hired man could well be the scribes and Pharisees and the religious authorities in Israel at the time of Jesus’ ministry. I wonder who these would be today?
​Jesus continues:
“I am the good shepherd;
I know my own
and my own know me,
just as the Father knows me
and I know the Father;
and I lay down my life for my sheep.”
A good shepherd knows each one of his sheep and knows them by name. They, in turn, know him and trust him. Jesus reiterates that he has come to lay down his life for his sheep rather than to slaughter them for his own advantage. In fact, we know Jesus to be the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, as John the Baptist testified at the very beginning of Christ’s ministry, when he came to be baptised by John in the Jordan. Jesus tells his disciples that there are other sheep, not of his fold, whom he also wants to lead and save and bring into the fold of God’s kingdom.
“And there are other sheep I have
that are not of this fold,
and these I have to lead as well.
They too will listen to my voice,
and there will be only one flock,
and one shepherd.”
Jesus has come to reconcile all people with one another and with God, so that there be but one shepherd and one flock. I have always felt that this, in part, refers to the fact that in the life to come and in God’s kingdom, the sad divisions among Christians, even within the same confession, will cease to be and that the unity we yearn for on earth will become a reality in heaven, when God will be all in all.
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.
