Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 20th November 2023
Abbot Paul • November 20, 2023
here are many miracles recounted in the Gospels as elsewhere in the Bible, especially the New Testament. Most of them are miracles of healing. For Christians, prayer always accompanies the work of doctors and surgeons, nurses and paramedics, although where these are not available, as often during my twenty years in Peru, it was only the prayer of the poor that brought healing to those for whom the Christian community prayed. I witnessed many miracles of healing, the answer to prayer. I praise God and thank him for the wonderful experience of his love and mercy.
​Today’s Gospel passage from Luke (Lk 18: 35-43) recounts the healing of a blind man just outside Jericho. “As Jesus drew near to Jericho there was a blind man sitting at the side of the road begging.” Because he was blind, the man was forced to beg outside the town gate from people arriving or leaving. It was a strategic place for beggars to congregate. “When he heard the crowd going past, he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.’” Although he doesn’t know why there’s a crowd going by, once people explain, it appears that he knows who Jesus is. Hence, he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” Is he asking for healing, forgiveness or both? He’s probably heard of the many miracles of healing wrought by Jesus elsewhere. However, the crowd isn’t happy about him shouting like this. “The people in front scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’” Their scolding has the opposite effect and he shouts out even louder. Jesus is bound to hear: in fact, he does.
“Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him, and when he came up, asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’” Jesus is always courteous and polite, putting people at their ease. The blind man simply asks for what he needs most, the return of his eyesight. “Sir, let me see again.” This is a model prayer. When praying, don’t beat around the bush, just come out with it, ask for what you really need and leave it at that. Little wonder Jesus replies, “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.” Prayer is an act of faith. Ultimately, what we really ask for in prayer is salvation. Lord, save me. As always with Luke, the Gospel of joy, there is great rejoicing and thanksgiving at the miracle and gift of salvation. “And instantly his sight returned and he followed him praising God, and all the people who saw it gave praise to God for what had happened.” When God answers our prayers, do we give thanks and rejoice, or once our need is passed, do we forget about God until we need him again? Do we only turn to God in our need? Do we rejoice when others have their prayers answered? This miracle leads to many questions.
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.
