Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 21st May
Abbot Paul • May 20, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Saturday, 21st May 2022
Yesterday was the sort of day, and Friday usually is with Saturday a close second, when you have an endless list of “things that must get done” and, as you come to the end of the working day, and mine often goes on beyond 10pm, you realise that you have got sadly behind in what you had planned and hoped to do. I thank God for the good weather and the sight of sunshine through my window. I long for a day out, or even just an afternoon, in the countryside with Toby, perhaps visiting an ancient church we have yet to see. I live in hope. I know that Toby would love a short trip out. I’ve yet to take him further than about 15 miles. Perhaps next week it might be possible.
We continue reading the Farewell Discourse from John, (Jn 15: 18-21), and come to that section where Jesus warns his disciples that they will receive from the ‘world’ the same harsh treatment that he will receive, for “a servant is not greater than his master.” Let’s listen to what Jesus has to say.
“If the world hates you,
remember that it hated me before you.
If you belonged to the world,
the world would love you as its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
because my choice withdrew you from the world,
therefore, the world hates you.
Remember the words I said to you:
A servant is not greater than his master.
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too;
if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.
But it will be on my account that they will do all this,
because they do not know the one who sent me.”
Jesus is referring to the future, it would appear, but when the Gospel was written and finally redacted in its present form, the words of Jesus were referring to the past and the present. It was the daily experience of the early Church. Most of the apostles and the early followers of Jesus had suffered and been put to death as Jesus himself had been arrested, tortured and put to death. But Christians continued to accept this as the norm and were prepared to suffer in order to follow Christ. Do we still have that spirit of martyrdom today or are we now lukewarm Christians who comply with fashion and the ways of the world? When Jesus talks about the world in John’s Gospel, it is not the physical or natural world that he is referring to, but that world and those living in it who reject faith, hope and love, who reject God and the Christ he sent to be our Redeemer. It is the godless world of materialism, sin and evil.
We might think that this message is not for us, but it most certainly is. The world hates Christians and the Church to which we belong, that community of believers who live in Christ through the grace of the Holy Spirit, always seeking to do the Father’s will. We need to remember that Jesus knew no earthly privilege, but lived in the joy of the Spirit because he knew he had been sent by the Father and was doing his Father’s will. We, as friends and servants of Jesus, should find our joy in suffering with him for the conversion and salvation of the world. We pray for the world and love those who are enslaved to it, for our deepest desire is that those who do not know Jesus should come to know him and know him through ourselves, who know that he loves us and has called us to his kingdom. May what we do to share in Christ’s work of redemption, bring hope and new life to those who most need it. May we rejoice to share in Christ’s suffering, so as to share in his glory. 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.
