Message of Abbot Paul - Saturday 4th February 2023
Abbot Paul • February 4, 2023
Don’t you find that some days are more difficult than others? Yesterday I woke up feeling tired and things just got worse as the day wore on. I fell asleep a couple of times at my desk and even, embarrassingly, during an important meeting. Fortunately, another monk was present to take over from me. It’s good to know I can rely on the brethren. I was also saddened to receive news that one of Toby’s friends had passed away, a dear Jack Russell aged 16 ½ called Alfie. We’ll both miss him, but he will live on in our hearts and in the heart of God, for whom even the hairs of our heads are counted and not a sparrow dies but he is aware of it.
Today’s Gospel reading from Mark, (Mk 6: 30-34), in which the crowds follow Jesus wherever he goes, even if he’s searching for a little quiet and solitude in order to rest and pray with his disciples, reminds us of the vast crowds following Pope Francis on his pastoral visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, two divided and war-torn countries in the heart of Africa with large Catholic populations. Let us always keep Pope Francis in our prayers, a sensitive pastor and a man who is the very image of Jesus and the great saints of history. There’s something very special about Francis. When he speaks, we hear Jesus speaking. His words always come from the heart and speak directly to our hearts. It saddens me deeply when I hear some Catholics malign him and reject him. Are they above the Holy Spirit who chose him lead and guide the Church? I feel profoundly hurt by their words and attitude. There is no greater sin than to sow division in the Church. It is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Let us keep the people of the DRC and South Sudan in our prayers, not just today but in all times.
​Let us now look briefly at our Gospel passage. “The apostles re-joined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat.” The apostles are rather full of themselves and what they’ve done on the mission they were sent by Jesus to accomplish. Jesus can see that they need to rest and pray. There is so much going on, so many people coming and going, that they can’t even sit down for a moment and have a bite to eat. “So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them.” It was bound to happen: Jesus was so popular and people wanted to see and hear him and just be where he was. In fact, as Mark states, they got there before him! “So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.” Jesus didn’t get angry, as some people do if it’s their day off, no, he had compassion on the crowds because he could see that they were like “sheep without a shepherd.” And that’s how so many people in the world are like today. Perhaps, we could introduce them to Jesus. It is Jesus whom the world needs today and we know him. Could we not share him with others. Why keep this treasure for ourselves?
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.
