Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 16th January

Abbot Paul • January 16, 2022

Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 16th January 2022  

 We all know that the great feast of the Epiphany, Easter in Winter, celebrates much more than the coming of the wise men by the following of a star, even if that is the aspect of the feast that everyone concentrates on today. In fact, I would say that half the Christmas cards I receive depict that scene, either the journey across the desert (often a snow-covered desert) or the offering of the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Child Jesus. The Epiphany, in fact, commemorates three firsts and not one. But to begin with, on Christmas night the birth of the incarnate Son of God, born in a stable at Bethlehem, is revealed by angels to shepherds out in the fields, who represent the people of Israel. The three wise men or kings represent the Gentiles or pagans, who also bow down and worship, and offer prophetic gifts: gold for a king, frankincense for God and myrrh for a dead body, preparing us for a Saviour who redeems us through the shedding of his Precious Blood. The Epiphany also celebrates the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan by John the Baptist, when the heavens opened, the Father’s voice was heard and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. To John and to those who were present, the adult Jesus is revealed as Son of God, and a theophany of the Holy Trinity is seen by John. The third manifestation of Jesus as incarnate Son of God takes place with the very first miracle recorded in John’s Gospel, the changing of water into wine at the Wedding Feast of Cana. Here he manifests his glory to his disciples and they believe in him. Today’s Gospel passage from John, (Jn 2: 1-11), records that Epiphany. Let’s read this wonderful text again.

“There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said ‘Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’, and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now’ he told them ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink; but you have kept the best wine till now.’

  This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.”

 Just a few points of interest, for there are many more. First of all, we note the importance of Mary at this event. She is placed first as a guest with Jesus and his disciples having a secondary ‘and also’ role. It is she who informs him that they have run out of wine, and does not take no for an answer. He addresses her as woman, indicating that she is the new Eve, the mother of all who believe. Her legacy to the Church and to each one of us are those five brief words she addresses to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” May we always remember Our Lady’s words. Then we have the words of the steward to the bridegroom, “You have kept the best wine till now.” Jesus performs a miracle, but it is he himself who is the best wine kept for the Last Days. He is the best wine, God’s only Son, who ushers in the Kingdom of heaven. The patriarchs, kings and prophets, who came before him, were simply preparing the way for his coming. What is more, at the Last Supper, it will be wine that he changes into his Precious Blood, the blood that will be shed on the cross for our redemption and salvation. There is much to think about, pray over and learn in this third manifestation of the Epiphany and we are blessed to have this Gospel passage today. 


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Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. Reception of Body and Mass of Remembrance Friday 30th May, 11am, St Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Swansea 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. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
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