Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 20th March

Abbot Paul • March 19, 2022

Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 20th March 2022

 It’s indeed tragic to note here that the brutal war against the Ukrainian people continues unabated. As further horrors unfold each day before our eyes, I keep asking myself is there no other nation or group of nations brave enough to step in and give the heroic Ukrainians a helping hand to win this war once and for all. It has no legitimacy whatsoever. It’s a barbarous act of blind hatred and lunacy that puts the whole world in jeopardy and causes a wonderful, hard-working nation to suffer immeasurable loss of life and infrastructure. I receive regular updates from my friends in Ukraine that are heart-breaking. No one wants the war to move into other countries, whether neighbouring or not, but this war cannot be allowed to go on indefinitely. It should never have been allowed to begin in the first place. May the Lord have mercy on us all and reward to generosity of all those contributing towards humanitarian aid in all its forms. At Belmont, there will be another Prayer Vigil, based on the Rosary, this coming Friday, 25th March, from 9am to 9pm, Solemnity of the Annunciation. All are welcome. Prayer is more powerful than arms; love more powerful than hate.

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 Our Gospel reading this Sunday comes from Luke, (Lk 13: 1-9), not a particularly easy passage to read. Recent tragic events are discussed with Jesus coming to the conclusion that they call us to repentance, for such situations could affect us all, whether it’s climate change or some form of persecution on account of 

colour, race or creed. Something could happen to us at any time, hence the need for repentance and being prepared. ”Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” Jesus then makes use of a parable, that of a fig tree in a vineyard, “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the man who looked after the vineyard, ‘Look here, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.’” A short parable, but rich in meaning. The owner of the vineyard is impatient. The fig tree has produced no fruit in three years, so it must be cut down. The caretaker pleads for the fig tree. “Give it another chance,“ he says, “let me give it some special care and let’s see what happens.” Jesus is like that caretaker. He pleads for us at the Father’s right hand and he offers his life for us, that we might be reconciled with God and live. Jesus invites his disciples to be patient and caring as he is himself. Rather than judge people negatively, let’s give them another chance. Lord, may we be compassionate as you are compassionate. Lord, have mercy. Amen.

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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.
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