Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 25th September 2022
Abbot Paul • September 25, 2022
Yesterday we celebrated the feast of Our Lady, so I thought you might like to see one of the oldest statues of Our Lady we have in the monastery, one of La Candelaria, Our Lady of the Taper or Candles, celebrated on 2nd February, Candlemas. She stands above the grave of the two founders of this monastery, mother and daughter, both widows, Lucrecia de Sanzoles and Mencia de Vargas, in Lima in the year 1584. I think she’s my favourite. There are at least half a dozen others.
Yesterday we also began our Canonical Visitation in the Chapter Room after Terce with an encouraging conference given by Abbot Benito. This was followed by interviews from 9.30 to 1.15pm and again after None from 3.15 to 5.30pm, no tea or coffee breaks in Peru. It was hard work concentrating, but only good can come of it. The great thing is that I’ve overcome the intense tiredness I was feeling at Belmont in recent weeks and am quite reinvigorated. Please keep praying for us.
In our Sunday Gospel from Luke, (Lk 16: 19-31), Jesus tells the Pharisees a story as a parable. This might well have been a popular story at the time, which Jesus used as a parable to move them to repentance and conversion, having had little luck so far. It’s known as Dives and Lazarus, a rich man and the poor man at his gate, whose only friends were the dogs who came to lick his wounds, while the rich man banqueted daily and ignored Lazarus. But Lazarus dies and goes to heaven, carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. Not long after, so does the rich man, but he goes to hell, having enjoyed his heaven on earth. He catches a glimpse of Lazarus and begs for a nail full of water, but Abraham says no. Lazarus suffered on earth, when Dives did nothing to help him, so he is now paying for his sins. For Jesus, however, the crunch comes at the end. Abraham tells Dives that if he and his five brothers took no notice of Moses and the prophets, they are hardly going to listen to Lazarus, even if he were to return from the dead, a clear reference to Jesus and the Resurrection. It’s a parable more than relevant for today, a parable that not only invites us to a greater generosity and care for the poor, but also to believe in the Risen Christ with a deeper and more committed faith.
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.
