Message of Abbot Paul - Sunday 7th May 2023
Abbot Paul • May 7, 2023
For many of us the coronation of a monarch is a once in a lifetime experience. Others are gifted with the opportunity to see and celebrate two, but rarely more. I vividly remember the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2nd June 1953 as my grandparents bought a television for the occasion. It was much taller than I was and had a small screen at about the level of my head, on which you could see blurred greyish images, which occasionally came into focus. It rained for most of the day, lending the events a mystical, distant feel about them. The one exception was Queen Salote of Tonga, riding alone in an uncovered coach who waved enthusiastically to the crowds, who remained undampened by the rain. Although we lived in an avenue, we also had a street party for the many children living nearby, all of us the result of the post-war baby boom. Food was still rationed, so the fare was meagre, but more important than the fish paste sandwiches and the jelly and blancmange was the gift of a mug with the Queen’s portrait on it to take home. How I treasured that mug and drank from it daily until I left home for university in 1965. King Charles’ coronation was a far simpler celebration, but one we will never forget, for the intimacy that television now lends to such occasions, the close ups, the detail, and the quality of the sound. Every moment was a work of art and the music was well appointed and quite extraordinary. Above all the coronation was an act of faith, the crowning of a vocation to serve our country and the Commonwealth after the example of Jesus Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.
​Today’s Gospel comes from Jesus’ farewell discourse to his disciples at the Last Supper as found in John, (Jn 14: 1-12). Both Thomas and Philip, among the disciples, ask Jesus to explain more clearly what he is saying. It’s interesting that particular apostles are named, which is typical of John. The text, as much of John’s Gospel, is written in poetic form. As it’s late and yesterday was an emotionally exhausting day – imagine what it must have been like for the King and Queen – I’ll just reprint a number of Jesus’ salient phrases.
Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
I shall return to take you with me;
so that where I am you may be too.
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.
To have seen me is to have seen the Father,
I am in the Father and the Father is in me.
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Whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
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.
