Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday - 22nd February 2024
Abbot Paul • February 22, 2024
​I’ve always considered it a privilege to keep the memory of my birthday on this feast of the Chair of St Peter at Antioch, thereby allowing me to share in the special relationship between Saints Peter and Paul in a very personal way. As my dearest friend reminded me, today is really the beginning of my 78th year. I hope it will be memorable not only because I have to attend a health and safety meeting in Cardiff, but also for the opportunity to relax on the train journey there and back. There’s something magical about any train journey that takes me back to being a small boy again. I have so many wonderful memories of historic train journeys taken since I was a baby at my mother’s breast. A day, then, for reflection, relaxation and thanksgiving.
During Lent we don’t celebrate many saints’ days or other feasts, yet today we keep the feast of the Chair of Peter, a somewhat unusual name for a feast. Those of us who are old enough will remember that it used to be called the Chair of Peter at Antioch, referring to the fact that Peter was leader or overseer (the real meaning of the word bishop, in Greek επίσκοπος) at Antioch before travelling to Rome years later. I’ve always felt how important it is not to forget that the cradle of Christianity lies not in Rome or in Constantinople, but in the Near and Middle East. Although the Church in Jerusalem was the Mother Church of the followers of the Way, it was at Antioch that they were first called Christians, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles. It was also from Antioch that St Paul set out on his great missionary journeys. Today we would do well to pray for the Church in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt, especially for those Christians who live in the most difficult conditions. It’s sad to note how many Christians have had to emigrate, many as refugees and migrants, to escape persecution and the tragedy of the destruction of their ancient homelands and Christian culture, a real tragedy we have witnessed with our own eyes. We must never forget that Western governments and leaders are mainly responsible for these tragic events, from the way in which the Ottoman Empire was dissected to recent wars and conflicts, that are still taking place. The disappearance of Christianity from its very cradle is truly heartbreaking.
​The Gospel for today’s Mass comes from Matthew, (Mt 16: 13-19), Peter’s profession of faith. “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’” When Peter answers Jesus’ question, he speaks not only for himself, but for the Twelve, that intimate fellowship of Apostles. They do not hold the views of the crowd, but are now convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. They are not afraid to proclaim that faith. Jesus’ reaction to their Credo is fascinating. “Jesus replied, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’” It was not flesh and blood that revealed this to Peter and his companions, no, it was God himself, “my Father in Heaven.” Christian faith is based on revelation. It is what God has revealed to his beloved children in Jesus and through the Holy Spirit. Then comes the promise to Peter that he is the Rock on which the Church of Jesus will be built. The name Peter, of course, means Rock. The Church will be built on the faith of Peter and of his fellow Apostles and it is that faith that enables them to receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven. We say of the Pope that he is “Primus inter Pares – the First among Equals”, and that is true. The questions you and I need to answer today are these: do we share the faith of Peter? And can Jesus build his Church on you and me?
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.
