Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday - 13th March 2024
Abbot Paul • March 12, 2024
​Yesterday I visited my mother together with Toby. Now 97 years’ old, she still amazes both of us with the most spectacular meals. Of course, she’s not an easy person to get on with and over our lifetime together we’ve had a number of ups and downs. I’m blessed in having a very special friend who prays for me each time I go home, not only that I have a safe journey there and back, but also that my mum and I discover that maternal and filial love that at times has been missing from our lives. Yesterday his prayer was particularly powerful enabling us both to cherish the glory of God’s love.
​​I will just say a few words about today’s Gospel from John, (Jn 5: 17-30). Our passage is the continuation of yesterday’s reading, where we heard of the third sign that Jesus gave in healing a sick man at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem. John frequently talks about “the Jews,” by which he usually means the religious leaders in Jerusalem, high priests, scribes and Pharisees. This doesn’t refer to ordinary folk, let alone the sick and the outcast. Jesus tries to explain why he does the things he does, especially healing on the Sabbath. “Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only enrages them more and they become intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he speaks of God as his own Father, and so makes himself God’s equal.” John’s Gospel is powerfully Christological and doesn’t shy away from presenting Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God. Little wonder the religious authorities take exception to his teaching and oppose him from the start. He is not the sort of Messiah they’re expecting and certainly not the one they want. To the accusation, Jesus replies, and here I only give a brief summary. You will need to read the text yourselves. Jesus develops in some detail the theme of his relationship with God, of the Son to the Father. He says,
“the Son can do nothing by himself;
he can do only what he sees the Father doing:
and whatever the Father does the Son does too.”
You will notice that this monologue of Jesus is written in poetic form, following the Hebrew tradition of the Prophets and Wisdom Literature.
​​“Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses;
for the Father judges no one;
he has entrusted all judgement to the Son,
so that all may honour the Son
as they honour the Father.”
Already, at this stage in his ministry, Jesus is talking of raising the dead and giving them new life. He is talking about his own death and resurrection and that of those who believe in him, for he also goes on to say,
​​“I tell you most solemnly,
whoever listens to my words,
and believes in the one who sent me,
has eternal life;
without being brought to judgement
he has passed from death to life.”
Later in the Gospel, Jesus will tell his disciples that, “I and the Father are one.” But for now, he concludes, saying,
​“my aim is to do not my own will,
but the will of him who sent me.”
​Heavenly Father, may it be our desire, as it was always that of Jesus to do your will, and your will only, as we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen
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.
