GOLDEN JUBILEE OF DAME BENEDICTA WHITE
Saturday 16 May 2026
A glorious May morning dawned, in contradiction to the grey skies predicted by the weather forecast. There was also, at last, some warmth in the sun to cheer the fifty or so who gathered at Stanbrook to celebrate Dame Benedicta White’s fifty years in the Benedictine habit. The abbey church looked resplendent with beautiful floral arrangements gifted by kind benefactors.
Guests came from near and far: from Wass to Paris, ranging in age from eight months to eighty-something. It was generally agreed that the Jubilarian herself looked far too young to be celebrating a Golden Jubilee.
The main celebrant at Mass was Canon Christopher Jackson, retired priest of Hexham and Newcastle, and Oblate of Stanbrook. Concelebrants included Abbot Cuthbert Madden, and priests and monks whom D. Benedicta has met over the years: Fr Mervyn Williams SDB, Fr Francis Straw of Buckfast and Fr Wulstan Peterburs of Ampleforth. Br Edmund Wales of Ampleforth served the Mass. Ordinary and Propers were English, Stanbrook compositions, simple and full of joy. It was a particular joy to be singing the whole Mass again after the community had been struggling with coughs and colds during much of Eastertide.
The first reading, from St Paul’s letter to the Colossians (3:15-17), was read by Tracey White, sister-in-law of the Jubilarian. It echoed the vocation of the Benedictine who spends many hours ‘singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness to God’. The Responsorial Psalm also had monastic resonances: ‘my vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people’ (Psalm 115 v. 18), while unity was a key theme of the Gospel from St John (17: 20-26).
Fr Chris Jackson in his homily commented on the rich feast of readings and prayers in today’s liturgy. With so much worthy of potential comment, he chose to focus on joy, noting that this is far deeper than happiness or consolation and, far from being in opposition to struggle, often follows it. We think of the joy of the resurrection after the crucifixion and the joy of a woman on bringing a child into the world after the labour of childbirth – the example given to his disciples by Jesus himself when preparing them for his own death and surely too for the struggles they would face. Just so when we celebrate a Jubilee; in any long monastic life of fidelity joy percolates through many ups and downs, personal and communal.
The source of all joy is God and the surest way of becoming a joyful person is to choose to anchor one’s happiness in that true source (cf. Sr Mary David Totah in her book, The Joy of God.)
Fittingly, the liturgy moved next to the singing of the Come Creator Spirit, invoking the Holy Spirit (one of whose fruits is, of course, joy) as the Jubilarian moved into the centre of choir where, from the omphalos, she renewed her vows, ‘in the simplicity and joy’ of her heart, and prayed for the grace to maintain this purpose of heart for the onward journey to God.
To witness someone who has already offered her whole life to God renewing that commitment was most moving and inspiring, as was the sound of the whole choir singing the traditional chant of profession, the Suscipe, with and, in a sense, for the Jubilarian who is unable to sing at present. This was a cameo of the blessing of community life where each carries the other’s burden (cf. Galatians 6:2).
The Mass continued with Bidding Prayers offered by Sub-prioress, D. Andrea, for the Jubilarian, her family and friends, and for new vocations.
Finally, the Jubilee Blessing was conferred on D. Benedicta and the whole assembly before a rousing rendition of ‘Now thank we all our God’ to which clergy and nuns processed out.
At the drinks reception in the Front Hall, Mother Abbess, Anna Brennan, thanked everyone for coming and for supporting D. Benedicta on her monastic journey. We were then ushered into the Refectory where, after the feast of the liturgy, another feast awaited us, this time the confection of D. Josephine and team.
Joyful conviviality ensued – and the sun continued to shine – Deo gratias for all!
Organ Music for the Mass, played by D. Mary Peter Smith
Voluntary: Michel Corrette (1704-1795), Musette.
During the Kiss of Peace: Andrew Moore, Interlude.
Recessional: D. Paul Benoit (1893-1979),
Jubilate Deo omnis terra.
From the House Chronicle
On 19 May, the actual anniversary of D. Benedicta’s clothing in the monastic habit, we are celebrating quietly with her in the community, beginning with a special breakfast, as shown on the photograph accompanying this post, and taken by Sr Therese.
Ad multos annos!