Friends of Quarr

Quarr Abbey Newsletter Spring 2017 16/3/17 10:09 Page 1 Quarr

Abbey Issue 17 N E W S L E T T E R Spring 2017

A Memorial for the Future

The death on 16th January 2017 of our beloved brother Dom Cuthbert Johnson, Spring has arrived who was abbot of Quarr from 1996-2008, provides us with the opportunity to reflect in this issue of our Newsletter on the years of his ministry among us, as well as to be reminded of many other aspects of his rich life. Friends of Quarr There is little doubt that Quarr would not offer our visitors the experience they On the morning of 24th January 2017 enjoy today without the vision, dynamism, and inspiration of the fourth abbot The Friends of Quarr handed over the of Quarr. Dom Cuthbert understood the need for the community to move keys of the new paraplegic toilet facility from an economy based on agriculture towards finding sustainability through at Quarr Abbey to the Abbot, Xavier commercial enterprises such as the present bookshop, tea-shop and farm-shop. Perrin, a project donated by The At the same time, he was able to discern the need of growing numbers of people Friends. for places where peace can be found through contact with nature and animals, Mr. Samuel Twining speaking on behalf experience of beauty in landscape and architecture, and meeting with God in of The Friends thanked the donors for silence, prayer and worship. As a result, the abbey which used to be a private their great generosity and expressed the domain accessible mainly to Catholics wishing to join in worship and spiritual importance of the facility for disabled retreat, opened to the wider public a significant part of its grounds and buildings. people, especially as there are few such Abbot Cuthbert's vision, however, was rooted at an even deeper level. facilities on the Island. According to a good friend of his, Abbot Cuthbert was “a man who said his Abbot Xavier warmly thanked the prayers”. Faith was at the heart of his life. The awareness of God's presence was donors and The Friends of Quarr and never far from his mind. And with faith came the hope that God's love and said: "It is the great achievement of the mercy would prevail whatever the circumstances of life. The serenity and the Friends of Quarr when they help people deep peace of his soul during the months of his final illness were quite remarkable. to be generous as you are today.Your They were explicitly founded on a strong personal relationship with Christ. gift is made to God and to all who shall visit the Abbey in the future. We are At the heart of Quarr, there has always been generations of monks, first proud and grateful that this new facility Cistercians (1132-1536), then Benedictines (from 1907 onwards). Through ups makes Quarr more welcoming for and downs, the monastic community has always tried to be faithful to the visitors with disabilities. We shall monastic witness that “nothing must be put before the love of Christ” (Rule of continue working at providing better St Benedict, Ch. 4,21). If there is any peace at Quarr –as many say there is–, its access and safety and offering a source is to be found in the Heart of Christ. His love is the only satisfactory comfortable visit to all.” explanation for the consecration and the service of the monks over the ages. The main donors and contractors for What makes this place unique ultimately comes from Him and witnesses to His the project were Liz and Ian Stevens of living presence and action. Stevens Washrooms (Portsmouth) It is time for all of us at Quarr to meditate with gratitude on this rich legacy. It donating the materials and their provides us with the right criteria when it comes to evaluating our endeavours workforce. Liz and Ian are Friends of or monitoring the varied aspects of life on the estate. It invites us to make ours Quarr and share with many the great values of the Benedictine ethos: work and Duncan Bird of Freestone prayer; nature and culture; hospitality and worship; humility and love. It is one Stonemasonry donated his time and of the most exciting feature of our present times that these values can be made materials for the preparatory work. available to a wider public. It will be our mission to continue cultivating them, Duncan is a Friend of Quarr so that Quarr remains above all a “house of God” and a place of encounter with Christ. +Abbot Xavier Continued on next page 1 Quarr Abbey Newsletter Spring 2017 16/3/17 10:09 Page 2

DECEMBER 18th Quarr Chaplaincy to the University of London in Abbey's annual Carol Gower Street. But the students received Quarr Service began at 2.30 this him very warmly and responded to his afternoon, but the first talk on monastic life with lively arrivals began to take their questioning. Even more impressive was Abbey seats from 12.30.Right up their attendance at a very early morning to the start of the service, Mass on the morrow just before his return Chronicle Fr. Nicholas and the journey to Quarr. Chronicler were bringing Recent events in the chairs from forgotten JANUARY 16th Today we learned that life of the Abbey corners of the monastery Abbot Cuthbert had died peacefully in the for those who had left it early hours of the morning. Carola, the rather late to arrive. Linda largest of our bells, was tolled for five Filby- Borret and her NOVEMBER 25th – 27th In response to a minutes to mark his passing, and thirty Voices of the Isle of Wight desire to share our monastic heritage days of masses and prayers for his soul was provided the choir as more widely the community held a Lectio begun. May he rest in peace! usual, assisted by several Divina weekend this Advent season. Four members of the young men, staying in the guesthouse, JANUARY 26th Fr. Prior and Fr. Brian community.Father Abbot Fr Abbot receives the keys from the Donors and Friends of Quarr were given instruction on the primary represented Fr. Abbot at the Funeral Mass Sisters Marguerite (centre) May and Joyce at Springhill Convent accompanied on the organ monastic art of the reading ( lectio ) which of Abbot Cuthbert today at Hebburn-on- and Wendy A'Bear is really a kind of listening ( with the ear of titulary organist- exploited all the Tyne. At Quarr a Requiem Mass was Friends of Quarr continued from first page provided support from the piano the heart ) to what the Word of God is possibilities of the 1912 Moutin Cavaille- celebrated for Abbot Cuthbert in keyboard. This year we experimented with Gary Fisher, the plumber donated his saying to us in the Scriptures. They were Coll organ which has now been returned, solidarity. The parish Priest of Hebburn The project was overseen by Fr Petroc, the placing of soloists, trying to ensure time and expertise. (Also Friend of also given time and space to immerse as far as possible, to its original state. We asked Fr. Prior to be chief celebrant at Mass on behalf of the abbey.The facility will that people seated in the nave did not feel Quarr) themselves in the practice of this art and have had an organ fund for some ten and Fr. Prior asked Abbot Cuthbert of be publicised on the Quarr Abbey cut off from the celebration. This was a to share their experience with one years, and with the help of two Farnborough Abbey to preach. He had Ray Robinson (RJR Ventilation) website when it comes into service. success, but such is the popularity of the another and some of the monks. And all, particularly generous donors, we were only a few minutes to prepare, but donated the extractor system; his The Walled Garden Project has event that next year we might have to of course, took place within the daily able to employ the organ builder, Andrew provided a lively homily which caught the connection is via Ian Stevens. progressed well and has almost been rethink the placing of the entire choir if round of prayer and work which make up Cooper to begin the work some six mood of the occasion. He recalled their completed, work on the wall has the church is to accommodate the The project was managed by the the life of the monastery. We trust it was a months ago. We had got used to seeing the first meeting in Rome, when they were temporarily stopped because of the numbers who wish to come. chairman of the Friends Dr Rebecca fruitful exercise and hope to repeat it at some 1500 pipes lying in boxes stacked up junior monks, and their surprise on weather; work with lime mortar cannot Ashton, who also donated the mobile some time in the next year. and down the corridors of the Abbey finding they were both Englishmen, both hoist and the RADAR lock and donor be done at low temperatures. It will be Church, but now all are in their proper DECEMBER 20th The Teashop was Benedictines and both called Cuthbert. board. completed as soon as the weather DECEMBER 8th The Solemnity of Our place and sounding magnificently. Once closed this afternoon to allow for the improves. annual Christmas Party for Quarr Abbey After the Mass the burial service took (RADAR: Royal Association for Lady's Immaculate Conception saw the the organ has settled down, a service of place at Hebburn Cemetery where the Fundraising for the Walled Garden first performance upon our pipe organ blessing will be held, probably during the employees and volunteers. Of course, the Disability and Rehabilitation later Community are invited, although lack of body was laid to rest in the family grave. renamed Royal Association for Project continues. For further since the completion of its recent Easter season. information please contact the restoration. Hamish Dustagheer- Quarr's an invitation would not keep them away. Disability Rights). JANUARY 27th – 29th The community chairman: Dr Rebecca Ashton email: DECEMBER 13th Today the Abbey Dean, Lucy, Emma and the Teashop staff received a visit this weekend from a group The donors are acknowledged with a [email protected] Church was full for the Funeral Mass of had laid on a magnificent spread as usual, Friends of Quarr plaque. Sister Marguerite Coward, a much loved and the wood burning stove was roaring of eleven pupils from Rugby School Or telephone: 01983 882420 ext 420 Sister of Christ who lived much of her away in its corner, providing ample together with their teacher of Religious religious life at Springhill Convent on the warmth for Br. Francis, our ancien, who Studies and another teacher. Their desire Isle of Wight. Following the closure of the was seated immovably within its sphere of was to learn something about monastic Convent earlier in the year she had moved influence. Father Abbot thanked all who life from the sorce as it were. Their Pause to the community at Le Puy in central had helped Quarr to thrive this past year, attendance at Mass and Divine Office was and as every year the Chronicler was outstanding; punctual, silent, attentive, At the threshold of silence France, but in November suffered a severe struck by just how much the community they were a lesson to the monks. On the On this side of the door stroke, and died quite suddenly. depends upon the generosity and sheer Saturday morning they received a Of peacefulness, hearing the wind The many people who came to make their hard work of so many people. The spread conference from Fr. Abbot on prayer Sweep through an exultation of trees farewells and to remember her in prayer was magnificent, but there were so many while in the afternoon they devoted were eloquent testimony to the love and Pause people to meet, that the chronicler found themselves to manual work in the respect she obtained during her life, and he was still a little peckish when the party Cemetery and the area around the At the threshold of peacefulness especially during the twenty five years she had come to an end. Church. After Vespers, Fr. Nicholas, the On this side of the door spent as headmistress of the Convent Guestmaster led a question and answer school at East Cowes. Of silence. Then by that garnering JANUARY 9th Fr. Luke travelled to session and was much impressed by their Doorstone leave that gathering Following the Funeral Mass, the London today in his capacity of Vocations intelligence and the seriousness with community joined the Sisters of Christ Promotor. Unfortunately his visit to the which they took their weekend away. This Of leaves. and members of Sister Marguerite's family capital coincided with a Tube strike and so came, all to soon, to and end with Mass on (Tom McCarthy) in the cemetery for a private service he had to join the millions toiling across the Sunday morning, following which during which the Urn containing her the metropolis on foot in the pouring rain they left us, to return to their own orderly Photo—Hudson Media ashes was laid to rest. until he arrived at his goal, the Catholic round. 2 3 Quarr Abbey Newsletter Spring 2017 16/3/17 10:09 Page 2

ETER Johnson was born on 11 July especially in the programme of studies years, he was entrusted with increased II and reappointed also by Pope Benedict posting was when he answered the request 1946, the youngest of four children of and served as assistant novice master. The responsability and in 1994 was made head XVI. In the long years 2001-2015 he was an of the Bishop to take charge at short notice Pa Catholic family at Hebburn, substance of his thesis was published in of one of the two liturgical offices within advisor to the Congregation’sVox Clara of a small neighbouring country parish at County Durham, in the diocese of 1983 as a book, Dom Prosper Guéranger the Congregation. It was rumoured that Committee. His acceptance of these Bellingham, where, too, he was the distant Hexham and Newcastle. His early years (1805-1875), A Liturgical Theologian, and the esteem in which he was held by his appointments and active contribution to successor of Benedictine confrères. In all were marked by the sudden death of his later issued in a French translation (1988). superiors meant he was already shortlisted them was a sign of a deep dedication to the these settings he was keen for his charges father when he was only seven. His The choice of subject was linked to the for further promotion. His limited annual Holy See, beyond the passing personalities to have daily celebration of Mass and education was at the local Catholic school. occurrence in those years of the centenary leave was spent each summer at Quarr. In that surround it. whenever possible helped the local priests His elder brother, Stephen, was to become of Abbot Guéranger’s death, for which his latter years in Rome he returned to During Cardinal Francis Arinze’s time as in a fraternal and good-neighbourly way a priest of the diocese. After Catholic Dom Cuthbert had already published a Sant’Anselmo for a time as a part-time Prefect of the Congregation for Divine with supplies and took part in clergy schooling locally, in September 1959 Peter first article in 1975 in The Clergy Review. professor before taking up residence as Worship, Dom Cuthbert was appointed by gatherings. Especially in the village himself studied at St Columba’s College at Dom Henry Ashworth (1914-1980), was chaplain to the nuns of the Abbey of St the Congregation to serve as its liturgical settings at Oulton and Bellingham he Newton St Boswell’s, in Roxburghshire, internationally known as a scholar thanks John the Baptist on the heights of delegate to the ancient Carthusian Order, maintained cordial relations with the local which was an apostolic school or minor to his publications. When the Council’s Montemario, overlooking the North of several times visiting the Grande non-Catholic clergy, as earlier at Quarr. seminary of the White Fathers, a Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was Rome. This was an ancient community Chartreuse in person and as a monk and Outside the Catholic ambit, in April 2007, missionary congregation founded in 1868 promulgated after the final vote on 4 forced to seek new accommodation after liturgist discussing these matters with the after serving for nearly 20 years as a for the evangelization of Africa. The December 1964, a campaign was the wartime destruction of its original Minister General of the Order and his member of the Council of the Henry school was a lively and stimulating undertaken from Rome to recruit experts monastery buildings at Subiaco. councillors. Bradshaw Society, he was elected the international setting that anticipated to implement the liturgical reform, and Abbot Sillem had retired in 1992 and had After 12 years as Abbot, Dom Cuthbert Society’s President, the first Roman developments of the SecondVatican among these was Dom Henry. He served been succeeded by Dom Leo Avery. Abbot Catholic to occupy the prestigious post, to Council, and left its mark even on those retired in order, as he was reported to have principally on the committee that selected Leo was a relatively young man of stated, ‘to pursue liturgical and monastic which he was re-elected annually for the who did not in the event become Abbot or composed the prayers needed to enrich imposing physical stature, but after only a rest of his life. The Society was represented studies’. missionary priests. A later venue was in the traditional Latin Missal and later was few years as Abbot was diagnosed with a at the funeral in Hebburn by Dr Nicolas Hampshire. In 1964 Peter Johnson entered heavily involved in the selection of suitable fatal brain tumour and died in the In retirement Dom Cuthbert became Bell, Hon. Secretary. Quarr Abbey and took the name Cuthbert, Cuthbert chaplain to the nuns of the Benedictine passages for the Roman and monastic summer of 1996. At an election presided Part of his being attached to his roots was after the patron Saint of his home diocese. divine office among the works of the over by the Abbot of Solesmes, Dom Abbey of St Mary at Oulton in In the novitiate he was a companion of Staffordshire, a house founded at Ghent in his devotion to his family, with whom he Frederick Hockey, historian of the Fathers of the Church and the classic Philippe Dupont, on 22nd August 1996, Dom Gregory Corcoran. 1624. In 2011 he agreed to become chaplain kept active contacts. He regarded it as a medieval Cistercian Quarr Abbey, and also monastic authors. The head of the Dom Cuthbert was elected Abbot of at Tyburn Convent, the London mother blessing that providence had led him back Till that point, the monastic influence on Paul Meyvaert and Hugh Farmer, who committee on the prayers and Eucharistic Quarr. He was blessed as Abbot in the house of the Benedictine congregation to his home area, where his brothers and the young Cuthbert, though diverse, was later pursued distinguished university Prefaces was Dom Antoine Dumas (1915- abbey church on 22 October 1996 by Adorers of the Sacred Heart of sister lived. He cherished his mother in already strong. Hebburn is only few miles teaching careers after leaving the 1999), a monk of Hautecombe (now Cardinal Virgilio Noè (1922-2011), then the Montmartre.There, however, after a her old age and to his own closing days from Jarrow, site of the monastery of St community. One of the senior members of Ganagobie), a monastery of the Solesmes Archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica, who had relatively short time persistent respiratory kept in view a photograph of the Paul, the home of St Bede. Then St the community, Dom Aldelm Dean, was a Congregation. From 1969 Dom Antoine been his effective superior at the problems caused by traffic pollution affectionate encounter between her and Cuthbert was an important figure in the well known expert in the chant, and Dom was an official of the small newly-founded Congregation for Divine Worship in the prompted his acceptance of an alternative Pope John Paul II. In his last weeks he often area’s history for his activity at Lindisfarne Henry Ashworth pursued painstaking Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, years 1983-1989. at Great Swinburne, Northumberland, a spoke of her and his father and looked and for his tomb in Durham Cathedral. research on the relation between the and he continued as a liturgical expert Dom Cuthbert’s latter years in Rome had privately owned Catholic chapel within forward to being reunited with them. The school in Roxburghshire was writings of the Latin Fathers of the Church working within the Roman Curia until his been particularly active on more than one the area of the diocese of Hexham and Dom Cuthbert’s long and varied surrounded by the sites of important and important prayers of the ancient retirement in 1982. The atmosphere of the front. In 1992 he was appointed by Pope Newcastle, of a type now rare, and which bibliography speaks for itself. He published medieval monasteries, While sacramentaries. Dom Henry was a disciple Congregation for Divine Worship reflected John Paul II a member of the Pontifical has long Benedictine associations. His last what was in effect his doctoral thesis as a Premonstratensian and Augustinian of the liturgist Dom Louis Brou (1898- the sense of comraderie that had arisen in Committee for International Eucharistic canons regular had held Dryburgh and 1961). Dom Leo Avery, who later Rome around the Council. Many of Dom Congresses and over the period of his Jedburgh, Kelso Abbey had followed the succeeded Abbot Sillem, studied in Rome Cuthbert’s liturgy professors had also been office was to attend in an official capacity Rule of St Benedict as part of the pre- for a licenciate in biblical studies in the involved in the drawing up of the new events in Korea, Kenya, Spain and Poland. Cistercian monastic reform of Tiron, years 1969-1973 liturgical books. Although Dom Henry He also became involved in supporting lay linked to those of Fontevraud and Savigny. died suddenly in 1980, the completion of Having already been given the initiatives for promoting Eucharistic Melrose was in a category of its own, Dom Cuthbert’s thesis in Rome in 1983 opportunity to pursue musical studies at adoration which brought him to the having been founded by St Aidan, and later meant that he once again returned to Solesmes and Ligugé, in 1975 Dom United States and to Latin America. From refounded as a Cistercian house. Finally, notice there and that same year the Holy Cuthbert was sent to study for a licence in 1992, too, he put into action a plan he had there was the coincidence that Cuthbert See asked Quarr to agree to his Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical discussed some time before with Abbot had been born on 11 July, the feastday of St secondment to the Congregation. The Institute in Rome and during that time Sillem, a scholarly book series entitled Benedict in the 1969 Roman General context for this was the recent also gained a diploma in Christian Instrumenta Liturgica Quarreriensia, Calendar. distinguished service of Dom Henry and published by the historic Vincentian archeology. With the licenciate Dom Dumas, but also the close bond At Quarr, Cuthbert followed the usual completed, at Abbot Sillem’s request he publishing house in Rome, a series to between the Solesmes Congregation and which he contributed with his friend of course of monastic studies, making remained for a further year in Rome to the Holy See in liturgical questions. solemn profession on 8 September 1969. begin a doctorate, serving also as many years, the Marist Fr Anthony Ward, He was ordained a deacon on 9th October choirmaster for the Sant’Anselmo Although the conditions in which he was whom he had known at Quarr around the 1971 and a priest on 28 July 1973. Studies at community.The rest of the research was asked to live in Rome were at times harsh, time of their priestly ordinations in 1973. Quarr in those years were particularly completed at Quarr, with visits to Dom Cuthbert’s natural optimistic and From 1997 till the time of his death, he was strong. Abbot Aelred Sillem, was an Solesmes and Paris and was concluded in positive outlook carried him through and a Consultor of the Congregation for Oxford graduate and had studied in 1983. In the community during those he became a valued and versatile curial Divine Worship and the discipline of the Munich. The community included Dom years, Dom Cuthbert was involved official. As his experience grew over the Sacraments, appointed by Pope John Paul Abbot Cuthbert (Fr Cuthbert then) presenting his mother to Pope St. John Paul II for a blessing 4 5 Quarr Abbey Newsletter Spring 2017 16/3/17 10:09 Page 4

book in 1984, later translated into In latter years he ran various blogs in Requiem Mass for passage of John's gospel we have just and with her, our prayer merges into the communities. Finally, he was Parish Priest French in 1988. He was very proud of a different formats and with varying heard suggests another image, namely the prayer of the faithful over the ages and is in a rural area of Northumberland when small volume on the re-ordering of focus, often with abundant image of a conversation which proceeds in united with the prayer of Christ, the High he felt the first signs of his final disease churches which he co-authored with his photographic illustration. Moreover, The Rt Rev Dom a slightly different way. The conversation Priest of our confession. during the summer of 2016. brother Fr Stephen Johnson, a priest of throughout his retirement, as at various between the woman of Samaria and Jesus Dom Cuthbert served the Church's The time of the final sacrifice had come, the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, earlier periods, he steadily produced Cuthbert Johnson is unambiguously located in time and liturgy as a scholar. His remarkable when one's whole life is judged not from first published as Planning for Liturgy in reviews and shorter notices on books space: on a hot day, around noon, near the OSB (11 July 1946 – 16 January 2017) doctoral thesis on Dom Guéranger is a external achievements but from the love 1984, with later translations in Italian which then appeared especially in the well of Sychar. At the same time, though, milestone. It was the starting point for a of the heart. Those of us who visited him and Portuguese. In his closing period in Revue d’histoire ecclésiastique of it seems to evolve beyond the times and life of scholarship which produced many during these last months met a monk Rome and beyond he contributed to the Louvain. rhythms of ordinary life. Are not the Fourth Abbot of Quarr (1996-2008) fruits, as is obvious from his long whose life was animated by a humble and book series, the Instrumenta Liturgica protagonists two travellers? Jesus came Abbot Cuthbert was a Benedictine Quarr Abbey, 30 January 2017 bibliography. genuine desire for God, and a thirst to Quarreriensia, in 1993-1996, 1998-1999, through and through; it was part of his from the Father; He walked and now He announce and serve His glory. His strong For more than thirty years, he worked for 2001, even sometimes at the rate of two essential constitution. He was also a man sits, tired from the journey, the long and somewhat authoritarian character Homily of Abbot Xavier the Roman Congregation for Divine volumes a year (1994-1996, 1998). These of intuitions, of insight, of creativity and distance between God's holiness and our had nearly totally faded into the On Monday the 16th of January, our Worship, either as an official in the Roman included the first ever facsimile edition of talent, not least in the musical sphere. wayward humanity, which God's mercy is background. In the forefront, there was a beloved Abbot Cuthbert was found dead Curia, or serving as a Consultor, involved of the Paris Latin Missal of 1738, one of always ready to make in order to bring us man who, at the end of a journey which He preached fluently and articulately, in his bed by the nurses who came to see in such important tasks as the publication the more recent sources for the reform back home. The woman too has a long had not always been easy, had recovered with an assurance that spoke of his him in the early hours of the morning. of the new English translation of the of Paul VI. In 2003, Abbot Cuthbert story of unsuccessful marriages and the simplicity and the trust of a child. The intellectual gifts and education, of a Two days before, his brother of profession missal. published an edition in French of the frustrated desires. The two travellers have cheerfulness of his character, who made solid spiritual life and of his personal and long-time friend Father Gregory had learned correspondence of Abbot a long conversation. They explore the The liturgy shaped his very life. As a him so lovable to so many friends, took simplicity. given him the sacrament of the sick, Guéranger with the married Catholic great needs of the human heart: the need young monk, he showed a great zeal for the form of a peaceful kindness. The short together with the chaplain of Holy Cross archeologist Giovanni Battista de Rossi, He was not sentimental, but was for love, the need for truth, the need for the divine office. His musical abilities video-film during which he expressed his Care Home, in Sunderland. Abbot just as he also followed closely the persistent in his affections, especially adoration, the need for salvation. And allowed him to make a special love, asked for forgiveness, gave his Cuthbert knew what it meant. He knew devotion to Cardinal John Henry towards his family and his Benedictine they listen to the great questions: where is contribution at the organ and in blessing and concluded with a “Glory be”, the direction his life was taking. He Newman (beatified on 19 September confrères, as his published obituaries of true life to be found? Which spiritual water Gregorian Chant. In a deeper sense, is the image we can rightly keep of him. understood Who was calling him to share 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI), on more Dom Henry Ashworth in 1981 and Dom can quench our thirst for meaning? Where though, he strove to make of his whole in His cross and His resurrection. He knew His conversation with Jesus was coming to than one occasion being invited to Antoine Dumas in 2000 show, and is the Heart who can understand our heart life a liturgy of praise to God. He knew and he said Yes. He was at peace with a close here below. It had begun with a preach on Newman. With the likewise his panoramic review of the and give it peace? that external worship is of little value if it himself and with all, and he trusted God. call: “Follow me”. The same call was now publication of the new English work of Dom Ashworth in a tenth- does not become more and more the In the life of Abbot Cuthbert, this to be heard as an invitation to follow translation of the Missal, he responded anniversary tribute in 1990. He had a Last Thursday, he was buried in the family expression of the internal sacrifice and conversation began very early, as it often Christ into the house of the worship “in in 2011 to requests to make an eirenic sense of admiration for those who had grave at Hebburn cemetery in the praise of the soul. does in monks' itineraries. God, Jesus, Spirit and in Truth”, the eternal presentation of the new texts in three laboured before him. He also had a presence of his dear family and a group of were evidences of faith. He was in contact After the sudden death of Abbot Leo in conversation of God and His Creature in popular booklets and in various talks. knack of making a cheerful human faithful friends and parishioners, whilst with them from his childhood and first 1996, he accepted with simplicity the the glory of eternal life. We pray that dear contact with ordinary people Abbot Cuthbert of Farnborough, Fr In 2015 he published a fine edition of the education in a Catholic family. It was unexpected mission of becoming the Abbot Cuthbert be admitted into the full encountered in the course of daily life, Gregory and Fr Brian added the proper papers of Mgr Lawrence McReavy, a when he was studying at St John's leader of the community through difficult praise of God and that his paternal was not resentful, and was happy to monastic note. seminary professor of Ushaw College, College, Southsea, that he discovered times. When he offered his resignation make and keep the peace. He met his intercession bestow upon the abbey and relating to his work as a peritus at the Today we are gathered as a community in Quarr and heard the monastic call. He had after twelve years of generous service, he last illness with faith and dignity. the community he so much loved the Council. It was an experience with order to pray for the repose of his soul. He found the place where to worship God: continued to serve other religious Mercifully he did not suffer pain and many blessings of God's mercy. which Dom Cuthbert could empathize needs our prayer and fraternal support as neither the mountain of Samaria, nor the was consoled not only by high levels of and a body of documentation of which he is making the great move from what temple of Jerusalem, but the Church of professional care in a Catholic setting as a liturgist and a longterm English Paul calls “the earthly tent” into the the living God, of which our abbey- but also by strong witness from family, resident of Rome he had a natural “house not made with hands, eternal in church is such a powerful sign. intuitive understanding. He too, like confrères, fellow priests, friends, the heavens.” We too need this time of Indeed Abbot Cuthbert's life can be many of his generation, was a child of parishioners and acquaintances to a remembrance and prayer. We need the summed up as a consecration to the the Council, with which he always lifetime of affection and esteem, given consolation of the Scriptures and the authentic worship of God “in Spirit and in identified, and to which in many and received. strength of the Bread of Life. We need, and Truth”. After St Benedict, his great master different ways he gave his adult Anthony WARD, S.M. we are grateful for, your presence, dear was Dom Prosper Guéranger – and it is existence. Brethren in monastic life and priesthood, very fitting that we gather together on the He had agreed to prepare a new 1. ‘Prosper Guéranger, Abbot of Solesmes’, in dear Oblates and Friends, and all you very anniversary of the death in 1875 of biography of Abbot Guéranger, which The Clergy Review 60 (1975) 95-102. Sisters and Brothers who are so faithful in this first abbot of our mother house, the was not to be, but by a happy turn of 2. ‘Guéranger, Prosper’, in Luigi Borriello (et partaking of our joys and sorrows. We abbey of Solesmes. Guéranger was the first events, one of the last pieces Dom alii, edd.), Nuovo Dizionario di Mistica, Libreria need it right now, at this time of the to reintroduce Benedictine life in France. Editrice Vaticana, 2016, pp. 1007-1009. Cuthbert published in his lifetime was a history of our community, also because This was in 1833, forty years after it had short dictionary article on Abbot 3. ‘Dom Henry Ashworth, O.S.B. (1914-1980), the circumstances, which we understand been suppressed by the French Obituary Notice and Bibliography’, in and accept, did not make it possible for Guéranger, to whom he had devoted his Ephemerides Liturgicae 95 (1981) 138-141. Revolution. For Abbot Guéranger, liturgy first article, published in The Clergy Abbot Cuthbert's body to find its final rest is central to the life of the Church. The 4. ‘In memoriam: Dom Antoine Dumas, among us in our cemetery. Review of 1975 for the centenary of the O.S.B. (1915-1999)’, in Notitiae 36 (2000) 397- truths of the faith and the love of the founder’s death. The dictionary article 400. Saint Paul describes death as a move from Church find their highest public dealt not with Guéranger the dynamic 5. ‘The Liturgical Scholarship of Dom Henry one house to another, or, to be more expression in this worship. The Church is organizer and prophet but with Ashworth (1914-1980)’, in Ephemerides Liturgicae precise, from a temporary tent to a solid the society of divine praise. We pray with Guéranger the mystic. 104 (1990) 299-338. house and an eternal dwelling. The her. She teaches us how to pray. In her The burial Service of Abbot Cuthbert at Hebburn-on-Tyne 6 7 Quarr Abbey Newsletter Spring 2017 16/3/17 10:09 Page 6

Quarr Abbey

1. Throat of Stones Ring bell with a single tone Faint haze of incense With Spring not full come of purpose still hung high above the altar these fingers of tree stood bare Passing through Ring bell your voice of time in this place of prayer. till sun and earth this for gathering Here throughout would bring back leaves throat of stones Ring bell with echo of distant the sun curving offering shade in Summer. a path leads fading memory. hours of day towards distant trees Within from sky-grey Dawn and sea-drifted Ring still this closed monastic space to the single flame shore bones. for words do not come year on year nor can circumstances greeting the dusk. life’s cycle stirred, Seen one Spring time bear their utterance. With calm of Compline, each to his purpose. long ago men uttered Psalms. Only now, fragment of an ancient wall in the lull of morning, These prayed-in walls that once ringed this dwelling of time well spent 5. Tree of Winter of gathered men or when evening gathers echoed my step, till there, Where are you gone –echoes their voice call. the dust of day at the choir’s edge, cold I stood still Silent statement can I hear still Tree of Winter? in April. of prayer the mimic of your voice In this secluded space, once sung by lips now stilled. so close to home. 4. Walking to Heaven bare ground raised crosses Silent Spring returns over mounds of dug earth. that year by year awakes the 3. Prayed in walls Daily ground feet trod beyond With each day, Mid morning these arches of darkness your passing walk and gently rebirths this barren sun earth. walking to arrive saw this plot of land. brought brilliance at the place Grass hand-cut and shadow that was, after all, and flowers covering stillness 2. Voice of time to this only a beginning. brick bright mark the ground. Foundry fire church. Sometimes formed the Bell of Quarr standing by Time then was brief Sharp Hung high the low wall and time ahead unknown. patterned stillness. in brick round tower men paused Men of faith it rung the hour of prayer Through to read, now men marked by stone. ordering the daily call on men An open door to pray from first grey dawn coolness of an empty space to be still to homing dusk. the quietness of solitude. under an open sky. Chris Mc Donnell 8