Quarr Abbey Issue 29 NEWSLETTER Easter 2021 Easter Joy The Cross is the great Christian symbol. It evokes Jesus who died on a cross on the Friday before the great Sabbath of Pessah, the Jewish feast of Easter. Whereas free Friends of Quarr men condemned to death were beheaded, slaves were crucified. Pontius Pilate had thousands of men crucified. No death was deemed more abject. The Covid-19 pandemic continues and I Christian faith has it that the same Jesus rose from the dead on the morning of write this in the third Lockdown when the first day after the Sabbath – which was to become the Day of the Lord, our sadly all the activities of the Friends Sunday, the first day of the Christian week. How is it then that Christians chose continue to be suspended. the Cross as their main symbol instead of an image of Christ getting out of the We managed however, to arrange a tomb with the full energy of the Resurrection? small Covid-19 secure Completion Let me suggest only one answer among many. What was so important on the Celebration of The Accessible Paths Cross, what we do not want to forget, what stands at the heart of Christian faith is project on 8th December 2020, when what St Paul calls the proof that God loves us. “God”, he writes, “proves his love HM Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The Wight, Mrs Susie Sheldon, JP, unveiled a Cross is the symbol and the revelation of God’s love: Jesus loves us by giving His donor board for the Friends. life for us; God the Father loves us by giving His only Son for us (Jn 3:16). In short, the Cross says to anyone who looks at it: “God loved you; He gave all for you”. This is why we cannot be indifferent to the Cross. We either reject it or we feel drawn to its mystery. We go beyond its abjection, indeed its ignominy, and we make our way towards the loving Heart of the One who shed His Blood on it, “for you and for many”. The Cross is a great sign of hope. Indeed it is the only true one. Through Christ’s sufferings, the Truth of Love shines on the world. Sufferings and death are overcome, not only from without: by the act of power of the resurrection; but above all from within: by the love which gives them a new meaning, the meaning The Friends thank you for your of an offering. support and hope you stay safe in these Easter light is the glory of the resurrection, but it is first of all the glory of the unprecedented times. Cross. It is the glory – and the light, and the hope – which we desperately To join the Friends please go to the need; at all times, but certainly right now, in our Covid-tossed world. We need ‘support tab’ on the Quarr Abbey this light to be shed on each human face as the blessing which makes this face website where you will find further – famous or obscure, young or old, shining with beauty or hidden behind a mask information and our membership – resplendent with the Love by which each of us was loved and saved. form or phone me: Dr Rebecca Ashton Look at the Cross and find Light. on 01983-882420 ext. 209 and leave a message Look at the Cross and receive Love. Look at the Cross and find Joy. Don’t look for an explanation, but for an encounter. Don’t look for a solution, but for a challenge. Answer this Love. Believe. Give yourself up. You will find life, “to the full” (Jn 10:10), and the Joy which no one will ever able to “take away from you” (Jn 16:22). + Abbot Xavier 1 of the Old Testament sacrificial system in the light drizzle and rejoiced in the as found in the Book of Leviticus. This view across the green fields. David would Quarr is not a book widely read or studied by have loved it. There were no refreshments Christians, but Fr. Gregory made a book afterwards, of course, but the family were suspected by many of being boring and so grateful for our presence. We drove Abbey incomprehensible, quite stimulating and away thankful to have known David. May refreshing. He brought out many of the he rest in peace. Amen. underlying principles of sacrifice which It was finally time to say farewell to our Chronicle recur throughout the book and give it guest, Fr. Henri Poujol, who needed to consistency. return to the Abbey of St Wandrille in Lockdown Abbey With clarity and simplicity, and a touch of Normandy for Christmas. But travel humour Fr. Gregory gave us a memorable in these Covid times is not always retreat at a moment’s notice- we can only straightforward. His departure had to NOVEMBER is the usual time for our be grateful. be delayed a few days because of new annual community retreat, but this It was with shock and sadness that we requirements for a Covid test and a year there were complications. The heard of the death of David Paul, a long- certificate of good health before entering French abbot who should have been time volunteer with the community. He France. A taxi to a test point at Gatwick our Retreat Preacher had to pull out at died of a heart and lung condition during Airport was the only way we could find the last minute owing to Covid travel the lock-down in November when we of obtaining a test and certificate within restrictions. We were not surprised, but it had been out of contact for a while. His the critical time frame. We had a day’s was disappointing. visits to Quarr had usually been a little wait to see whether we all might be going With the end of lock-down imminent unexpected, irregular,but constant over into isolation, but he was pronounced Fr. Abbot was seeking around for a the course of some twenty five years. He free of Covid, and was free to go. It was a replacement; not an easy task at the best was a market gardener and always lent a dramatic farewell to a much appreciated of times, and especially difficult given hand in the vegetable garden, or chopped guest, whom we certainly wish to see the short notice. He found Fr. Gregory wood for the workshop stove, or did some again under happier circumstances in the Pearson, a Dominican priest and friend fetching and carrying. He would have his not so distant future. of the house who currently resides at lunch with the carpenters and then drive The Carol Service at Quarr is the most Cambridge and is Novicemaster to the off in his smart green sports car. popular event in our annual calendar. English Dominican Province. Kelly the carpenter and I attended his The church is invariably packed. This Fr. Gregory had been engaged in a study funeral on December 18 in Saint Peter’s year however it could not be so. But we of sacrifice, and was willing to give us church in Seaview. Covid rules were in were determined that it would go ahead the fruit of his labours in a series of full force; numbers in the church were in some form if at all possible. With the fourteen talks over a week. His approach severely restricted and social-distancing permission of the Isle of Wight Council was not that of the history of religions, was strictly observed. There was no we succeeded, even though it was shorter nor yet a liturgical or Christological congregational participation in the hymn than usual and was held outside, in the approach, although the sacrifice of Christ singing; the hymns were sung solo by the courtyard before the Abbey Church. on the cross was the end point toward minister- fortunately she had a strong Social distancing was strictly observed, which his talks tended. He principally and pleasant voice. The burial followed at both by the choir and the congregation. concerned himself with a close study Nettlestone. We stood on a damp footpath But, thanks be to God, there was no rain, Michael Dunkason 2 and a respectable number of people braved a bright but cold Winter’s afternoon. Linda Filby-Borrett directed her own choir, “Voices of the Isle of Wight” assisted by a number of the community. Owing to the challenges of socially – distanced singing only well known pieces were included. But the soaring voice of Lucy Stevens singing her solo of “Holy Night” was proof enough that Covid did not have the last word at Christmas. It was a quiet Christmas in many ways; there were no guests and the crowds which usually attend the Midnight and Day masses were absent. But we were encouraged and strengthened by all who did come, who shared with us the joy day now I have returned to my lock-down Newport was in a difficult situation and which the new born child of Bethlehem security rounds. increasing numbers of severe cases had to always brings from heaven. The Abbey began to feel even emptier be sent by helicopter to Southampton for At a time when the Island was relatively when some members of staff contracted treatment. free from Covid it was hoped that the Covid. Some had the virus quite The vaccination programme however is Art Gallery would open considerably badly, albeit with unusual symptoms.