Quarr Abbey Newsletter Number 14 Spring 2016 Early Spring Blossom by the abbey buildings On Hospitality answer – probably the most important one – is It is good in winter to make a good fire in the ours too. If I am not the brother of the man or the grate. It is good to get together, talking loudly or woman in such need of help, then I am not your listening quietly to the music of the logs. It is brother either. I lie when I say I love you if I do good to be there, as a family or a community, and not recognise a brother, a sister in the one in to enjoy the comfort of unity and love. need. Then, what can we do? Pray, of course, It is difficult in winter to open a door and to let otherwise, maybe very little? We feel helpless. the stranger enter the house. If he is a friend, if he has his own house and his own fire, it's OK. Let me just recall here a few principles: But if he is unknown, if we cannot say how long There is an order in charity. My first duty goes to he will stay, what he will need, what he might those around me. I do not take the bread from my ask for, things are not so easy. children to give it to strangers. There are obviously practical issues and Charity is universal. It cannot exclude a single hospitality has necessary limitations. But a table person. It includes even enemies. for the poor, a bed for a few days, a place near The fire of charity must be shared with all, the fire among us? The answer lies not outside, otherwise it dies. but within us. The door to be opened is in our Hospitality is not a luxury for the rich, but the heart. If the heart is open, the house will grow privilege of the poor. bigger. Hospitality is not about providing goods, but Precisely during the Year of Mercy launched by about opening one's heart. Pope Francis on 8th December 2015, many Hospitality is infinite: if I welcome one, I newcomers knock at our doors. They have lost welcome all. If I do the tiny gesture in my power, home, country, often even family. They dream of I touch God's very Heart: “I was a stranger, and a new beginning among us. you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35). To a very large extent, the answer is not ours. The unprecedented scale of the phenomenon “Let all guests that come be received like generates many complex issues. Nevertheless Christ”, writes saint Benedict (Rule, ch. 53), who something in us knows that a part of the adds: “In the reception of poor men and pilgrims, special attention should be shown, because in them is Christ more truly welcomed”. Fr Prior Page 1" Quarr Abbey Chronicle Recent events in the life of the Abbey December 11-19 The building of the nativity Siderum” and Nancy Borrett playing “Away in scene in the Church started a little earlier this a Manger” in an arrangement for solo violin. year; the chronicler was feeling his age. The first day saw a trailer load of rocks being December 23 This afternoon, in the teashop, delivered to the nave and the establishment of we threw our annual Christmas party for the the basic terrain. The dilapidated stable was staff and volunteers who help to keep Quarr built next; two alabaster columns of great size Abbey going as a living enterprise. Lucy, topped with a decaying roof of wood and slate. Emma and the teashop staff provided a Further buildings were constructed of bricks splendid spread of food and drink. And from and alabaster and the ground shaped by barrow 1:00pm. gardeners, beekeepers, carpenters, loads of woodchip. Then the figures were office workers, Friends of Quarr, and many introduced. All were placed so that they others piled in. Fr. Prior expressed the interacted with one another and each had a appreciation and thanks of all the community story to tell. A shepherd sleeps and is ignorant to everyone who makes the continuation of our of the mystery unfolding around him; or is he monastic presence at Quarr possible. dreaming, and penetrating even deeper than his companions into the heart of the mystery? A December 30-January 5 It is not often that a blacksmith shoes a donkey, and he too might bishop is at liberty to stay long anywhere, and seem oblivious of the Holy Child. Does he not we were honoured and delighted to receive realise that he will soon be called to shoe Archbishop Robert LeGall of Toulouse for a another donkey needed for a hasty flight into full week at Quarr. The Archbishop was abbot Egypt? After the figures, moss and branches of our monastery of Sainte Anne of Kergonan complete the little world, a picture of the in Brittany for many years. He knows Quarr mystery of our salvation unfolding amidst the well and was immediately at home with us. On daily round. Many seem not to notice, but for the first afternoon of his visit he joined all who have eyes to see, the Lord is here, to members of the community in the traditional save, to sanctify, to direct all to ever new and Thursday afternoon walk. Fr.Prior drove a ever more marvellous ends. group to Brading Down on a blustery afternoon and we walked downhill, past Adgestone December 20 Quarr's annual carol service vineyard, to the valley floor.Our return was duly started at 2:30 pm., but so popular has it hastened by the wind which, growing in proven that the congregation began to arrive at strength, propelled us uphill to the car again. half past twelve. As usual, Linda Filby-Borrett And as the car doors closed, the heavens and her choir,” Voices of the Isle of Wight “ opened joined the monks, for an hour of carols and During the course of his stay we learnt much of readings. And as usual we could not find room the challenges facing a diocesan bishop today. for all the people who turned up. The service But with his manifest faith, his warm and started with the Advent hymn “O Come, O sympathetic human understanding and a lively Come, Emmanuel” sung while part of the choir sense of humour, Archbishop LeGall inspired entered the Church in a candlelit procession. hope in us all. Other highlights were the first performance of Pere Yves-Marie's 4 part arrangement of the January 30 Today the community received Gregorian Advent hymn “Conditor Alme a visit from our own bishop, Rt. Revd. Philip Egan, Bishop of Portsmouth. He arrived at Page 2" 3:00pm. with his secretary, Fr. James THE FRIENDS OF QUARR. Since our McCauley, and first led us in a short service of launch in May 2013, the Friends have worked prayer in the abbey Church. We then proceeded hard to fulfil our aims of supporting Quarr to the Community Room where he told us of Abbey, promoting and raising its profile and his programme of visiting every religious helping to maintain its historic buildings. house in the diocese in the course of the year The Friends are slowly growing in numbers dedicated to the Consecrated Life. Over tea and and I am happy to report that new Friends Ian biscuits we discussed the role of diocese and and Liz Stevens of Stevens Washrooms monastery in the new evangelisation. The (Portsmouth) will be donating the new bishop spoke eloquently of his great desire to “Changing Places “ toilet facility to Quarr see every Christian grow in their sense of Abbey. There are only 3 such toilets on the responsibility to bear witness to Christ, so that Island and all are in Newport. Changing Place all in our society should have a real toilets offer greater space and enhanced opportunity to encounter the good news of facilities including a changing bench and a salvation. hoist. Duncan Bird, also a Friend of Quarr, will be February 2 The 2nd of February is the Feast doing most of the preparatory work for this of the Presentation of the Lord and this year special facility, which will be located in the also marked the conclusion of the year courtyard before the Visitors Centre. The dedicated by Pope Francis to consideration of chairman is donating the hoist, so this will be a the place of the consecrated life in the Church. project entirely funded by the Friends of Quarr. To celebrate this day in an especial manner, the Duncan is also working on a small project of whole community joined our sisters at St. his own. He will be knocking through a section Cecilia's Abbey in Ryde for sung Vespers of the wall adjacent to the lawn in front of the and Benediction. The afternoon began in the church and re instating the arch. great parlour with a musical feast to celebrate The Friends have raised over £18,300 towards the 90th birthday of Mere Stephanie. The the current project of the Walled Garden and novitiate of St. Cecilia's sang a French canticle need to continue fundraising for this project. to Mary to begin. Fr.Prior followed this with The next event by the Friends will be a two pieces of Bach played on the piano on our concert of Sacred Music by the Orpheus side of the grill. Individual members of the St. Singers in the church on Saturday 14th May Cecilia's Band came next,singing and playing at 3pm.