15th January 2025
One hundred years ago, Dom Cozien, abbot of Solesmes, presided over the celebration of the Mass of St Maurus in this abbey church. Afterwards, he gathered the members of the Chapter and announced his decision to erect the monastic house of Quarr into a Priory. This was the birthday of a new monastic community. Building up over the centuries of medieval monastic presence, a new Abbey of Quarr was officially beginning.
Today we want first of all to give thanks. We think of Dom Cozien’s fortitude and spirit of faith. We associate with him the revered memory of Dom Emile Bouvet, the saintly first Prior who was, we are told, as much an Englishman as a Frenchman can be. We do not forget the other monks – there were 25 of them – whose life took a new orientation. Up to that day, they had been refugees. They were now becoming founders. The vocation of a founder is sacrifice. A founder severs the link with the community for which he made profession, and he offers himself totally for the new community. These monks of Solesmes were becoming monks of Quarr, and that meant a total gift of self: to the new monastery, but also to the diocese and the country where it is situated.
We give thanks for the first hundred years of our community. Under Dom Tissot, the monastery became a fully established abbey in 1937. After him, Dom Aelred Sillem, Dom Leo Avery, Dom Cuthbert Johnson and Dom Finbar Kealy each made their contribution to the history and identity of this place. With these generous superiors, generations of monks praised God in this church and dedicated their lives to the service of the Lord and the Church in all sorts of ways, each according to his gifts and charisms. Today, we think of them, our brethren, our fathers. They deserve our gratitude, our respect and our prayers. They have a place in our hearts, not only in our cemetery.
Brethren, how could we not hope? How could we fail to see God’s design? Certainly, things were not always easy. There have been many challenges, but monks persevered, the Community is still present, not big but lively and gently growing. God has been at work over the last hundred years in this house. He is at work now and it is our vocation to work with Him and for Him, to let Him work through us. Like our founders, we are called to give ourselves totally to Christ for this abbey.
Today we give thanks for God’s work. We ask forgiveness for our shortcomings, and we turn to the Lord filled with hope and with the strength that comes from humility. May our Lady who has been honoured at Quarr since 1132 continue her gentle rule of this place and draw many hearts to the Peace of Jesus’ Heart. May the true Benedictine peace fill our hearts and overflow to all who visit this place, but also all who think of us, pray with us, pray for us, and, together with us today, give thanks in joyful hope!