ON Monday the Abbot of Quarr, Dom Gabriel Tissot, 0.S.B., celebrated the golden jubilee of his monastic profession.
At the Offertory of the Pontifical Mass sung by the Abbot of Solesmes, Dorn Germain Cozien, the jubilarian read again in a clear voice the Chart of profession which he wrote 50 years ago, brought over for the ceremony from the archives at Solesmes.
After this he sung again the verse Sasei Pe me Domine, chosen from Psalm 118 by St. Benedict, and then received to the kiss of peace all the solemnly professed monks present. These included 10 abbots from England. France. Holland and Luxembourg, the jubilarian's brother Dom Henri Tissoe the community of Quarr and several visiting monks. The spacious abbey church, built in am icot brick in 19L2 by the late Dom Ballot. provided an ideal setting for this moving event. The virile and rhythmical chant and the unhurried precision of the ceremonies were worthy of the best traditions or Quarr and SoTesmes.
Numerous clergy, secular and regular together with many lay visitors came to take part in the celebrations which also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the return of monks to Quarr after an interval of more than 400 years.
Eighty guests were present at the lunch given in the monastic refectory which was accompanied by reading. The meal concluded with the chant of the festive acclamations Christur vincit. Among the many presents received by the abbot on this occasion were a processional cross and candlesticks and a set of handwoven silk vestments made in the ahbey workshops, an illornineled canon and a carved wooden crozier made by the Benedictine nuns of St. Cecilia's abbey, Ryde and a portrait given by friends of the monastery.
The Abbot of Quarr pontificated at Vespers, and a Te Deum was sung at the Benediction which followed.
THERE ARE NOW 47 diplomatic missions accredited to the Holy See-33 arobassadors and 14 ministers—according to the 25th edition of the list of the diplomatic corps published last Saturday.