The physical health of the Pluscarden community has not been so good of late.
As with probably most other people in the country, a nasty cold bug came our way towards the end of December 2022. Very quickly it reached more or less every member of the community, and some of our guests as well. The worst affected landed up in bed with a fever. By and large, though, brethren were just feeling rather run down and fatigued, and coughing and blowing, to a greater or lesser extent. For some that meant just a few days of unpleasantness. For others the coughing fits have continued on and on, for a full month, and more.
But then, before this quite unwelcome bug had even finished running its course, another, much worse, arrived. This one memorably kicked off on Monday 23rd of January. Again, probably many others in the country have had it, and so will know something of its effects. This is a gastric virus. Without going into details about its effects: they have been very very nasty indeed. As with our experience of covid, this virus rapidly scythed through the whole community, with one after the other succumbing, apart from a very small group who remained (inexplicably!) unaffected. For the afflicted, Choir, refectory, work and recreation become entirely out of the question. The only treatment seems to be to eat nothing whatever, if necessary for days, and to sleep as much as possible. Some had it rather more lightly; others say they have never known such severe sickness. Truly for most this experience was really horrible.
Remarkably the liturgy kept going throughout, sung in full, without a break. Thank God! One day at the height of the epidemic, though, Vigils was rather a struggle, with only three brethren in Choir. But gradually those recovering started to reappear in public view. Symptoms of fatigue though always lingered on. So Fr. Abbot decreed a week of increased time for rest, with Vigils starting at 0600, instead of the usual 0430. The Psalmody of Vigils on these days is shortened, and followed immediately by Lauds.
The daily running of the house has been maintained all this time, just about, if with a skeleton crew. One major task that could not be neglected is the care of Fr. Matthew. By a remarkable Providence he never caught the bug.
For the sake of prudence, and to prevent further spread of infection, until all symptoms have entirely cleared up, our guesthouses have been closed.