Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster

The Pluscarden community joins so many others in praying now especially for Richard Moth, recently appointed Archbishop of Westminster.

Pluscarden Benedictines No. 212 News and Notes for our Friends Winter 2025

The quarterly magazine which generally includes a letter from Fr Abbot, a diary of recent activity at the Abbey, book reviews and articles by monks, oblates or visitors.

Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, 14 December 2025, Advent IIIA: Matthew 11:2-11; Is 35:1-6,10

Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?

This question of St. John the Baptist is a very good one for us to pose as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. If Jesus is not the one - if he is not the promised Messiah of Israel - indeed if he is less than God Incarnate - then we should cancel Christmas, close the monastery, and give up coming to Mass.

The Death and Burial of Br. John Aidan Cook

Br. John Aidan Cook was buried here at Pluscarden on Saturday 6th December. He was not a monk of our house, though he had spent time trying his vocation with our community in 2018. 

Br. John/Aidan had first tried his vocation with the Benedictine monks of Norcia in Italy. While still a Junior, both physically and mentally he found himself unable to continue on there. He came here in 2018 to see if he could live this vocation at Pluscarden.

Fr. Prior Simon's Homily for the Immaculate Conception: Monday 8 December 2025

St Anselm, one of the great medieval champions of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, wrote some beautiful prayers addressed to Our Lady. The first of the three included in his famous Prayers and Meditations is spoken from the position of a grave sinner.

Homily for Advent 2A, 7 December 2025: Matthew 3:1-12

Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 3:2).

Once again we hear the cry of St. John the Baptist, always valid, always relevant, always urgent. John calls us to prepare for the coming of the Lord: to know that the Lord is even now among us; to be certain that nothing whatever in our life is more important than knowing him, receiving him, listening to him, following him.