This year's residential oblate retreat was preached by our own Fr. Benedict.
It coincided with the first Sunday in Lent.
Apart from time for confessions, friendly chat, silent prayer and of course participation in the Pluscarden liturgy, 3 Talks were given for the oblates present.
Their Titles were:
1) A Rule of Life
2) Psalm 90
3) Gratitude.
The theme of the 1st talk was how any Christian can be helped by having a personal Rule of Life. This will be some sort of daily routine, or series of habits, ideally discussed and agreed with some sort of spiritual director. The aim of this Rule of Life will be to help maintain truly regular prayer, spiritual reading and virtuous Christian living: for the sake of growth in faith and love, and also of growth as a human person. For a busy working person, it's essential to be realistic here, and not to undertake impossible or unsustainable burdens. Nevertheless: far from placing any sort of shackle on the Spirit, a Rule like this precisely helps remove obstacles to living truly in the Spirit. Of course the Rule of St. Benedict can be a central reference point in the construction of such a Rule. The talk explored various aspects of St. Benedict's Rule in illustration: Prayer, both liturgical and private; Silence; Reading; Work; Community; the Abbot and authority; the sanctification of the common elements of daily life, such as food and sleep.
The 2nd Talk looked at Psalm 90, especially because this Psalm is quoted by the devil at our Lord during his 40 days' fast. The tradition of Gregorian Chant uses texts from this Psalm exclusively at Mass on the first Sunday in lent. At Pluscarden, according to the Rule of St. Benedict, we sing this Psalm at Compline every single day of the year, apart from Holy Saturday and Christmas Eve. For many people it's a great favourite, because it speaks consolingly of God's protection and help. The talk looked at how the profound truth of this Psalm is revealed above all in the light of Christ and his Paschal Mystery.
The date of the 3rd Talk, 22nd February 2026, happened also to be Fr. Benedict's 40th anniversary of monastic vows. So that prompted a talk on gratitude, both in general and in particular. Various aspects of monastic life at Pluscarden were touched on, for which we all have cause to be deeply grateful to God.
