We speak of the “Paschal Mystery”: that is, the mystery of Christ’s saving death and resurrection; his passing over from death to life; his passage from defeat to victory; from humiliation to glory; from this world to the Father.
Homily given at the Good Friday Liturgy, Pluscarden Abbey, 3 April 2026: DMS
Homily for the Feast of St. Joseph, 19 March 2026
Two Gospels are given for today. We have just heard St Luke’s account of the finding of Jesus in the Temple after being lost for three days (Luke 2:41-51). The other is from St Matthew – when Mary is found to be with child through the Holy Spirit and St Joseph receives the news of this through the message of an Angel in a dream (Matt 1:16, 18-21.24).
Homily by Fr. Prior Simon for the Solemnity of St Aelred, 5th March 2026
David I, King of Scotland, died on the 24th of May 1153 in Carlisle. Soon afterwards St Aelred, who in his youth had served at David's court, wrote the celebrated Lament in his honour. That same year in England, king Stephen, under pressure from an invading army and from public opinion in his own realm, agreed to name his second cousin Henry of Anjou as his successor.
Homily for Lent 1A, Sunday, 22 February 2026
Fr. Prior Simon’s Homily for Ash Wednesday: 18 February 2026
Once there was a monk whose name was Zossima. He was “renowned for his way of life and gift of words”. “From his infancy he was nourished in the monastic way of life” and, staying in the same monastery for fifty years, “he observed in everything the rule”; adding to it exercises and devotions of his own.
Homily for 15 February 2026, Sunday 6A
You have heard that it was said of old… But I say to you… (Mt 5:21).
Six times in the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded by St. Matthew, our Lord uses this formula. Next week is the First Sunday of Lent: so we will miss the continuation and completion of this series of sayings, which contrast the standards of the law with the standards of the Kingdom.
Homily for 2nd Sunday Ordinary Time Year A- 18th January 2026
We have just journeyed through Advent and Christmas – contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation. In a month’s time we will enter the season of Lent as the Church prepares for the central mystery of this year and all years (until the end of time itself) namely that through his Passion Jesus will definitively defeat the power of sin and death and then, after three days, rise from the dead this Easter.