“PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE” will be performed at Pluscarden Abbey on Saturday 20th September 6pm – 8.30pm

“Petite Messe Solennelle” translates as “Little Solemn Mass” in French. However, the title is ironic as the work is “neither small or particularly solemn” as Napoleon the Third remarked;………

Homily for the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C:  27 July 2025

First as a deacon and now as a priest, I have always found the various secret prayers prescribed by the rubrics very consoling – the obligatory ones, which should be said during the liturgy, as well as some of those no longer strictly required. For example, as you prepare the chalice on the altar at the Offertory, you are meant to say: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity”.

Homily for Sunday 14C, 5 July 2025: Luke 10:1-12,17-20; Gal 6:14-18

Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves (v. 3). Behold, I am sending you out as prey among predators; as helpless victims amongst ruthless destroyers; as those symbolised by all that is feeble and defenceless, amongst terrifying and voracious predators.

Homily for the Feast of St. Benedict, 11 July 2025

Coming down the hill on either side of the valley from the West, or turning the corner at the end of the valley from the East, you catch an occasional glimpse, between obstructing trees, of Pluscarden Abbey. There it stands, in the middle of nowhere, in this gentle and fertile valley: a mediaeval monastery. Somehow the sight is always both astonishing and stirring.

Annual Aberdeen Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pluscarden: Sunday 29 July 2025

To describe this year’s annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pluscarden, much of what was said in these pages about the 2024 event could almost be repeated. The format remained the same; the Feast was the same (SS. Peter and Paul, 29 June), the place, the Mass time (3.00 p.m.) and many of the people were the same: Bishop, clergy, monks, people! We had two large marquees as before, and Choirs as before, and Exposition before the Mass as before, and a Marian procession after it, as before, and (as before) many volunteers involved in the organisation, which all went extremely well. Nevertheless, this 2025 event certainly merits its own description, for it was marvellous

Prior’s Homily for the Nativity of St John the Baptist; 24 June 2025

Isaiah 49:1-6   Acts 13:22-26   Luke 1:57-66,80

Even though John the Baptist grew to be the most formidable ascetic in the Bible, we have every right to celebrate his birthday by throwing a big monastic party, with a full liturgy followed by plenty of rich food and wine in the refectory.