Oblatemaster

10 November 2012

Oblate Letter 14 Easter Pentecost Summer 2012

Oblatemaster

10 November 2012

Nothing Dearer than Christ”

Oblate letter of the Pluscarden Benedictines, Elgin, Moray, Scotland. IV30 8UA.

Ph. (01343) 890257 fax 890258

Email

Website www.pluscardenabbey.org DMB series No 14

Easter—Pentecost—Summer—2012

MONASTIC VOICE:- From a sermon of St Bernard of Clairvaux on Ss. Peter & Paul for the Summer season:- “The Church recalls the Apostles' death with an especially solemn feast. Today Peter was crucified; today Paul was beheaded: this is the reason for today's feast; this is the cause of our present rejoicing. By making a festive and joyous day on these anniversarie of death, the Church undoubtedly possesses the Spirit of the Bridegroom, the Spirit of the Lord, in whose sight, as you find in the psalm, precious is the death of the saints. How many people do we believe were present when the Apostles underwent their sufferings who in no way envied their precious deaths? For 'to the eyes of the foolish they seemed to die, and their going was considered an affliction. So indeed, 'to the eyes of the foolish they seemed to die': 'But to me,' the prophet says: 'your friends have received honour beyond measure, O God; their sovereign power has been strengthened beyond measure. Brothers, to the eyes of the foolish, God's friends seem to die, but in the eyes of the wise they are judged instead to be asleep. Lazarus, too, was sleeping, because he was a friend; and 'When he gives sleep to his beloved’, behold the heritage of the Lord. Let us strive, brothers, to live as the just lived, but let us long even more to die as they died. Wisdom reveals the final end of the just, judging us there where she finds us.”

FROM THE OBLATEMASTER’S DESK: The Summer of Easter follows hard on the heels of our Lenten spring-time. With the harvest of Pentecost the reapers put in their hooks and before we know it we have the harvest of Ss. Peter and Paul on the 29^th June, the harvest of whose martyrdom we celebrate. St Bernard draws our attention to the remarkable fact of our celebration which in retrospect makes our celebration of the Easter Triduum even more remarkable. Can we really be celebrating the empty tomb and the presence of the Risen Lord when it has cost the abandonment of Holy Thursday and Good Friday’s painful execution?

Can we really celebrate the great edifice of the Church’s living stones when their foundation rises from an upturned cross and a bloodied chopping block?

I was surprised when once remarking to my GP, Dr. McClure of Elgin, that I would have preferred if our former Oblatemaster Fr. Maurus had died an ordinary death when he transfixed me with his eye, as is his wont, and said, “Yes, and what’s an ordinary death?”

We of all people should not have to be reminded of the extraordinary nature of our transitus from this life to the next. How could it be ordinary! A former bishop of the diocese of Aberdeen, now an Archbishop, remarked at his own Mother’s funeral, that in her dying gasping moments it was like a birth-pangs, and so it was. And so it is for all of us with the eye of faith, however abandoned be our passion truly following our Master and His chosen apostles. The whole of life in its winters and its spring times only gives glimpses and hints of the summer-time, the Sabbath of summer-times where harvest overtakes its proper season and makes it redundant! May we all echo St Bernard’s implied “Maranatha!”—“Come quickly Lord!” of his summer-season sermon—and not be found wanting or unready by His grace! Our Lady, Mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Books A postulant Oblate from the Black Isle was asking me about fiction. This as we know can be spiritually profitable especially if works of art like “The Betrothed” by Manzini are in view.

A more recent author notable for his spiritual vision is Michael O’ Brien. I’m reading “Plague Journal” at present. His most recent is I understand “The Father's Tale: A Novel”--- "A modern retelling of the parables The Good Shepherd and The Prodigal Son." Canadian bookseller Alex Graham is a middle-age widower whose quiet life is turned upside down when his college-age son disappears without any explanation or trace of where he has gone.-------There is quite a list of others all of which are meaty in religious terms— that is in terms of life, real life.

Prayer Intentions and News

Please pray for Bishop Hugh, Abbot Anselm, our juniorate & noviciate and especially Br.Cyril Our newest novice (formerly “Jakub”), & for our sick monks. Please pray for Br. James and our aspirants & for vocations to the monastery. New Oblates: Ursula Mary St Michael Humphrey and Margaret Thérèse Graham. Postulant: Margaret Johnston and all our novices and postulants. Our Oblates alone number about two hundred (in answer to a question recently).

Please pray for all the sick & especially: Beth Fallows (who sent me her beautiful poems which I mention here—thank you-- in case a letter before Ghana is not possible) ,Gail Schmitz, Marie Claire Hernandez, Bob Clark who has helped us with the honey for years when he was well enough—thank you Bob!, James Cairns who is now poorly & in a hospice ( & for his wife & family ), Martin MacRae, Irene Coultard, David Paterson & his Wife Angela, for Beth Fraser who despite illness makes by hand hundreds of rosaries many of which I’ll be taking out to KB, Ghana, thank you (two Beth’s!), Mary Roche, Poppy Sinclair, Bob Barr, and for all the sick & their families. Please also remember Mary Tibble who in her day assisted major surgeons in the theatre and now assists us from her nursing home in processing our used stamps!!—thank you! (They are all keeping Lent better than the rest of us—thank you for being “patients” in the real meaning of the word! --See the Rule!)

We join with Marcin & Kasia in thanksgiving for the safe delivery of their new baby son, Gabriel.

Pentecost Lectures :29th – 31st May 2012 at Pluscarden Abbey--

Pentecost Lectures continued:-Professor Lewis Ayres, Bede professor of Catholic Theology at the University of Durham. “You Have Revealed Your Glory”—the Mystery of the Trinity Tuesday 2.45 –last lecture Thursday am 10.15. Free –open to all ( but I think the accommodation is spoken for—you can check for a cancellation; non-residents more than welcome-please indicate ( to Fr. Bede) coming –for the soup!

OBLATE WEEKEND JULY 27^TH TO JULY 30^TH2012, This Year-please let me know using the form below( mark envelope or email “Fr Bede”) if you intend to come-- The monastic guesthouses are booked up already Here is a list of those booked to stay AT the Abbey: Pamela Nelson-Shaw, Tricia Kirby, Ursula Humphrey, Pat Fernandez, Morris family, Brigitte Mackay, Georgina Quinn, Jane Coll, Ann Morgan, Barbara Van Rooyen, Glynis Stranraer-Mull, Rebecka Winell-Reid). Men: Martin Gardner, Pat Carrigan, Terry Kirby, Charlie Muir, Jim Bradley, Steve Fennell, Henry Logan, Frederick and Iain Brodie, Fr. Francis Wilson (Awaiting cancellation: Edmund Young & Chris McKeown) I shall append alternative accommodation to the next Oblate letter as before. Fr. Abbot (Anselm!) is giving our keynote address! Programme as below. Do please fill in the slip enclosed if you are coming to some part of the Oblate Weekend—all the parts—even if you have already communicated. Thank you. Address to Fr. Bede.

OBLATE WEEKEND 2013 2nd to 5^th August on CALDEY ISLAND(WALES!) to commemorate 100^th anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. At this stage simply please let me know,after this summer’s weekend-- Fr. Martin by mail or email ------------------- oblatemaster@pluscardenabbey.org ) ( Your name & contact details) & that you intend to come. (32 places only, Prinknash have spoken for six already—Caldey have minimum charges & there is the travel down to consider)

Groups & Chapters-below

St Mungo’s Chapter Glasgow:-As announced. Peter Aitken :- 11, Maxwell Grove, Glasgow. G41 5JP Phone:01414272084. Peter Aitken is the link man.

St Margaret’s Chapter Dunfermline. Pat Carrigan Telephone: 07853 407 913 . Have just held a successful Lenten Retreat! Pat Carrigan will keep you informed.

St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso. Contact Jane Coll (website manager Benedictine-oblates) on 01847 851701 or (subscript line between jane and coll ) 20 miles is “close” up here!

St. Peter’s Chapter Aberdeen. 1^st Wednesday’s 7.30 Telephone 01224 485 78119 Donview House Seaton Crescent, Seaton, Aberdeen, AB24 1TZ. Brian Milne will keep you informed

St Mary’s Chapter Dundee. May 21^st and dates as agreed 11.30 at St. Mary’s High Street, Lochee, Dundee. -------info. St Mary’s, ---- Canon Angelosanto is coordinator.

Moray Group Meeting three to four times a year, in Elgin they met first then will be Forres and once a year ( of the “Moray Group”) at the Abbey immediately before the Oblate Weekend begins. For the Moray locals really. Maggie Graham is the link person.

PROGRAMME FOR THIS SUMMER’S OBLATE WEEKEND

*note—non-resident attendees will need to make their own provision for Friday supper & for breakfast on Saturday, Sunday & Monday. There are buffet meals for lunch & supper on Saturday & Sunday for all. Please fill in & send the chit for catering numbers.

( Moray Group meet 3.30 Parlour 1 St Benedict’s)

Friday Arrival of residents before Vespers 27^th July 2012

Vespers 5.15pm

Supper for residents 6.45pm (St. Scholastica’s own times)

Compline 7.50pm

DVD Talk specially made 8.30pm (marquee)

DVD, virtual presence Bishop Richard Moth Oblate of Pluscarden Abbey, giving a talk on the Divine Office, specially made for us for the beginning of our Oblate Weekend.

Repose 9.20pm.

Saturday 28^th July, St Ignatius Loyola û û

Vigils 4.30am

Lauds circa 5.25am

Prime circa 6.45am

Mass+Terce 9.00am

Coffee 10.00am (marquee)

Fr Abbot : Opening Conference 10.30am (marquee or as announced)

Sext 12.35pm

Lunch 12.45pm (marquee)

None 2.15pm

Talk from Fr. Bede “To Have a Passion for The Gospel!”

2.30pm (marquee or as announced)

Tea 3.45pm (marquee)

Opportunity for Confessions.

Vespers 5.15pm

Supper 6.45pm (marquee)

Compline 7.50pm

DVD/slides on Kristo Buase recent returnee 8.30pm

Repose circa 9.30

Sunday 29th July Seventeenth Sunday of the year

Vigils 4.30am

Lauds circa 5.45 am

Prime 7.00am

Breakfast after Prime

Terce 9.15am

Mass 10.00am

Talk on the Liturgy of the Day Fr. Benedict Hardy

11.30am (Church)

Sext 12.35pm

Lunch 12.45pm (marquee)

Talk from Fr Dunstan on “The Guestmaster” 2.00pm ( marquee or as

announced)

None 4.20pm

Tea after None (marquee)

Vespers & Benediction 5.15pm

Supper 6.45pm (marquee)

Compline 7.50pm

DVD Made By the Oblates of Thien Phuoc Vietnam 8.30pm ( marquee)

Under the Direction of Teresa Ngan Giang Oblate

Repose 9.30pm circa

Monday 30th of July St Peter Chrysologus Memoria

Vigils 4.30am

Lauds circa 5.25AM

Prime 6.45am circa (30”after end of Lauds)

Breakfast after Prime

Terce & Mass 9.00am

Marking the formal conclusion of the Oblate weekend with sermon from the Oblate Master & renewal of Oblation during Mass. Those who extend their Oblate spiritual retreat/weekend to three days by arriving sooner or departing later there may be a plenary indulgence for such a three day spiritual retreat, under the usual conditions.

Coffee & Farewells 10.00am

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dominic the Seminarian is sponsored but if any Oblate felt willing to offer sponsorship then they should let me know & they could be put on a "standby list". Who knows if sufficient Oblates offer we may manage a second Seminarian. The standby list would also cover for any unknown extra future requirements.

God is good. Wishing you all greetings & you all remain in our prayers,

Paul Costello(Fr. Martin: “Oblate organising it for us---Thank you Paul!”)

“Come Holy Spirit”------Blessings from

Fr. Martin

Oblatemaster

1 February 2012

Oblate Letter 13 Winter-Lent--2012

Oblatemaster

1 February 2012

“

Nothing Dearer than Christ”

Oblate letter of the Pluscarden Benedictines, Elgin, Moray, Scotland. IV30 8UA.

Ph.(01343) 890257 fax 890258

Website

www.pluscardenabbey.org

DMB series No 13

Winter--- Lent---2012

Monastic Voice from the Oblatemaster’s Desk

From “The Spiritual Doctrine of Dom Marmion” by M.M. Philipon, O.P. trans.by Dom Matthew Dillon O.S.B:-In writing the history of spirituality in the twentieth century it is natural to begin with Dom Marmion. His work initiated a profound spiritual revival the influence of which has permeated the whole Catholic world. It is to him that we owe in great measure this return to that primary truth of the Christian faith: Christ, the model and sole source of life for us. He had some admirable precursors in this revival of Christo-centric religion: Scheeben in German-speaking countries, Fr. Faber in England, Mgr. Gay, steeped in the teaching of the French School; but none of these attained his world-wide influence.

“We must always consider the teaching of Dom Marmion against its monastic background. It was as a monk that Dom Marmion lived the Gospel of Christian perfection. Now, the figure of Christ dominates the Rule of St. Benedict.

When the postulant presents himself at his " school of the "Lord's service ", the patriarch of monks asks him only one thing: " Whether he truly seeks God "18 and whether he is resolved to fight for the true King, Christ.

If so, let him enter the monastic army and advance towards perfection, "following the guidance of the Gospel and walking in the paths of Christ."

Let him not look back, but bear his valiantly, " sharing by his patience in the sufferings of Christ, that he may deserve also to be a partaker of His kingdom."

On entering the monastery, he is received by the Abbot" who holds the place of Christ.

"22

His life as a monk will be passed in this visible presence of Christ, for it is not in a man's presence but in that of Christ Himself, that he lives. In his Abbot he sees and loves Christ; he seeks only the glory of Christ.

It is Christ Himself whom he obeys with an obedience which is prompt, complete and joyous; for him “nothing is dearer than Christ."

He has only one desire:" to imitate Christ, who was obedient even unto death."

Within the monastery he has found a family of brethren. Whatever their origin, rich or poor, freemen or slaves, they, are one In Christ. They all bear the same arms In the service of Christ.”

In his daily life, according as he advances towards the final' perfection, his actions are inspired solely by the love of Christ.27 In accordance with the counsel of the Gospel, he has denied himself in order to follow Christ.

He is free with that sovereign liberty of the children of God. His one maxim is: “to prefer nothing to the love of Christ."

It matters little whether the bell is for the Office or for work. Like Jesus, he is entirely consecrated to the glory of the Father, and prays and works in constant union with Christ. In time of temptation, without a moment's delay, " he dashes his evil thoughts on the rock of Christ,"

and emerges victorious.

He treats each of his brethren, and especially the sick, as he would Christ Himself.

He receives the guests who come to the monastery like Christ Himsel£. The poorer and more wretched they are, the more clearly does he see Christ in them.

Christ is the atmosphere which his soul breathes. In Christ he lives and in Christ he is to die. Sustained by the companionship of his brethren, he can realize his unique ideal: to love Christ, " to prefer nothing whatever to Christ, who will bring him together with his brethren to life everlasting."

According to the teaching of St. Benedict the monastic life is a search for God,

following the guidance of the Gospel and walking in the paths of Christ.

Dom Marmion was familiar with all these texts. We come across them constantly in his private notes. His soul found constant support in them. For him Christ is the one great means of going to God.

“Everywhere in the Rule our holy Father places Christ before our eyes."

The special grace of Dom Marmion was that this Christ ideal was the dominating influence in his life. He could not conceive monastic life, any more than the Christian life, apart from Christ. “As I have so often said to you, the Order of St. Benedict is simply the development in all its fullness of the Christian life. We are simply trying to practise as perfectly as possible what Christ teaches and prescribes; we want to live according to His precepts and counsels. Our life should be the perfect expression of the Gospel."

37*Notes—as numbers below:-

18Rule,ch.58 22Rule, ch. 63. 26 Rule, ch. 2.

19 Prologue. 23 Rule, ch. 63. 27 Rule, ch. 7.

20 Prologue. 24 Rule, ch. 5. 28 Rule, ch. 4.

21 Prologue. 25 Rule, ch. 7. 29 Rule, ch. 4.

30 Rule,ch.4. 31 Rule. ch. 36. 32Rule. ch. 72.

33 Rule. ch.58.34 Prologue. 35 Conference, Louvain, 1905.

36Conference, Louvain, 1909. 37 Conference, Maredret. July 18th. 1917.

Dear Oblates( and our postulants, novices and friends,

Last year was a whirlwind—new Bishop, Hugh, new Abbot, Anselm, new superior Fr. Gregory for St Mary’s Petersham our daughter-house, new superior(or return of an “old” one) Fr. Ambrose for Kristo Buase monastery. Many of the monastery tasks have moved round. We have a new, altered (more demanding?—well earlier rising!) timetable which you will find in outline below for your convenience (in fuller form on the website)

“What about you?” I seem to hear you ask, wondering if I have escaped these changerounds. Well we’re all involved in the new timetable, no doubt about that. But so far my biggest change – apart from now being stipendiary ( at least while in residence I say mysteriously!) and keeper of the “necrology”( you can ask me when next you see me!) and keeper of the’ Pluscarden Benedictines’ magazine (I’m now to blame if it goes astray!)---I’ve to go to keep Fr. Ambrose company at Kristo Buase from the 2

of April to the 1

of July—three weeks before the Oblate Weekend! I’m sure there will be someone on hand to see you when you come in my absence and answering for me here either by email ( or forwarding) or by post, though not yet chosen at time of writing. During those three months my address will be: Kristo Buase Monastery, PO Box TM-291, Techiman, B/A, Ghana, West Africa, but it takes about a fortnight if you’re lucky, for mail. Email is FAO Fr. Martin Birrell (there is a Br. Martin-- for whom please pray --- so surname may avoid confusion ) email ph. +233 35 209 3150 –irregular service.(to some extent by whatever means!)

So amidst all these practicalities and nuts & bolts of preparing for Oblate weekends,etc. Blessed Dom Marmion is keeping us centred on Christ as monks and Oblates and Christians, in a stability of the heart centred on Christ.

“Who can separate us form the love of Christ?”

BOOKS

Blessed Columba Marmion

was born1858 Dublin and died 1928 .He was the monastic mentor of the founder of our community, Aelred Carlyle, who founded Caldey where we are going next year, please God. His principal books which are very readable and ideal for lectio are:

'Christ, the Life of the

Soul'

(1917)which marks the opening of a new era in spirituality, inaugurating as it did the celebrated trilogy which was completed by

'Christ in His Mysteries'

(1919), and

'Christ the Ideal of the Monk'

in 1922.

'Christ the Ideal of the Priest'

, published posthumously in 1951, is the final consummation of his work.

rayer Intentions

Please pray for

Bishop Hugh,

Abbot Anselm, Brother Simon, Br. Jakub & our sick monks. Please pray for

vocations to the monastery.

We pray for The Repose of the Soul of Oblate

Mary

Catherine

Peirce our N

ew Oblates:

Grant

Margaret of Scotland

Farley-Sutton & Jean

Catherine

MacDonald Johnstone

Postulant:

Campbell Murdoch

Please pray for all the

sick & especially: Beth Fallows----sorry Beth, I missed you out! Gail Schmitz, Marie Claire Hernandez, Bob Clark, James Cairns, Martin MacRae, Irene Coultard, David Paterson & his Wife Angela, for Beth Fraser( two Beths), Mary Roche, Poppy Sinclair, Bob Barr, and for all the sick &; their families.

Pentecost Lectures :29th – 31st May 2012 at Pluscarden Abbey--below

Pentecost Lectures continued:-Professor Lewis Ayres, Bede professor of Catholic Theology at the University of Durham. “You Have Revealed Your Glory”—the Mystery of the Trinity Tuesday 2.45 –last lecture Thursday AM 10.15. Free –open to all ( but I think the accommodation is spoken for—you can check for a cancellation non-residents more than welcome-please indicate coming –for the soup!

OBLATE WEEKEND

JULY 27

TO JULY 30

2012, This Year

-please let me know if you intend to come.

The monastic guesthouses are booked up already

Here is a list of those booked: Pamela Nelson-Shaw, Tricia Kirby, Ursula Humphrey, Pat Fernandez, Morris family, Brigitte Mackay, Georgina Quinn, Jane Coll, Ann Morgan, Barbara Van Rooyen, Glynis Stranraer-Mull.(Awaiting cnmacellation Rebecka Winell-Reid).Men: Martin Gardner,Pat Carrigan, Terry Kirby, Chartlie Muir, Jim Bradley, Steve Fennell, Henry Logan, Frederick and Iain Brodie, Fr. Frnacis Wilson (Awaiting cnacellation: Edmund Young & Chris McKeown)

I shall append alternative accommodation to the next Oblate letter as before.

Fr. Abbot (Anselm!) is giving our keynote address. Bishop Richard Moth(Pluscarden Oblate) is giving one of the talks in DVD form as did our Abbot the year before last!

OBLATE WEEKEND

2013

2nd to 5

August on CALDEY ISLAND(WALES!) to commemorate 100

anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. At this stage simply please let me know, Fr. Martin by mail or email (

oblatemaster@pluscardenabbey.org

) ( Your name & contact details) & that you intend to come. (

places only—

Caldey have minimum

charges

& there is the

travel

down to consider)

Groups & Chapters-below

Edinburgh Group

:–If anyone is interested in forming an Edinburgh group please get in touch with Robert Hill

phone him on 07905 407936

St Mungo’s Chapter Glasgow

As announced. Peter Aitken :- 11, Maxwell Grove, Glasgow. G41 5JP Phone:01414272084.

St Margaret’s Chapter Dunfermline.

Pat Carrigan at

Telephone

: 07853 407 913 . Have just held an Advent Retreat!

St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso

. Contact Jane Coll (website manager Benedictine-oblates) on 01847 851701 or

St. Peter’s Chapter

Aberdeen

. 1

Wednesday’s 7.30 Telephone 01224 485 78119 Donview House Seaton Crescent, Seaton, Aberdeen, AB24 1TZ.

St Mary’s Chapter Dundee

. May 21

and dates as agreed 11.30 at St. Mary’s High Street, Lochee, Dundee. -------info. St Mary’s.

Moray Group

Interested in a meeting three to four times a year, in Elgin & Forres and once a year ( of the “Moray Group”) at the Abbey? For the

Moray locals

really! ( ie not Edinburgh & Glasgow or London—rules always have occasional exceptions!) If interested for 2012 then please let me ( Fr. Martin) know by email, letter or otherwise. How about a venue in Elgin on the evening of Wednesday the 21

March??------?

Please Note New Changes to the Abbey timetable as follows:-

Weekdays

Vigils & Lauds 04.30

Prime 35 minutes after Lauds

Conventual Mass &Terce 09.00

Sext 12.35

Followed by lunch

None 14.15

Vespers 17.15

Supper 18.45

Compline 19.45

Sunday

Vigils & Lauds 04.30

Prime 35 minutes after Lauds

Mass (English spoken) 8.00

Terce 9.15

Mass (Sung) 10.00

Sext 12.35

Followed by lunch

None 16.20

Vespers 17.15

supper 18.45

Compline 19.45

LOVE & BLESSINGS FROM,

FR. MARTIN PAX

Oblatemaster

13 November 2011

Oblate Letter 12 Advent Christmas Christmastide 2011

Oblatemaster

13 November 2011

“

Nothing Dearer than Christ”

Oblate letter of the Pluscarden Benedictines, Elgin, Moray, Scotland. IV30

8UA.

Ph.(01343) 890257 fax 890258

Website

www.pluscardenabbey.org

DMB series

No 12

Advent, Christmas and Christmastide

----2011----

Monastic Voice from the Oblatemaster’s Desk

BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE

St. Peter's Square Wednesday, 22 June 2011—His name and his theme make this “

a monastic voice

.” ( suggested by the Nuns of Ryde Abbey which otherwise might have escaped my attention and I bring before yours.):-

“Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In recent catecheses we have reflected on some of the Old Testament figures who are particularly significant for our reflection on prayer. I have talked about Abraham, who interceded for foreign cities, about Jacob, who in his nocturnal struggle received the blessing, about Moses, who invoked forgiveness for his people and about Elijah, who prayed for the conversion of Israel.

With today’s catechesis I would like to begin a new stretch of the journey: instead of commenting on specific episodes of people praying, we shall enter “the book of prayer” par excellence, the Book of Psalms. In the forthcoming catecheses we shall read and meditate on several of the most beautiful Psalms that are dearest to the Church’s tradition of prayer. Today I would like to introduce them by talking about the Book of Psalms as a whole.

The Psalter appears as a “formulary” of prayers, a collection of 150 Psalms which the Biblical Tradition offers the people of believers so that they become their and our prayer, our way of speaking and of relating to God. This Book expresses the entire human experience with its multiple facets and the whole range of sentiments that accompany human existence.

In the Psalms are expressed and interwoven with joy and suffering, the longing for God and the perception of our own unworthiness, happiness and the feeling of abandonment, trust in God and sorrowful loneliness, fullness of life and fear of death. The whole reality of the believer converges in these prayers. The People of Israel first and then the Church adopted them as a privileged mediation in relations with the one God and an appropriate response to God’s self revelation in history.

Since the Psalms are prayers they are expressions of the heart and of faith with which everyone can identify and in which that experience of special closeness to God — to which every human being is called — is communicated. Moreover the whole complexity of human life is distilled in the complexity of the different literary forms of the various Psalms: hymns, laments, individual entreaties and collective supplications, hymns of thanksgiving, penitential psalms, sapiential psalms and the other genres that are to be found in these poetic compositions.

Despite this multiplicity of expression, two great areas that sum up the prayer of the Psalter may be identified: supplication, connected to lamentation, and praise. These are two related dimensions that are almost inseparable since supplication is motivated by the certainty that God will respond, thus opening a person to praise and thanksgiving; and praise and thanksgiving stem from the experience of salvation received; this implies the need for help which the supplication expresses.

In his supplication the person praying bewails and describes his situation of anguish, danger or despair or, as in the penitential Psalms, he confesses his guilt, his sin, asking forgiveness. He discloses his needy state to the Lord, confident that he will be heard and this involves the recognition of God as good, as desirous of goodness and as one who “loves the living” (cf. Wis 11:26), ready to help, to save and to forgive. In this way, for example, the Psalmist in Psalm 31[30] prays: “In you, O Lord, do I seek refuge; let me never be put to shame... take me out of the net which is hidden for me, for you are my refuge” (vv. 2,5). In the lamentation, therefore, something like praise, which is foretold in the hope of divine intervention, can already emerge, and it becomes explicit when divine salvation becomes a reality.

Likewise in the Psalms of thanksgiving and praise, recalling the gift received or contemplating the greatness of God’s mercy, we also recognize our own smallness and the need to be saved which is at the root of supplication. In this way we confess to God our condition as creatures, inevitably marked by death, yet bearing a radical desire for life. The Psalmist therefore exclaims in Psalm 86 [85]: “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name for ever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol” (vv. 12-13). In the prayer of the Psalms, supplication and praise are interwoven in this manner and fused in a single hymn that celebrates the eternal grace of the Lord who stoops down to our frailty.

It was precisely in order to permit the people of believers to join in this hymn that the Psalter was given to Israel and to the Church. Indeed the Psalms teach how to pray. In them, the word of God becomes a word of prayer — and they are the words of the inspired Psalmist — which also becomes the word of the person who prays the Psalms.

This is the beauty and the special characteristic of this Book of the Bible: the prayers it contains, unlike other prayers we find in Sacred Scripture, are not inserted in a narrative plot that specifies their meaning and role. The Psalms are given to the believer exactly as the text of prayers whose sole purpose is to become the prayer of the person who assimilates them and addresses them to God. Since they are a word of God, anyone who prays the Psalms speaks to God using the very words that God has given to us, addresses him with the words that he himself has given us. So it is that in praying the Psalms we learn to pray. They are a school of prayer.

Something similar happens when a child begins to speak, namely, he learns how to express his own feelings, emotions, and needs with words that do not belong to him innately but that he learns from his parents and from those who surround him. What the child wishes to express is his own experience, but his means of expression comes from others; and little by little he makes them his own, the words received from his parents become his words and through these words he also learns a way of thinking and feeling, he gains access to a whole world of concepts and in it develops and grows, and relates to reality, to people and to God. In the end his parents’ language has become his language, he speaks with words he has received from others but which have now become his own.

This is what happens with the prayer of the Psalms. They are given to us so that we may learn to address God, to communicate with him, to speak to him of ourselves with his words, to find a language for the encounter with God. And through those words, it will also be possible to know and to accept the criteria of his action, to draw closer to the mystery of his thoughts and ways (cf. Is 55:8-9), so as to grow constantly in faith and in love.

Just as our words are not only words but teach us a real and conceptual world, so too these prayers teach us the heart of God, for which reason not only can we speak to God but we can learn who God is and, in learning how to speak to him, we learn to be a human being, to be ourselves.

In this regard the title which the Jewish tradition has given to the Psalter is significant. It is called tehillîm, a Hebrew word which means “praise”, from the etymological root that we find in the expression “Alleluia”, that is, literally “praised be the Lord”. This book of prayers, therefore, although it is so multiform and complex with its different literary genres and its structure alternating between praise and supplication, is ultimately a book of praise which teaches us to give thanks, to celebrate the greatness of God’s gift, to recognize the beauty of his works and to glorify his holy Name. This is the most appropriate response to the Lord’s self manifestation and to the experience of his goodness.

By teaching us to pray, the Psalms teach us that even in desolation, even in sorrow, God’s presence endures, it is a source of wonder and of solace; we can weep, implore, intercede and complain, but in the awareness that we are walking toward the light, where praise can be definitive. As Psalm 36[35] teaches us: “with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light” (Ps 36[35]:10).

However, in addition to this general title of the book, the Jewish tradition has given many Psalms specific names, attributing most of them to King David. A figure of outstanding human and theological depth, David was a complex figure who went through the most varied fundamental experiences of life. When he was young he was a shepherd of his father’s flock, then passing through chequered and at times dramatic vicissitudes, he became King of Israel and pastor of the People of God. A man of peace, he fought many wars; unflagging and tenacious in his quest for God, he betrayed God’s love and this is characteristic: he always remained a seeker of God even though he sinned frequently and seriously. As a humble penitent he received the divine pardon, accepted the divine punishment and accepted a destiny marked by suffering. Thus David with all his weaknesses was a king “after the heart of God” (cf. 1 Sam 13:14), that is, a passionate man of prayer, a man who knew what it meant to implore and to praise. The connection of the Psalms with this outstanding King of Israel is therefore important because he is a messianic figure, an Annointed One of the Lord, in whom, in a certain way, the mystery of Christ is foreshadowed.

Equally important and meaningful are the manner and frequency with which the words of the Psalms are taken up in the New Testament, assuming and accentuating the prophetic value suggested by the connection of the Psalter with the messianic figure of David. In the Lord Jesus, who in his earthly life prayed with the Psalms, they were definitively fulfilled and revealed their fullest and most profound meaning.

The prayers of the Psalter with which we speak to God, speak to us of him, speak to us of the Son, an image of the invisible God (Col 1:15), which fully reveals to us the Father’s Face. Christians, therefore, in praying the Psalms pray to the Father in Christ and with Christ, assuming those hymns in a new perspective which has in the paschal mystery the ultimate key to its interpretation. The horizon of the person praying thus opens to unexpected realities, every Psalm acquires a new light in Christ and the Psalter can shine out in its full infinite richness.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us therefore take this holy book in our hands, let us allow God to teach us to turn to him, let us make the Psalter a guide which helps and accompanies us daily on the path of prayer. And let us too ask, as did Jesus’ disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk 11:1), opening our hearts to receive the Teacher’s prayer, in which all prayers are brought to completion. Thus, made sons in the Son, we shall be able to speak to God calling him “Our Father”. Many thanks.”

This Christmas the Holy Father speaks for me without gloss from my“Oblatemaster's Desk”PAX.

Books & Medi

I only mention one media item --Copies are now available of the DVD of Bishop Hugh’s Episcopal Ordination for sale priced at £15.09p(inc. P&P) Cheques made payable to RCD Aberdeen If you would like a copy please contact the parish office who send out DVD’s to anyonefromtheofficehereat:-DiocesanOffice, Bishop’s House,3, Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen, AB15 4XU.The cost is £15 + £1.09 postage .

One word of caution – the DVD is 2½ hours long. Therefore, as it is all on one disc, it is quite hi-tech and may not play on an old or basic machine. It does play through most laptops.

Prayer Intentions

Please pray for

Bishop Hugh,

Abbot Anselm, Brother Simon, Br. Jakub & our sick monks. Please pray for

vocations to the monastery. We pray for our N

ew Oblates: Valentine John Paul Harry

( from Borneo)

Rev. Christopher Mungo Ketley

(of Elgin, for N

ovices

Camillus

( from Borneo).

Postulants:

Alice McLeod, Dr. Joseph McWatt, Julia-Jane Gladwin, Brian Docherty.

Please pray

for the repose of the souls of all Oblates and their relatives throughout the past year.

Please pray for all the sick & especially :Gail Schmitz, Marie Claire Hernandez, Bob Clark, James Cairns, Martin Macrae, Irene Coultard, David Paterson & his Wife, for Beth Fraser, Mary Roche, Poppy Sinclair, and for all the sick & their families.

OBLATE WEEKEND

NEXT YEAR JULY 27

TO JULY 30

2012

-please let me know if you intend to come, God willing. The monastic guesthouses are booked up already(!) barring cancellations.

I shall append alternative accommodation to the next Oblate letter as before.

Fr. Abbot (Anselm!) is giving our keynote address. Bishop Richard Moth(Pluscarden Oblate) is giving one of the talks in DVD form as did our Abbot the year before last!

OBLATE WEEKEND

2013

2nd to 5

August on CALDEY ISLAND(WALES!) to commemorate 100

anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. At this stage simply please let me know, Fr. Martin by mail or email (

oblatemaster@pluscardenabbey.org

) ( Your name & and contact details) & and that you intend to come. (

places only—

Caldey have minimum

charges

& and there is the

travel

down to consider)

Groups & Chapters

Edinburgh Group

:–If anyone is interested in forming an Edinburgh group please get in touch with Robert Hill at

or phone him on 07905 407936

St Mungo’s Chapter Glasgow

As announced. Peter Aitken :- 11, Maxwell Grove, Glasgow. G41 5JP Phone:01414272084.

St Margaret’s Chapter Dunfermline.

Pat Carrigan at

smcb_oblates@live.co.uk

or Telephone

: 07853 407 913 . Have just held an Advent Retreat!

St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso

. Contact Jane Coll (website manager Benedictine-oblates) on 01847 851701 or

St. Peter’s Chapter

Aberdeen

. 1

Wednesday’s 7.30 . Telephone 01224 485 78119 Donview House Seaton Crescent, Seaton, Aberdeen, AB24 1TZ.

St Mary’s Chapter Dundee

. May 21

and dates as agreed 11.30 at St. Mary’s High Street, Lochee, Dundee. -------info. St Mary’s.

Moray Group

Interested in a meeting three to four times a year, in Elgin & Forres and once a year ( of the “Moray Group”) at the Abbey? For the

Moray locals

really! ( ie not Edinburgh & Glasgow or London—rules always have occasional exceptions!) If interested for 2012 then please let me ( Fr. Martin) know by email, letter or otherwise

---------------------------------------------

UK Oblate Retreat 2012 at Buckfast Abbey: Sensing the Sacred

Sisters Miriam and Judith, both from Turvey Abbey, will be leading a retreat for UK oblates from 27th to 29th February 2012 at Buckfast Abbey. Twenty-five places available; please contact Stephen Day for information on costs and bookings on 01453 860367. Other Turvey events (at Turvey) are:-1) 31

August -2

September 2012 (Oblates + others) on Lectio Divina.. 2)“The Benedictine way”, 26-28

October 2012 on Benedictine Spirituality for Oblates.--Contact Sister Judith

judith2.maureen@turveyabbey.org.uk

Do visit the website

Benedictine Oblates

referred to below which is very informative about events, monasteries, resources and for example Scotland's only Benedictine Monastery of women ( at present).

OBLATES WEBSITE Calling all

Pluscarden

Oblates.

Many of you enjoy surfing Oblate Websites including the UK OBLATES WEBSITE. Well please don't only look at it DO SOMETHING! Send in your item(s) for possible inclusion- text and pictures and music (relevant!) to our very own webmaster

jane_coll@yahoo.com

(there is a wee subscript line between jane and coll!)Support the local team, please!

May the peace and blessing of almighty God, the +Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit come

down upon each of you now and forever. Amen.

With much love in Christ to each of you this Christmas.

Happy Christmas

Fr. Martin

Oblatemaster

1 November 2011

Oblate Letter 11 Autumn Triumph of the Cross 2011

Oblatemaster

1 November 2011

“

Nothing Dearer than Christ”

Oblate letter of the Pluscarden Benedictines, Elgin, Moray, Scotland. IV30 8UA.

Ph.(01343) 890257 fax 890258

Website

www.pluscardenabbey.org

DMB series No 11

Autumn-- Triumph of the Cross---2011

Monastic Voice From The Oblatemaster’s Desk

“Where is the strength of Christ?' Horns are in his hands, there is his strength hid.' Indeed horns are in his hands, because his hands were nailed to the arms of the cross. But what strength is there in such weakness, what height in such lowliness? What is there to be venerated in such abjection? Surely something is hidden by this weakness, something is concealed by this humility. There is something mysterious in this abjection. O hidden strength: a man hangs on a cross and lifts the load of eternal death from the human race; a man nailed to wood looses the bonds of everlasting death that hold fast the world. 0 hidden power: a man condemned with thieves saves men condemned with devils, a man stretched out on the gibbet draws all men to himself. O mysterious strength: one soul coming forth from torment draws countless souls with him out of hell, a man submits to the death of the body and destroys the death of souls. Good Lord, living Redeemer, mighty Saviour, why did you conceal such power under such humility? Was it that you might deceive the devil, who by deceiving man had thrown him out of paradise? But truth deceives no one. He who is ignorant or does not believe the truth, deceives himself, and whoever sees the truth and hates or despises it, deceives himself. But truth itself deceives no one. ……..You did not assume human nature to conceal what was known of yourself, but to reveal what was not known…… The thing was itself a mystery, not made mysterious. It was not done like this so that it might be hidden, but so that it might be accomplished in the way ordained”.--St Anselm,

Benedictine monk of Bec, Normandy, later Abbot & later still Archbishop of Canterbury wrote this “Meditation on Human Redemption.” His “Monastic” voice is singularly appropriate as we celebrate the elevation of two of our Benedictine monks of our monastery, French in its roots, one to the episcopate and the other to the abbatial office. Abbot emeritus Hugh is now Bishop of Aberdeen and Fr Anselm (whose patron we have quoted) is now our new Abbot. The Rule says Ch 49 that

“

The life of a monk ought always to be a Lenten observance,” and so the Triumph of The Cross which falls about this same time of the issue of this 11

Oblate Letter of Autumn re-echoes our monastic voice of St. Anselm, on the dying and the fruitfulness of the Cross, each truly being a part of the double elevations we celebrate. The Diocese of Aberdeen has lost a bishop & gained a bishop. The Abbey of Pluscarden has lost an abbot & gained an abbot. The monastery of St Mary’s has lost a long-time superior and is confident in the Resurrection and the Triumph of the Cross! In all this there is both Lent & Easter, the Cross & the Triumph which continues in hope.

The Church, the Diocese of Aberdeen, the Abbey of Pluscarden, the monasteries of St Scholastica’s & St. Mary’s Petersham are all in pilgrimage together to and with the Lord. Our new Abbot Anselm has just reminded us in one of his first conferences to his community at Pluscarden that we are like the disciples on pilgrimage to Emmaus as we journey into the future. “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" (Luke 24.26) Did we not realise that we must suffer the Cross of loss to receive new life—the Church, the Diocese, our monasteries? Jn. 3.16-- “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God does not ask of us what He has not done first the Gospel of the Triumph of the Cross reminds us. He gave His only Son. God is eternally emptying Himself that He may be filled with the plenitude of His life in the Holy Trinity, one God. “The thing was itself a mystery, not made mysterious. It was not done like this so that it might be hidden, but so that it might be accomplished in the way ordained”—The Triumph of the Cross… “Indeed horns are in his hands, because his hands were nailed to the arms of the cross. But what strength is there in such weakness, what height in such lowliness?

NB:The Section” Books and Media”is “on the shelf”in this issue because of excess of news!

Prayer Intentions and Events.

ELEVATIONS:-

We are pleased to announce the election of Abbot Anselm Atkinsonwho is a “son of the

Wirral

”, a peninsula

near

Liverpool, apologies, correction! Owing to the recent appointment of Abbot Hugh Gilbert as bishop of Aberdeen and his Episcopal Ordination on the 15

of August we the monks of Pluscarden have had to elect a new superior. On Tuesday 9th August, Dom Anselm Atkinson was elected by the monks as third Abbot of Pluscarden. His election was confirmed by Abbot Bruno Marin, Abbot President of the Subiaco Congregation. Dom Anselm was duly installed as Abbot by the Right Reverend Francis Baird, Abbot of Prinknash Abbey, acting on Abbot Bruno's behalf. The date for Abbot Anselm's blessing will be the third of October.

Abbot Anselm made his first monastic vows at Pluscarden in 1976 at the age of nineteen. He was ordained priest in 1982 by the Right Reverend Mario Conti, who was then Bishop of Aberdeen. He was sent to study at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, where he gained a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture. Since the late 1980s he has been permanently resident at our daughter house in Petersham, Massachusetts, where he was Superior until his election as Abbot of Pluscarden. In 2003 he was elected Abbot Visitor, which entails monitoring the progress of all the monasteries in our province.

We warmly invite all our Oblates &; friends to join their prayers to ours in thanksgiving for Abbot Anselm's election and to support him in his future ministry. Please pray for Bishop Hugh Gilbert too! Br. Simon is making his Simple Profession on the 14

September, please God.

Please pray for

vocations to the monastery & for our Noviciate. Continue to pray & in thanks for the Scottish Ordinariate especially for newly-ordained

Len Black (Diaconate Pluscarden, Priesthood in Greenock) and his flock in Inverness & all his charges throughout Scotland! We pray also for

our

Br Gregory now Carthusian

Gregory ordained 31

August! We pray for new Oblates Paul Francis

Cuthbert

Graham, Barbara

Thérèse

Van Rooyen, Henry

Francis

Logan, Lady Joan

Teresa Benedicta

Innes,(“Joy”)Johanna

John Ev.

Baillie, Rev. Donald

John

Bptst

. Prentice & Philip

Elizabeth of Hungary

Hammond, for novice, Rev. Dr. Michael Ross, and for postulants, Lilian Bailey, Roger Gleaves, Alice McLeod, Marie Cumming, Tony Parr, Rebecka Winell-Reid, Mark Trimming & Georgina Quinn.Pray for our Provincial chapter at Pluscarden 5-9 Sept.

Please pray

for the repose of the souls of:- Br. Michael’s Mother, Oblate,

Sylvia Mary de Klerk,

for Phil Hammond’s Sister, Frances, Eileen Kerr’s Husband Alec, James Cairn’s Sister-in-law Faye.

Please pray for all the sick especially

Bob Barr with failing sight,

Gail Schmitz, Marie Clare Fernandez, Bob Clark, James Cairns, Martin Macrae, Irene Coultard, David Paterson & his Wife, for Beth Fraser, Mary Roche, Poppy Sinclair, and for all the sick.

OBLATE WEEKEND

NEXT

YEAR JULY 27

TO JULY 30

2012

OBLATE WEEKEND

2013

2nd to 5

August on CALDEY ISLAND (WALES!) to commemorate 100

anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. At this stage simply please let me know (name & contact details) that you intend to come. (

places only—

Caldey have minimum charges & there is the travel down to consider)

Edinburgh Group

–

if anyone is interested in forming an Edinburgh group please get in touch with Robert Hill at or phone him on 07905 407 936

St Mungo’s Chapter Glasgow

. As announced. Peter Aitken 11, Maxwell Grove, Glasgow. G41 5JP. Phone:0141 4272084.

St Margaret’s Chapter Dunfermline.

Pat Carrigan ------------at

or Telephone

: 07853 407 913 .

of June they had an anniversary Mass

St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso

. Contact Jane Coll (website manager Benedictine-oblates) on 01847 851701 or at

jane_coll@yahoo.com

St. Peter’s Chapter

Aberdeen

. 1

Wednesday’s 7.30

Telephone 01224 485 78119 Donview House Seaton Crescent, Seaton, Aberdeen, AB24 1TZ.

St Mary’s Chapter Dundee

. May 21

and dates as agreed 11.30 at St. Mary’s High Street, Lochee, Dundee. -------info. St Mary’s,.

PRAYERFUL BLESSINGS ON THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS

Fr Martin pax