OBLATE LETTER 18 SUMMER BIRTH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST


“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 18
Summer--Birth of St John the Baptist--2013
Monastic Voice of a century ago from Caldey Benedictine Abbey:-
"Our Purpose and Method"---Abbot Aelred Carlyle "A Need of the Church        Years ago, in a sermon by Father Maturin, I heard some words which have been an inspiration ever since. Speaking of ideals he said: "Paint your picture in strong colours, keep it ever before you, and strive to live up to it; if you do this conscientiously, you will not find yourself very much out in the end." And what was my picture? The Church of England—Catholic in Constitution—in Tradition—the Mother of the English people—indigenous to the soil on which had lived and died so many holy Monks and Nuns—with her Orders—her Sacraments—her Jurisdiction—her Cathedrals intact—with activities so numerous and well arranged: and yet, without one single Monastery of the Benedictine Rule remaining, of which so many formed her crown three hundred years ago—nothing left but desolate and empty ruins—the voice of praise silent in the moss-grown choirs—no home for weary souls and loving hearts—no men to be found for the work of prayer—and no room for such. But were there really no men? Was there no room? My picture told me there were both.
            I saw a Revival of the Spiritual Life spreading through England, with here and there men waiting and longing for the opportunity of withdrawing themselves from the hurried life of the day, to seek the peace and regulated discipline of the Cloister. I thought that surely if the need were felt, it would be met; that Authority would once more sanction the system which had so abundantly flourished, and been so blessed in the past. The revival of external activity in the Church, the increased effectiveness of parochial work, the growing love and appreciation of the Sacraments, the care lavished on the fabrics themselves and upon the ornaments of the sanctuary, all showed that a corresponding revival of the Interior Life was needed, nay demanded, as a balance to this marked increase of exterior organization. And that as the Catholic Church in all ages has possessed her Religious Communities, so now, after her long sleep, the Church in England, roused at last to the realization of her Catholic heritage, would awake to the fact that she alone in Catholic Christendom possessed few Religious Houses for men, and none dedicated solely to the Life of Prayer.
            Thus our little work has been to gather together a nucleus of men animated with the desire of reviving under Authority the practice of the Rule of S. Benedict. The Authority has been granted, and of men eager to try their vocations there is no lack.
 The Necessity of Slow Growth           In a work of this sort, fraught with so many difficulties, slow and steady growth was to be desired, rather than a rapid increase. We had to profit by our own mistakes, as well as by those of others: great care had to be taken with individuals, so that the nucleus might be strong, and able to stand the addition of fresh material from without. It was gradually found that only men of a certain type were suitable, that all who professed to have a vocation were not to be credited until they had proved it. Many were at once found to be unsuitable, others required a prolonged trial to discover that they were not called to the Life; and so from time to time a careful weeding out has been necessary, and new men are very cautiously taken. Our practice now is to make our door with a very small aperture for entrance, and a very wide one for departure.
Signs of Vocation        An applicant must have certain qualifications which will commend him to the Community; he must have a blameless past, for which he can provide sufficient reference; his health must be good: and in most cases he must be under the age of twenty-five. It is desirable, also, that a man should come from work at which he is earning his own living, and it is essential that he should be free from all other obligations to his family and to his secular life. So much for this aspect of his vocation. Spiritually, he must feel that God is really calling him to a life of closer union with Himself, and that, with a great desire of self-dedication in his heart, he will persevere in spite of obstacles.
The Four Seals            as they are called, of a Benedictine Vocation, are laid down in the Holy Rule as follows: and it is by these signs that the seniors are bidden to judge of new-comers. The Benedictine Novice must (1) truly seek God, (2) show himself fervent in the Work of God, (3) be eager for Obedience, (4) and Humiliation. A little thought will show that these Four Seals practically cover the whole ground of a man's spiritual life. He who truly seeks God and is fervent in the work of the Divine Praise will be chaste, honest, and conscientious. He who is obedient and humble will be contented, unselfish, and cheerful."
From  The  Oblatemaster’s  Desk
            Yes this is the year of the Caldey conversion and before I go farther I must correct an error in the last oblate Letter. The appearance of our Lady at a monastic forerunner of Caldey was at Llanthony in Wales not Painesthorpe.
            With the help of God sixteen  oblates, eight form Prinknash, eight from Pluscarden,  are going with four monks, to Caldey Abbey(Cistercian) from the 2nd to the 5th August, shortly.
            The above "monastic Voice" from the(to us) well-known source "Our Purpose & Method" by  Abbot Aelred Carlyle ( our "founder") was written when the community on Caldey were all Anglicans despite its specialised reference to themselves even then prophetically in some sense as "Catholic".
            I think we can all sense very familiar aspects of monastic life " painted" in "strong colours"-- colours still recognisable in our own lives as monks and oblates of Pluscarden. The monastery is the great master & apprentice teacher of us all under God and the elements once in place are passed on , handed on, the tradition.
            The Rule of St Benedict itself is that tradition. That was the blueprint that led the Caldey monks first into monastic life, then deeper and deeper into the contemplative heart of the Church until incorporated into that Catholic mystical Body in the fullest sense.
            St Thérése of Lisieux Carmelite Doctor of the Church and patroness of the missions, saw that the contemplative vocation of love from within incorporates us into the very heart of the Church. The contemplative heart of the Church and of the Christian is as essential as the heart to the human body. Monks and Benedictine Oblates have this charism which is not superficial or dispensable .
          Prayer Intentions  For vocations at Pluscarden, St Mary's, Petersham & Kristo Buase. For Br. Adrian in his Diamond Jubliee year and Fr. Ambrose in his silver Jubilee year of profession. Br Gabriel’s mother failing and Br. Antony’s father, Benjamin, RIP and Oblate Mary Roche RIP
Our new Oblates: Lorn Adomnan Macintyre and Fiona Bernadette Sellar. Please pray for emeritus Pope Benedict & his successor Pope Francis,  and please pray also for Cardinal Keith Patrick and for all the vacancies in the episcopate in Scotland. Please pray for sick Oblates especially for Sarah Drever’s husband Leslie,Anne Morgan's brother-heart surgery, Mrs. Gertrude Corker’s two daughters, for Bob Barr, Brian Milne, Mary Buist, Gail Schmitz and her son Antony-- kidney transplant, Beth Fraser & her husband Chris, Marie Claire Hérnandez, Bob Clark(poorly), Nick Macrae’s son, Martin Macrae, Dr.David Paterson & his wife Angela, Jacqui’s daughter, Sally, Deacon William Joss, Margaret Barrett ( heart surgery), Poppy Sinclair, Ian Brodie, Carolyn Boardman & son Malcolm, Val Farrelly, Margaret Rawcliffe  David Braine, philosopher, Susan Stephen, Violet and all friends of the Abbey and for all oblates, friends and the sick, and those who care for them. For Sr.Claire of Ryde Abbey) better health.
BOOKS"The Conscience of our Age" by Fr Vincent Twomey SVD ( missionary priest) who gave our Pentecost lectures this year which were much acclaimed and appreciated.--A close, long-time associate of emeritus Pope Benedict presents a unique theological and personal portrait of the Pope that gives wonderful insights to both his teachings, and the man himself. This work on our last Pope, important in its unique approach to the thought and person of he who was as Pontiff, is a help for Christians everywhere to better understand him, his leadership and his role as  one of the most respected spiritual teachers in the world. Ignatius Press ISBN 978-1-58617-170-4 priced £13.05

CTS Pamphlet Understanding The Story Of The Bible By: Eileen Clare Grant £2.50 Format: A6 Booklet Publication Date: 10/May/2013-----Catholics have been encouraged since the Second Vatican Council to become more familiar with the Holy Bible, yet many still find it a daunting book. The Lectionary gives generous extracts throughout the liturgical year, but at the cost of losing sight of the historical context of each extract.
In order to recover our sense of the narrative as a whole, we need to understand Salvation History as the true history of the world, from creation and fall to salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ,leading to eternal happiness in God.
About the author---Eileen Clare Grant works as a freelance editor and RCIA catechist in the Diocese of Aberdeen, and has written for PB, the Tablet, the Sower and Magnificat, as well as the Aberdeen diocesan magazine. She is a Benedictine oblate of Pluscarden Abbey.
" Understanding the Story of the Bible ", by Eileen Clare Grant, a Benedictine oblate of Pluscarden Abbey. This surveys carefully chosen strategic landmarks of the Old Testament, arriving at the New Covenant only in the last chapter: it is all designed to prepare us for the story of Our Lord’s Birth, “in the fullness of time”, It is, in fact, a brilliant preliminary introduction to the New Testament itself. 
The community magazine Pluscarden Benedictines: subscription of £5, or £10 airmail. We are trying to build up our subscription list. If you would like to go on the mailing list, please contact The Editor(Fr. Bede) of Pluscarden Benedictines at the Abbey.
Events ----- Pilgrimage 30th June NB!
The Next Oblate Congress(near Rome!) is October 10th to the 14th  2013. UK monasteries have been allocated 13 places at the World Congress of Oblates in Rome 10-14 October 2013 where the theme is 'Obsculta' - the Oblate listening in the World'. Martin Gardner and Jim Bradley are representing Pluscarden. Thank you both.
OBLATE WEEKEND 2013
2nd to 5th August on CALDEY ISLAND (WALES!)Principal speaker Fr. Aelred Baker of Prinknash; expert on the origins. Also Fr. Giles on " After Caldey". This is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. All the places are taken already though you can go on a short leet for a cancellation There are 20 places & those intending coming already:-4 monks:- 1. Fr Aelred Baker 2. Fr. Giles Connacher 3 Dom Michael De Klerk. 4. Fr. Martin Birrell + * Pluscarden Oblates 5. Jim Bradley    6 Christina Nicol 7. Marie Cumming 8.. Rebecka Winell-Reid, 9 Martin Gardner  10 Joseph Ly 11. Margaret Kessack 12. Leonora Duson + 8 Prinknash Oblates:-13.Pam Morey, 14. Stephen Day, 15. Christina Caldwell, 16. Mary Jones, 17. Robert Jones, 18 Dr Sarah Richards  19.Sally Mercer ,20 John Vivian.=20 on  the boat at 2.30 pm pier in Tenby Friday August 2nd. Again 20 arrive from Caldey at Tenby pier 11.00  am Monday 5th August.
 We may plan to give a statue of St. Samson, Caldey's patron- but we have an awful lot of the £2000  still to raise in a very short time if the sculptor is to have time to carve it!(donations Br. Michael- cellarer, please)
“Oblate, Highland Caldey roundup” August 20th-22nd (two nights—one full day) 21st: 10.30 am DVD of Caldey Talks 2.45 pm DVD of Caldey Island
    Each of the two guest houses AT PLUSCARDEN has been set aside for this. 7 places for men left, and 10 for ladies. Ladies are self-catering – but I take it upon me that the ladies will have two meals provided at St Scholastica's on the 21st by the locals (monks & Pluscarden Oblates)—if staying other days as well (as negotiated with Fr. Bede individually) then they must themselves bring farther food apart from those two meals on the 21st. Their main costs are the travel.    All wanting to come should book now. Open season now for everyone for this event!(oblates, postulants, novices) You can come just for the day--residents front seats!
INVITATION FROM PAM MOREY, PRINKNASH OBLATE, ON THEIR BEHALF: Now looking ahead.... 2014: the Prinknash Annual Oblate Day, Sunday 13th July 2014
 Pam Morey is the organiser.----(If you’re interested I’ll forward your details to Pam--Fr.Martin--I'll put the fuller details in again in the Autumn or Winter-- see the last Oblate Letter 17)
St Mungo’s Chapter Glasgow. As announced. Peter Aitken 11, Maxwell Grove, Glasgow. G41 5JP.  Phone:0141 4272084.
St Margaret’s Chapter Dunfermline. Had a meeting a few days ago-this letter just too late to advertise! Sorry.    Pat Carrigan         smcb_oblates@live.co.uk   
   
St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso. Contact Jane Coll. "Scaraben”, Westside, Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness, KY14 8YD. Phone 01847 851467    
St. Peter’s Chapter Aberdeen. St.Peter’s Chapter Oblates Group Having a sabbatical while Brian Milne recovers his health ( please pray).
St  Mary’s Chapter Dundee.   Dates as announced, at St. Mary’s High Street, Lochee, Dundee. -------information from St Mary’s, or samsiamese@googlemail.com 
Moray Group:  Next meeting---as arranged--Kathie Moar .
Ugandan Seminarian appeal for Sponsors.
The Oblates currently sponsor two Ugandan Seminarians for the Priesthood. The first Seminarian, Dominic, is in his third of four years at the Junior Seminary. His funding is secure for 2014 and into the future as the Oblates have committed to sponsor him.
The second Seminarian, Josaphat, has funding only up until the end of 2013. It is hoped that in January 2014 he will go to the Major Seminary for 3 years of Philosophy & Theology. Presently there is no funding for this.
I am therefore repeating my appeal for further sponsors for 20 year old Josaphat for 2014 and onwards in the form of “one off donations” or preferably small monthly standing orders. Please also remember them both in your prayers.For further detail or clarification please contact me, Paul Costello  at:-
4, Commercial Road, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 9BD. e-mail:- paulandjocostello@btinternet.com
Phone:-01358-721512 or Mobile:- 07762-432080
  
LOVE &  BLESSINGS., MAY GOD GRANT YOU RESTORATIVE  RECREATION  OVER THE SUMMER     SEASON,
YOURS ALWAYS in CHRIST & S.P.N.B.,
                        Fr Martin        PAX



Caldey Programme
                Friday 2nd August
               
                Arrive Tenby in time for
               
                2.30 pm crossing
               
                3.30 arrive guest house Caldey
                informal greetings tea & coffee
                  
                17.30 Vespers
                18.15 Supper
               
      19.35 Compline
               
          Saturday
           3rd   August 
vigils 3.30 am
            6.00 am Lauds
 6.45 am   Holy Mass 
8.15 Breakfast
 8.50 am Terce

 thereafter chance for confession or speak with a priest 

Sext    12.15 
Dinner 12.30 
none at St Philomena 14.20
     followed by talk one Fr Aelred Baker on the Caldey Conversinon
              16.00 talk two, Fr Giles Cladey  to Pluscarden
             17,30 Vespers
 supper 18.15
compline 19.30

Sunday
4th  August
 vigils 3.30
               6.30 am Lauds 
 8.30 Breakfast

  10.30 am Terce & Holy Mass
            sext   12.15
 Dinner 12.30 
14.20 None 

           
            Guided Tour

                       
16.45 Holy Hour
 & Vespers

            supper 18.15

Compline 19.30
          
   Monday
5th August
( vigils 3.30a.m.)
         6.00 am Lauds 
      6.45 HolyMass

          8.15?    Breakfast

        (8.45 am Terce)
     

    Ca.7.30- 10.30 am Boat departure 11.00--very approximate am Tenby..

             wend our ways!
PAX!

                 Below part of a Sermon preached by the Anglican Fr Ignatius of Llantony on the apparitions to Anglicans there pre-dating  Abbot Aelred's Caldey  Abbey. Some monks went from Llantony to the Caldey Abbey carrying this heritage with them.                "Eight altogether saw the Blessed Virgin: three men, one woman and four healthy boys. And now let me tell you what I feel to be the meaning and value of the Apparitions. First they show the truth and reality of the faith which Christian people have in the supernatural. Then they are of great value to the Church of England because there has been so much of the supernatural in other parts of the Church, and the Church of England has been without the least  sign of it for so long a period"
                The trajectory of these Apparitions a century on has led to the carved stone capitals, carved by sculptor Philip Chatfield in Pluscarden's squint through to the Blessed Sacrament/Lady chapel --a trajectory of faith.      


OBLATE LETTER 17 LENT EASTER SPRING 2013


“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 17
Lent  and Easter, Spring--2013 

Monastic Voice of sixty-six years ago at Pluscarden:-

“My Dear Oblate,
I promised to talk about prayer. I still hesitate to plunge. These waters are deep. Yet, it still remains that prayer is an art, a thing to be learned in much the same way as we learn all natural things; by thought and by effort.  But indeed since prayer is also essentially supernatural, it is therefore easier than any natural "art.” Natural art depends upon man’s natural talents. Not everybody can become a pianist or a painter because God never intended that everybody be pianist or painter. But He intends that everyone should be a pray-er. What God intended us to be, we can be. You can be a pray-er. I will go further. In so far as you are not a pray-er, in so far you are a failure in life. Hard words you might think but I fear plain, simple truth. .
              My first task then is to bring home to you this deep and vital necessity for prayer--not for prayers. Does that sound odd?  Possibly. When later we have more clarified what prayer means, you will see why we often play upon the words "prayer" and "prayers". It is possible to say many prayers without ever falling into prayer. It was to this Our Lord referred to when He warned against much speaking in prayer.
              Why do I say that in so far as you are not praying, your life is failing? When in doubt, look up your catechism. Why did God make you? To know Him, love Him and serve Him. Any part of your life that cannot be included under one of those three headings is waste. Does this mean every time I wash dishes I am wasting my time unless I am praying all the time I wash the dishes? Can I never go to a cinema or a dance anymore, because these don't seem to connect up with knowing God or loving God or serving God? Well to answer this let me reverse it. When you are washing the dishes do you regard this as something quite apart from God? When you go dancing, do you think that God is not particularly interested or possibly not aware? I suppose your real answer to such questions is that you have never given them a thought.  I mean that when you go to a dance you go to a dance. You are not particularly aware of God beforehand or during it or after it. But I do want you to analyse your day, your work and your amusements. God is aware of them. God loves you and is willing to love everything you do. St. Paul says quite definitely “Whatever you do, whether you eat or drink or sleep, do in charity”, and charity is love. In all that you do, it is possible to serve God. The way to do it is to immerse the things you do in prayer.  You are Oblates. You have promised or are in training to promise to bring your life into line with St. Benedict's Rule. In the first paragraph of the prologue you will find St. Benedict instructing you about what to do before you begin any work at all ; and by work he just means any action. I leave it to you to look up the Rule for yourself.
              Let us turn to a practical suggestion. Obviously what we require is the thought of God returning steadily through the day to the mind. Then when the thought returns, seize on it and dedicate the present action whatever it is quite deliberately and consciously to God. We will say something in later letters about the best way of doing this, which is through Mary. For the moment I merely mention it.
              Now it is surely obvious that the business of the remembrance of God through the day is a thing that can be built up by natural effort. We can think up devices, tricks of the trade, so to speak will help. Some people for instance learned when they were young at school to say a certain ejaculation whenever the clock struck. When l was young and first realising the necessity of prayer, I used to put six small stones in my right-hand pocket. The feel of the stones reminded me to say a prayer. Daft maybe but it worked. My point is that you can do something for yourself and just wait for God to work a miracle and make you a pray-er. He gave your wits to be used for just such things as well as for earning your living.
              To return to Holy Rule, which I remind you is supposed to become your guide, you will find St. Benedict recommends frequency in prayer. You should frequent prayer as some people frequent pubs. At the back of the book of statutes(1957) you will find the very brief Office.(“The Little Office”-see last Oblate Letter, DMB-substitute for Morning & Evening prayer of the Divine Office if too hard!) It hardly takes a -minute to say. Its value lies in the fact that it is to be said several times a day. Learn it. Find some way of dividing your day into seven parts" Then build into this habit of reciting the Oblates’ (“Little”) Office (as opposed to our presently recommended Morning & Evening prayer of the Divine Office unless this is too hard.) Is that asking too much of people who are so anxious to be supported by the prayers of Monks? I will be interested to hear your views on all this, especially if it simply puzzles you.
              Sincerely yours in St Benedict,
                                                          Dom Maurus O.S.B.
                                                   Oblate Master”(1957)
“Community Notes(1957)
Building has broken out at the priory again. Not much, 3 or 4 men and a minimum of scaffolding. May be it's an exaggeration to call it building. It is chiefly pointing for the sake of preservation. But it’s still something that needed to be done. We still await news about our hope for a grant to replace the worn-out roof on our Living Quarters. These things take a long time and it looks as if the tin patches and the tarpaulin sheet must do duty for the coming winter.”
BOOKS
“The Life of St. Benedict by Gregory the Great”- translation and commentary. –byTerence Kardong. This work is so often overlooked and ignored but should not be by any serious oblate. Entering into the spirit of the dialogues, Fr. Terence offers us a lucid translation and a sensible commentary that explores the meaning of this spiritual classic. His vast knowledge allows him to link the text both to the Scriptures and to the spiritual tradition. His typical enthusiasm underlines the importance of St. Benedict’s spiritual development. Fr. Terence’s clarity makes this work accessible to anyone interested in the spiritual life.” Dom Henry Hagan OSB—Collegeville, Minnesota, Liturgical Press. 2009. ISBN 978-0-8146-3262-8 (pbk.)£13.50p(new)
Lent with St. Benedict  by Bede Frost—“This classic work republished in a new and updated version, is addressed to Christians living in the diverse, secular world outside the monastic community.£26.74(new)
From  The  Oblatemaster’s  Desk
              Peter Aitken, convener of our Glasgow Oblates’ meetings got in touch with me recently (as he does regularly) and told me the good fortune of his treasure trove. An Oblate friend had made available to him all the Oblate Letters of the late Fr. Maurus, of blessed memory, may he rest in peace. He was offering them to me ( I said “YES!”) in batches as he re-read them himself. “A full measure will be poured into your lap..” Here was I wondering what would cross the Oblatemaster’s desk when lo and behold –Presto!
              Many sudden and unexpected things have crossed the tablets of our minds, perforce, these last few months and weeks, not least the end of the papacy of Pope emeritus Benedict xvi for whose papacy we have just sung a Te Deum today at the Abbey on the 28th of February.
              We have had many other things challenging in their way both at home and abroad recently; I say challenging, why? I say challenging because they are like the summons of the Lord to us as to the first disciples to “ Stay awake!” and pray with him for one hour. ( Later today and tomorrow, on our day of Recollection, we are having a Holy Hour.) I say “challenging” because we as Monks and Oblates are being challenged to actually do what we are meant to be doing all the time—praying. Raising our hands and our hearts and minds to the Lord on behalf of the Church as of ourselves.
              This is a happy privilege for us! It is always a wonderful thing to be asked to do what we ought to be doing anyway. The Lord always gives us the grace to do what we ought to be doing; what a happiness!
              And so it is a doubly happy providence that has made Peter Aitken’s eye and my  eye light upon this Oblate letter on “Prayer” –one of many—offered by Fr. Maurus 66 years ago, may he rest in peace!
Events: Pentecost Lectures 21st -3rd May.
The Caldey Conversion has been commemorated with several days of prayer culminating on 5th March with a Celebration Mass with buffet lunch and “Gaudy” for the community in the evening. We Oblates of course are especially marking it in August—see below.
              Carved, stone reliefs have been fashioned either side of the squint in the Church to commemorate the conversion at the Island of Caldey 100 years ago—one of Caldey & one of its monastic predecessor, Llanthony, where Our Lady appeared—more in a subsequent oblate Letter.
NB--There is a plan afoot that our Oblate pilgrims in August bear with them a gift to the present Cistercian monks of Caldey, a gift of a stone statue of their heavenly patron, St Samson*(not the Biblical one) 2ft 6in. high costing £2,000. If you want to contribute then please send your contribution to The Cellarer, Br. Michael at our Abbey address (see head of the letter)  
*St. Samson--Memorial 28 July. Welsh nobility. At age seven, Samson was sent to the abbey of Llanwit Major in South Glamorgan for instruction by the abbot, Saint Illtud. Ordained in 512. Retired to a small monastery on Caldey Island to deepen his prayer life; later chosen its abbot. Around 516, Samson travelled to Ireland with some Irish monks, hoping to learn from them. However, Samson soon gained a reputation for holiness, and many came to him for prayers on their behalf. Uncomfortable with fame, Samson returned to the anonymity of Cornwall. St. Samson was made Bishop in 520, ordained by Saint Dubricius. Soon after, Samson received a vision from God telling him to evangelize Brittany. He and some monks there established a monastery at Dol that later became the center of a new diocese. Samson spent the rest of his life in Brittany, gaining renown for wisdom, holiness and dedication, and is regarded by many as one of the greatest Welsh saints.
Born  c.490 at south Wales Died  565 at Brittany
Year of Faith Lectures on Vatican ll : Lectures after Mass at the usual times.
4. (9 March 2013)    Nostra Aetate, The Declaration on the Relation of the Church to non-Christian Religions; Dignitatis humanae, The Declaration on Religious Liberty.
5. (20 April 2013)     Dei Verbum, The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation.
6. (18 May 2013)    Gaudium et Spes, The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.
Please register if you are interested in attending any of these lectures, either online via the Abbey website, or by writing to Dom Benedict Hardy OSB at Pluscarden Abbey, Elgin IV30 8UA.
The 3rd National Oblate Retreat, open to all oblates of whichever abbey, is at Douai Abbey 10th- 12th May 2013—cost  £140, deposit £40. Also see the Oblate Team’s website. Bookings:-  For more information and for bookings please contact Stephen Day via email:    day.sjATvirgin.net     AT=@   or by telephone 01453 860367.
Pentecost Lectures May 21st-23rd!--NB
The Next Oblate Congress(near Rome!) is October 10th to the 14th  2013.                    UK monasteries have been allocated 13 places at the World Congress of Oblates in Rome 10-14 October 2013 where the theme is 'Obsculta - the Oblate listening in the World'. We have applied for a place. Three from Pluscarden have applied for this place.
DVD of THE 2012 OBLATE WEEKEND 27th to  30th .  Martin Gardner is making a  dvd of the whole thing and you can get your copies from him if you simply mail him at:- Dunmoir,18 Gurney St., STONEHAVEN, Kincardineshire, AB39 2EB or  email him at martinATguardair.co.uk (AT=@)) all he asks is that you make a donation to the Abbey!—Thank you from all of us to Martin Gardner. (He’s still re-vamping Fr. Martin’s contribution!)
INVITATION FROM PAM MOREY, PRINKNASH OBLATE, ON THEIR BEHALF: Now looking ahead.... 2014: the Prinknash Annual Oblate Day, Sunday 13th July.  I have received permission from the Abbot to suggest the following (which we successfully did with 8 Oblates from Kornelimunster last year).8 Oblates from Pluscarden join the Oblates of Prinknash for their Annual Oblate Weekend - 2014.They would fly down to, say, Birmingham, on Saturday 12th July.  We will collect them in a minibus and take them to Brownshill Monastery, the home of the Cistercian sisters - where they will be staying.  In the afternoon of Saturday they will be taken on a conducted  tour of Gloucester Cathedral (once a Monastic Abbey and featured in the Harry Potter films!).  On the Sunday the Oblates will be taken by minibus to Prinknash for 10.30 Conventual Mass where we renew our oblations and there may be new oblates making their oblation/being clothed etc.  After Mass they will gather with all our oblates in the grounds of our Abbey and enjoy lunch and a talk later in the afternoon by one of the Oblate masters. On the Monday morning there will be a tour of St John Baptist Church in Cirencester - a local church very worthy of a visit.  After lunch back at Brownshill, if there is time, perhaps your Oblates would like to give a short presentation of their life to us, before being taken by minibus back to the airport for flying north. The invitation is open to 8 Pluscarden oblates and they will be responsible for arranging their own flights (although it will be helpful if they could all arrive on the same flight) and the cost of their stay for the two nights at Brownshill (I can find out how much it is nearer the time).  All other expenses will be taken care of. On behalf of all our oblates, and the community at Prinknash, I do hope that this invitation will be well received.
Kindest regards and prayers
 Pam (Morey)----(If you’re interested I’ll forward your details to Pam, Fr. Martin)
Prayer Intentions  For vocations. Br Gabriel’s mother and Br. Antony’s father, who are ill and the failing health of a number of the brethrens’ parents. Br. Matthew helping at St. Mary’s Petersham for 1 year. For Sister Scholastica of Ryde Abbey—new Oblate Master. Sr. Claire see below.
Our new Oblate: Mrs Marie Alice St Teresa of Avila Cumming. Please pray for emeritus Pope Benedict & his successor,  and please pray also for Cardinal Keith Patrick,. Please pray for sick Oblates especially for Sarah Drever’s husband Leslie, Mrs. Gertrude Corker’s two daughters, for Bob Barr, Brian Milne, Mary Buist, Gail Schmitz, Beth Fraser & her husband Chris, Marie Claire Hérnandez, Bob Clark, Nick Macrae’s son, Martin Macrae, Dr.David Paterson and his wife Angela, Jacqui’s daughter, Sally, Deacon William Joss, Mary Roche, Poppy Sinclair, Ian Brodie, Carolyn Boardman, Val Farrelly, Eugene Fernandez, Pauline Reid, David Braine, philosopher, Susan Stephen and all friends of the Abbey and for all oblates, friends & the sick, and those who care for them. For Sr.Claire of Ryde Abbey (retiring as Oblate Master) better health.
The OBLATE WEEKEND 2013 2nd to 5th August on CALDEY ISLAND (WALES!)Principal speaker Fr. Aelred Baker of Prinkash; expert on the origins. This is to commemorate 100th anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. There are 20 places & those intending coming are :-1.Fr Aelred Baker,2. Fr. Giles Conacher, 3. Fr. Martin Birrell,4. Joan Kilmurray,5. George Brown, 6 Hester Du Plessis,7. Marie Cumming 8.. Rebecka Winell-Reid, 9 Michael Blair, 10..Martin Gardner,11. Leonora Duson, 12. Margaret Kessack + 7 from Prinknash---13 Pam Morey, 14.Stephen Day, 15 Christina Caldwell, 16. Mary Jones, 17. Robert Jones, 18 Trish Kirby, 19. Terry Kirby--- which as you see makes  19 places and indeed there are 20 places ( one has dropped out) BUT we shall not immediately take up one of the long leet names because four of the twenty places are for monks in the monastery so the extra place will be for a monk –probably another from Prinknash if one is forthcoming. After that “ dropouts” will release a place from the long leets!   But—see the next item if you haven’t got to Caldey this time….
 Another Event:-  “Oblate, Highland Caldey roundup” August 20th-22nd (two nights—one full day)
    Each of the two Pluscarden guest houses has been set aside for this. 7 places for men left, and 10 for ladies. Ladies are self-catering – but I take it upon me that the ladies will have two meals provided on the 21st by the locals! —If staying other days as well ( as negotiated with Fr. Bede individually) then they must themselves bring farther food apart from those two meals on the 21st. Their main costs are the travel. Accommodation etc. is whatever they might or might not give Fr. Bede. N.B. Pluscarden Oblates please wait until after the end of April to try to book in for this –to give our Prinknash sisters & brothers a full chance!
    All wanting to come should write as soon as they know they want to go( Pluscarden Oblates after April) to Fr. Bede, the guestmaster. They may be able to stay longer before and after these dates. They should negotiate that with the guestmaster. He or I shall help them in any farther way with information. Travel arrangements shall be left to the individuals.

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         smcb_oblatesATlive.co.uk   AT=@ replace   
 St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso. Contact Jane Coll. "Scaraben”, Westside, Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness, KY14 8YD. Phone 01847 851467 
St. Peter’s Chapter Aberdeen. St.Peter’s Chapter Oblates Group as announced by Mr Brian Milne Donview House, Seaton, Aberdeen AB24 1TZ –when he is well enough—or if someone wants to come forward to be “convener” in the meanwhile.
St  Mary’s Chapter Dundee.   Dates as agreed 11.30 at St. Mary’s High Street, Lochee, Dundee. -------information from St Mary’s, or samsiameseATgooglemail.com  AT=@ 
Moray Group:  Next meeting---To be announced .
  The community magazine Pluscarden Benedictines: subscription of £5, or £10 airmail. We are trying to build up our subscription list. If you would like to go on the mailing list, please contact The Editor of Pluscarden Benedictines at the Abbey.
 Second Ugandan Student to sponsor for the Priesthood.
The Oblates currently sponsor a young 18 year old Ugandan Seminarian, Dominic, who is now starting his third of four years at the Junior Seminary.We have had a request from Sr. Catherine OSB at the Tororo Priory in Uganda for financial assistance with the education of a second Seminarian named Josaphat Omanakol. Josaphat, aged 20, has completed his four years at Junior Seminary & should have gone on to the Intermediary Seminary for his higher certificates but his widowed mother was unable to finance him. He attended St. Peter’s in Tororo for his fifth year but has no funding for his final year to complete his Higher Certificate of Education. If he can complete his Secondary School education this year in Tororo he hopes to go to the Major Seminary for 3 years of Philosophy & Theology in 2014.I have reviewed all the details and expenses with Sr. Catherine and am appealing for a “one off donation” or monthly standing orders. As an idea of cost, five Oblates each donating £10 per month would be sufficient. For further detail or clarification please contact me, Paul Costello  at:-                           4, Commercial Road, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 9BD.       e-mail:- paulandjocostelloATbtinternet.com       replace AT with@ for email    Phone:- 01358-72151
Postscript:”I am now facing the last chapter of my life and I do not know what awaits me. I know, however, that the light of God exists, that he is Risen, that his light is stronger than any darkness, that the goodness of God is stronger than any evil in this world. And this helps me to go forward with certainty. May this help us to go forward, and at this moment I wholeheartedly thank all those who have continually helped me to perceive the “yes” of God through their faith.” Pope Benedict xvi

 Love  & blessings  for  Easter!  With prayer for all whose letters and benefactions, before & after Christmas, I have so far failed to acknowledge because of my slowness & inefficiency, Yours always in our Risen Saviour JESUS  CHRIST     &    S.P.N.B.                                                                   Fr  Martin
                                                               PAX

Oblate Letter 16 Advent Christmas 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 16
Advent Christmas--2012 
Monastic Voice
Father Abbot ( Anselm Atkinson OSB)
 Conference on “Monastic Values” (from the Oblate Weekend 2012)
In this conference I intend to talk about monastic values. By values, I don’t mean things I live by, or feel anywhere close to living by. If I were only to talk about the things I live, then I wouldn’t have much to say. By values, I mean things which are true in such I way that they define reality for me, they constitute the world in which I live, they are literally things I stake my life on because if these things are not true then my world falls apart.

Values are not ideals. My values are already established. Even if they haven’t yet changed my life much yet, they are still my treasure; their loss would cost me something. Ideals cost nothing. They don’t exist outside my mind. Ideals represent the direction in which I would like my life to go. My values are things around which I have already begun to shape my life, at least in the sense that I am committed to them in such a way that if they go, my life will never have any shape.

A list of values is necessarily personal, even if we are talking about monastic values. I am talking about things I value. Speaking in this way provides a speaker with an opportunity to be personal, without boasting (because he not speaking about things he consistently does) and to speak to others without preaching to them or imposing a programme on them.

Well, the first value, of course, is Our Lord. Here I turn to the Rule. If you look up every place in the Rule where Christ is mentioned, St. Benedict speaks of Christ in the context of a living relationship between Christ and the monk. One could, I think, say more than that. St. Benedict never speaks of Christ simply “objectively”, as a theologian might; nor is Christ ever simply presented as the object of devout meditation, or even, precisely, as one to whom we pray. Nor is St. Benedict subjective in his presentation of Christ - in fact he is the very opposite. When Christ is named by St. Benedict, he seems to become a living presence, he is either the subject of the action, or he is a point of attraction. As point of attraction, he is true King for whom the monk fights, he is obeyed in the Abbot, he is welcomed in the guests and served in the sick, he is the principle of unity in the community - we are all one in Christ; he is the rock on which evil thoughts are dashed, and his love is the culmination of the ladder of humility. As subject, he is present to the monk’s mind as he struggles with evil thoughts, and the whole Rule ends by saying that with his help the monk will arrive.

For St. Benedict, it is as if Christ cannot be named without his becoming present. This, I think, is the first monastic value, what is most precious for a monk: the presence of Christ. Of course, this is true for every Christian; but it has a particular meaning for the monk and for the monastic community. If the monk loses sight of Christ even for a little while, his life loses all structure, all form. In other Christian vocations, there may be other things which can give life a certain false structure and meaning. Part of the monastic charism is that Christ’s presence is so necessary that remove him, and the whole thing dies. There may be something left, but it is very obviously a corpse - useless even from a purely human perspective.

            Good zeal

We are all driven by something, an inner fire. At first, in the monastery, we are inflamed by ideals. There comes a point at which either our ideals turn sour and embitter us, or we must choose to be inflamed by something else.This, I think, is the point at which we choose between good zeal and bitter zeal.
Chapter 72 of the Holy Rule, the chapter on good zeal, is the summit to which St. Benedict leads us through chapters 63-71 (63 Rank in the Community, 64 The Appointment of an Abbot, 65 The Prior of the Monastery, 66 Monastery Porters, 67 Brothers Sent on a Journery, 68 If a Brother is assigned the Impossible, 69 Nobody in the Monastery Should Presume to Defend Another, 70 Nobody Should Presume to Strike at Random, 71 They Should Be Obedient to One Another). Chapter 72 contains the reciprocal honours of chapter 63, the ‘love for the abbot’ of chapter 64, and the mutual obedience of chapter 71. There are also several phrases scattered through these chapters which seem to prepare us for chapter 72: 66:4: cum omni mansuetidine timoris Dei...cum fervore caritatis; 68:1-2: cum omni mansuetudine...patienter; and 68:4: ex caritate.
With its eight maxims leading to eternal life, chapter 72 is reminiscent of chapter 4, on the instruments of good works. In chapter 72 the list of good works is completely adapted to a monastic community. The maxims are phrased in the plural, not the singular, and the monks hope to be led “all together” by Christ to eternal life. The theme common to all eight maxims is the bond of love uniting the brothers with one another and with their abbot in Christ.

In dealing with mutual relationships, the chapter picks up from chapter 63, and in a sense corrects it. As in chapter 63, the relationships between the brothers combine reverence with love, but now love is clearly seen to predominate. The ascent from order and discipline to the triumph of charity in chapters 63-72 is reminiscent of chapter 7, On Humility, where the monk rises from fear to love.

It is significant that the specific regulations determining how mutual honour and obedience are to be rendered, given in chapters 63 and 71, are omitted in chapter 72. Previously obedience has only been given by the junior to the senior, and showing respect  has also been mostly in the same direction. Now it seems that honour and obedience are given to all without restriction. This cannot mean that the precise regulations given in the preceding chapters are now abrogated, but it does seem to imply that charity transcends laws and good order.

Good zeal is directed entirely to persons; to the brethren, to God, to Christ who is at the centre of the community leading us all together to everlasting life. Bad zeal also focuses on the brethren, but it is directed to something else, to my own goals, and it tries to shape everyone according to those goals. Good zeal loves others without asking any questions about them or imposing any obligations on them. Because good zeal leads to eternal life, it orients us to that which is eternal in the present, i.e. to my brothers who will live for ever.

Obedience

I may not be obedient, but I cannot question the value of obedience. I may not obey Christ in the superior, but I must always see him in the superior. I cannot question for a moment that when a superior legitimately calls on my obedience, it is Christ who is calling me.

In a sense, obedience is everything for the monk. Just about everything else can be taken away, so that obedience is all that is left. But obedience must be seen in all its glory, as obedience to Christ and as transforming me into the likeness of the obedient Christ. It must not be reduced just to keeping the rules. There is a constant danger in the Church, and perhaps especially in monastic life, of reducing Christian life to keeping the rules. To do whatever it is we are to do because we’re told to do it. But Christian life is living the life of God, sharing in the divine nature, doing with Christ whatever he shows us the Father doing.

Obedience must eventually be free, i.e. the expression of love. I obey not because I have to but because I choose to love. There must be times when I feel the restrictions of obedience, when it seems to be destroying me -obedience unto death. But the goal is freedom. Free obedience is part of good zeal. When obedience becomes simply the expression of love, it becomes universal, I obey everyone.

Superiors have the charism of fallibility. We must cling to the Covenant. That superiors will fail us is written into the contract: in our obedience, we will meet with difficulties and injustices. St. Benedict is practically telling the novice in his monastery: “I, your abbot, will be unjust to you.” If that happened to St. Benedict’s subjects, it will certainly happen to us. We shouldn’t be surprised, or blame anyone else. It’s what we freely took on by our vows.

Discipleship

Christians are always disciples, there is only one master. Like all learners, we have to be aware of the occupational hazards that go with the our undertaking. For the monk, a few one might name are:
-ambition
-envy
-covetousness
-sloth

The monk is a man of the Church.

All should be welcome in a Benedictine monastery. “In my Father’s house there are many mansions.” And all should know who we are: that we are monks because we are Catholics.

Prayer

If I had written this at the beginning of my monastic life, I would not have left prayer to the end. Prayer is what each of us comes here for. But it is a gift we must receive from the community.



BOOKS

The Infancy Narratives.The momentous third and final volume in the Popes international bestselling Jesus of Nazareth series, detailing how the stories of Jesus infancy and childhood are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago. In 2007, then “Joseph Ratzinger” published his first book as Pope Benedict XVI in order to make known the figure and message of Jesus. Now, the Pope focuses exclusively on the Gospel accounts of Jesus life as a child. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary. This is a story of longing and seeking,..£8.39 approx hardback—available on 26th December!  Amazon etc---Pondering the mystery.“My hope is that this short book despite its limitations will be able to help many people on their path to and alongside Jesus”—Pope Benedict xvi

Real 21st century Philosophy & a real 21st century Philosopher David Braine.  Contemporary analytic philosopher with interests in analytic Philosophy of religion and Metaphysics, who seeks to marry the techniques and insights of analytical philosophy and Phenomenology to the Metaphysics of classical Thomism. His The Reality  of Time and the Existence of God (used copy £17.00 approx!()sets out to prove the existence of God from the fact that the world enjoys continuity in time. He argues that nothing in the world could be the cause of this continuity, whence God comes into the picture. David Braine has been an important, if insufficiently well-known, contributor to the renaissance of analytical Philosophy of religion. David is a friend of mine who lives his faith but proves that logic gives a level playing-field for metaphysics –and everyone “does” metaphysics, especially those who think they don’t!

“Conversation With Saint Benedict”  by Terence G. Kardong  ISBN 978-0-8146-3420-2 A monk and scholar of the Rule applies it in some modern areas of preoccupation. £11.15 approx A stimulating  read.

From  The  Oblatemaster’s  Desk –borrowing the poet’s words:-
The Burning Babe
 (By St. Robert Southwell  who was beatified in 1929 and canonised by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales on 25 October 1970)

As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow ;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear ;
Who, scorchëd with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed
As though his floods should quench his flames which with his tears were fed.
Alas, quoth he, but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I !
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns,
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns ;
The fuel justice layeth on, and mercy blows the coals,
The metal in this furnace wrought are men’s defilëd souls,
For which, as now on fire I am to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath to wash them in my blood.
With this he vanished out of sight and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I callëd unto mind that it was Christmas day.
Events
Talk number two  given by Fr Benedict for the Year of Faith continuing on the theme of “LumenGentium” 12th January 2013 at 10.15 am ending  3.30 pm.

The 3rd National Oblate Retreat, open to all oblates of whichever abbey, is at Douai Abbey 10th- 12th May 2013—cost about £140, I think, also see the Oblate Team’s website.

The Next Oblate Congress(near Rome!) is October 10th to the 14th if you are planning to be there! Go to the UK Oblates Website to register.

THE 2012 OBLATE WEEKEND 27th to  30th .  Martin Gardner is making a  dvd of the whole thing and you can get your copies from him if you simply mail him at:- Dunmoir,18 Gurney St., STONEHAVEN, Kincardineshire, AB39 2EB or  email him at martin@guardair.co.uk & all he asks is that you make a donation to the Abbey!—Thank you from all of us to Martin Gardner( He says three have contacted him so far.)

Prayer Intentions
              Br. Antony,  who made his Solemn Profession at Kristo Buase, on the 6th of August, The Transfuguration. Frs Pierre-Marie & Peter Thu  who have returned to their monastery in Vietnam after their exemplary presence amongst us, learning English and teaching us in return how to be kind to one another!
For our new  wood chip heating system and all those  monastic and lay whose work has made and will continue to make it possible.
              Prayers for Br. John (formerly Br Jan) who was clothed as a novice recently. Also for Br. Cyprian who is helping Fr. Ambrose at KB for 3 months, Br. Matthew helping at St. Mary’s Petersham for 1 year and for Fr. Mark studying bookbinding for 3 weeks  in a Dutch monastery to revive that monastic art here. For Colin & Rita Sim recently married and working in and around the monastery & its guesthouses.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of Oblates:-Tom Devine, Irene Coulthard, Theresa McQuillan and Pamela’s auntie, Shirley Khoo,  &  for the bereaved.
       We pray for new postulant Oblates:  Mrs. Kathleen Hoy, James Craig, Stuart Coleman & Lilian Bailey.
       Our new novices: Mrs. Rebecka Winell-Reid, John Wilson, Georgina Quinn, Campbelll Murdoch, David Paterson, Rev. Christopher Mayo, Dr. Lorn Macintyre, Jacqueline Maguire.

       Our new Oblates: Rev. Dr Michael Columba Ross, Mrs. Alice  McLeod, Mrs. Christina Monica Teresa Nicol, Robert Benedict Clark, Joan Gabriel Hildegaard Kilmurray, Anne-Marie Elizabeth Ferla, Grant Margaret of Scotland Farley –Sutton, Anne Paula Morgan, Mrs. Julia-Jane Margaret Teresa  Gladwin.

Please pray for sick Oblates especially for Sarah Drever’s husband Leslie, for Bob Barr, Mary Buist, Gail Schmitz, Beth Fraser & her husband Chris, Marie Claire Hérnandez, Bob Clark, Nick Macrae’s son, Martin Macrae, Dr.David Paterson &; his wife Angela, Jacqui’s daughter, Sally, Deacon William Joss, Mary Roche, Poppy Sinclair, Ian Brodie, Carolyn Boardman, Val Farrelly, David Braine( writings mentioned above), Susan Stephen and Sheila Fraser, friends of the Abbey and for all oblates, friends & the sick, and those who care for them.

The OBLATE WEEKEND 2013 2nd to 5th August on CALDEY ISLAND (WALES!)Principal speaker Fr. Aelred Baker of Prinkash; expert on the origins. This is to commemorate 100th anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. All the places are taken already though you can go on a short leet for a cancellation… ./OR:- I am  in the process of asking if we can have a second three nights/two days for another group of 15 to twenty ( i.e. 5th -7th or 31st July to the 2nd August—check your diaries) So it’s still worth registering your firm intention if you want to be there. (“2nd sitting” so to speak. £100 each plus your own travel. Name & contact details to me please saying that you intend to come. There are 20 places & those intending coming already:-1.Fr Aelred Baker,2. Fr. Giles Connacher,3. Fr. Martin Birrell,4. Joan Kilmurray,5. Joseph Ly,6. George Brown,7. Hester Du Plessis,8. Marie Cumming,9. Rebecka Winell-Reid, 10.Michael Blair, 11.Martin Gardner,12. Leonora Duson,13. Margaret Kessack + 8 from Prinknash--- which as you see makes 21 with 20 places( Is your name missing?—let me know!)—but the Lord will provide and you see there is a plan for a “second sitting”—so YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP!

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 smcb_oblates@live.co.uk       

 St.  Monica’s Chapter, Thurso. Contact Jane Coll .
 "Scaraben”, Westside,Dunnet,Thurso,Caithness,KY14 8YD
Phone 01847 851467      

St. Peter’s Chapter Aberdeen. St.Peter’s Chapter Oblates Group The group meetings are held in Flat 19/ 3rd floor, Donview House, Seaton, Aberdeen. All meetings will be on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm but only as announced. For more information please speak to Mr Brian Milne Donview House, Seaton,Aberdeen AB24 1TZ Tel 01224 485781  E-Mail:- sacristanstpeters@talktalk.net

St  Mary’s Chapter Dundee.   Dates as agreed 11.30 at St. Mary’s High Street, Lochee, Dundee. -------information from St Mary’s, or samsiamese@googlemail.com 

Moray Group: To be announced January? Provisionally you’re your diaries for 22nd/23rd January, 7.00 pm St Sylvester’s Elgin( provisionally a presentation by a guest speaker!)(May alternate local/Pluscarden—local being Forres, Elgin, Fochabers, etc ) 

  The community magazine Pluscarden Benedictines has been in print now for over 44 years and has gone from a modest 12 pages to an average 28-32 pages, with a full colour centrefold. It is produced quarterly and is sent out all over the world, for the very modest annual subscription of £5, or £10 airmail. We are trying to build up our subscription list. If you would like to go on the mailing list, please contact The Editor of  Pluscarden Benedictines at the Abbey.

Summary regarding our sponsored Seminarian
Pluscarden Oblates are sponsoring for the Priesthood an 18 year old Ugandan boy, Dominic, who is approaching the completion of his second year at Junior Seminary near Tororo.
Full support is given for all Seminary fees, books, uniform, transport & a small allowance for pocket money in addition to an allowance for medication due to the problems with Malaria.
Our contact in Uganda is with Sr. Catherine OSB at the Benedictine Priory in Tororo.
It is hoped that Dominic will start his third academic year at Junior Seminary in February 2013 and has before him seven further years of study before entering his final year at the National Seminary in 2021.
Joe Costello( our organiser) asks—would you be interested in sponsoring a seminarian  through KB in Ghana?  Let him/me  know.

Please find enclosed the oblate renewal for this year for you to fill in together with an update of details; you were expecting it with the last issue!
               
BLESSINGS  for      CHRISTMAS
                 
                 
                                             Fr Martin

                                                                        PAX
    




THE OFFICE RECITED BY BENEDICTINE OBLATES
Oblates are strongly encouraged to unite themselves with the prayer
of the monastic community through a habit of daily liturgical prayer
(cf. the Oblate Statutes n. 28). The official Prayer of the Church in
the Divine Office is an ideal form of this. The most important
“Hours” of the Office are Morning and Evening Prayer, otherwise
known as Lauds and Vespers. If these prove too much for a person
to manage, they could be replaced by one of the various abbreviated
forms available in good Benedictine and Catholic prayer books.
Alternatively oblates can say the little Office of St. Benedict by
heart, as given below. Formerly oblates were asked to say this seven
times a day, ideally at the very times of day the monks would be
praying in Church. While this would remain an excellent practise,
it is not now in any way obligatory.
THE "LITTLE OFFICE"
V/ O GOD, COME TO MY AID.
R/ O LORD, MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLYSPIRIT.
AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, IS NOW AND EVER SHALL BE, WORLD
WITHOUT END. AMEN.
PSALM 116
O PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU NATIONS,
ACCLAIM HIM ALL YOU PEOPLES!
STRONG IS HIS LOVE FOR US;
HE IS FAITHFUL FOR EVER.
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, IS NOW, AND EVER SHALL BE, WORLD
WITHOUT END. AMEN. ALLELUIA.
V/ LET US BLESS THE LORD.
R/ THANKS BE TO GOD.
V/ MAY THE SOULS OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED, THROUGH THE MERCY
OF GOD REST IN PEACE.
R/ AMEN



OR IN LATIN:
V/ DEUS IN ADIUTORIUM MEUM INTENDE.
R/ DOMINE, AD ADIUVANDUM ME FESTINA.
GLORIA PATRI, ET FILIO, ET SPIRITUI SANCTO.
SICUT ERAT IN PRINCIPIO, ET NUNC, ET SEMPER: ET IN SAECULA
SAECULORUM. AMEN. ALLELUIA.
LAUDATE DOMINUM OMNES GENTES
COLLAUDATE EUM OMNES POPULI.
QUONIAM CONFIRMATA EST SUPER NOS MISERICORDIA EIUS,
ET VERITAS DOMINI MANET IN AETERNUM.
GLORIA PATRI, ET FILIO, ET SPIRITUI SANCTO.
SICUT ERAT IN PRINCIPIO, ET NUNC, ET SEMPER: ET IN SAECULA
SAECULORUM. AMEN. ALLELUIA.
V/ BENEDICAMUS DOMINO.
R/ DEO GRATIAS.
V/ FIDELIUM ANIMAE PER MISERICORDIAM DEI REQUIESCANT IN
PACE.
R/ AMEN.

Oblate Letter 15 Autumn Michaelmas 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 15

Autumn-- Michaelmas--2012 

Monastic Voice

EULOGIUS THE STONECUTTER

Abba Daniel and his disciple put in at a village in the Thebaid where they are greeted by an elderly lay person, a large man, completely grey-headed', named Eulogius, After Daniel and his disciple return to Scetis, Daniel tells him Eulogius' story.

              “That old man is called ‘Eulogius’; by trade he is a stonecutter. He earns a keration a day from his manual labour, eating nothing until evening, and when evening comes he goes out to the village and takes home whatever foreigners he finds and feeds them, and the leftover fragments he throws to the dogs.

              When I was youngster I went up to sell my handiwork at that village and at evening he came and took me and other brothers with me, and gave us lodging. When I went there and saw the man's virtue, I began to fast every day of the week and entreat God to provide him with greater wages so he might have more money and do good for even more people. After fasting for three weeks, I was half dead on account of my ascetic regimen, and I saw that it was as though I was standing in the Church of the Holy Resurrection.

               A young man was sitting upon the holy stone and Eulogius was standing at his right, I then saw angels emptying a very large amount of money into Eulogius' lap and Eulogius' lap was able to hold it, however much they kept pouring. When I woke up I knew that I had been heard and I gave glory to God. When Eulogius went out to do his work, he struck rock, heard a hollow-sounding thunk, so he struck again and found a small hole; again he struck the rock and found a cave filled with money. Amazed, Eulogius said to himself, 'What should I do with it? If I take it to the village, the owner will hear about it and will come and take it and I'll be in danger. It would be better if I go out into the countryside where no one knows me'. Hiring animals as though he were using them to haul stones, at night he hauled the money to the riverside and put the money in a boat and sailed to Byzantium. Justin, who was an old man, was emperor at that time. Eulogius gave a large amount of money to him and the emperor made him procurator of the holy Praetorian Guard. He also bought a large house and to this day it is called 'the house of the Egyptian'.

               Two years later I saw that young man again in a dream in the Church of the Holy Resurrection, as before. A little later I saw Eulogius being dragged away by his hair from the young man by an Ethiopian. Waking up, I said to myself, 'God help me, a sinner!' Taking my sheepskin cloak, I left for the village in order to sell my handiwork, expecting to find Eulogius. Late evening came and no one invited me home, so I got up and made inquiries of an old woman. Sitting down beside me, she said, , Abba, sir, we used to have a certain stonecutter here and he used to do many good things for the foreigners. When God saw his works, he gave him grace, and today, so we hear, he is a patrician'. When I heard these things, I said to myself, '1 committed this murder!' and I boarded ship and sailed to Byzantium.

               Diligently seeking the house of Eulogius the Egyptian, I sat in front. of his gate until he came out. I saw him coming with great ostentation and I called out to him, "Have mercy on me! I wish to speak with you in private about some matter!" but he turned away from me and his escort beat me instead. I left in search of a ship and, finding one bound for Alexandria, I boarded ship alone and sat by myself, feeling discouraged.

              Three months later, I heard that Justin had died and Justinian was now emperor in his place. Then a little later Hypatius and Dexikratius and Pompeius and Eulogius the procurator rose up against him. The first three were seized and beheaded and all their possessions were confiscated, as was Eulogius' estate. Eulogius fled Constantinople at night and the emperor ordered that he was to be killed wherever he was found. Then he fled and went to his own village and exchanged his clothing for that of the country folk who lived there.

               The whole village gathered to see Eulogius, 'It's good to have you back. We heard that you had become a patrician’. He said to them, 'Indeed. If I had become a patrician, you would be coming to me with petitions. No, that was another Eulogius, who is also from here. I was in the Holy Land'. So Eulogius came to his senses and said, 'Eulogius, you wretch, get up, take your stonecutting tools, before you also lose your head. There is no royal court here!'          A little later I went up to that village and when evening fell Eulogius came. Taking me, along with the others he had found, he washed my feet, as was his custom, and set a table for us.

               After we had eaten I said to him, 'How are you, Abba Eulogius?' He said to me,” Abba, pray for me, sir. I am a wretch, having nothing to my name”. I said to him, 'I wish that you had not even had what you had!' He said to me, 'Why, Abba, sir? What have I ever done to offend you?' I said to him, 'What haven't you done to offend me!'

              Then I laid out for him everything that had happened. Both of us wept and he said to me, 'Pray, Abba, that God sends me what I need and from now on I will follow the right track'.

              I said to him, 'Truly, brother, do not expect Christ to ever entrust you with anything else as long as you are in this world except for this keration, the fruit of your labour'.

              You see? God has now seen to it all these years that each day he has the strength to earn the keration from his manual labour.”

FROM THE OBLATEMASTER'S DESK

“Dear sisters and brothers how great is our enthusiasm when we first set out upon some good path by the grace of God. So it is with the Christian life; so it is with monastic life; so it is with oblation.

The story is told by the desert Fathers of the monk who was a hard worker who appeared to his spiritual Father to be becoming crushed by his work—so he observed him closely to see what was happening and how this was coming about. He also prayed that he might be enlightened spiritually as to what was going on.

Very soon as he observed him he saw that all the time a dark little demon was at his side as he worked, urging him on. Whenever he rested or slowed in pace the little demon would phrenetically goad him into excessive work and action and so it was by day and by night so that he was unable to pray or do anything useful and would indeed soon fall ill.

The spiritual Father prayed more and then approached the monk and the monk who up until then whose eyes had been unable to see the little demon—his eyes were opened and he saw the trap into which he had fallen and by God’s grace was restored to health.

So it is with zealous Christians and monks and Oblates too—especially the zealous aspirant. The devil seeing that he cannot attack that zeal goads it to an inhuman excess to break the will and spirit. Prayer going out the window the trap is closed and to quote the first reading—like the loincloth we become “good for nothing”.

Recently I’ve had aspirant Oblates devouring spiritual books, men and women full of zeal, voracious for prayer, for the Divine Office, usually the whole office and perhaps the monastic office, spending long periods in lectio and every other practice and devotion they come across. Being in the middle of their lives they often have children and sometimes dependent parents in old age, demanding work with unreasonable hours etc., etc. Finally I get a letter saying that Oblation is just too much. Their commitments and duties are just so great that they have no time left for Oblation.

I then think of the little demon and the misplaced zeal that drives to distraction and says Oblation is just “one more darn thing”—the straw etc...

On the contrary our Oblate life is our whole life—not the holy bits. We cannot opt out of life –God’s gift.

Oblation is like the mustard seed or the leaven that grows and grows till the whole is transformed, but the mustard seed needs the rest of the world to grow in and the leaven, the yeast needs all that flour & dough.

Oblation, as also monastic life, as also Christian life, is the whole transformed reality, transformed world, and transformed life. The essential “bit”, the mustard or the leaven, is worse than useless on its own. Oblate life is life with a capital L, Life transformed in Christ. If we’ve no time for this transformed life we have no time for Christ. Christ is the life of our souls as Blessed Columba Marmion said. Christ came with the leaven of the one thing necessary without which we do not grow; indeed without Christ we cannot rise. Let us not be afraid to expose the dough of our life to Christ’s leaven by our Oblation, our self-offering which we renew today.

Books

:-

 “Becoming Fire  Through the Year with the Desert Fathers & Mothers” p. 180 ( good bibliography for the Desert Fathers )Cistercian Publications, Liturgical Press Collegeville Minnesota ISBN 978-0-87907-525-5 ; quotation itself from”Witness to Holiness: Abba Daniel of Scetis”, edited by Tim Vivian. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications. The Desert Fathers are a fertile field for both monk & oblate.

 From  The  Oblatemaster’s  Desk  --

In fact the Oblatemaster’s two desks, (one in our cell and one in the Oblate Office both of them literally nine inches deep in letters and papers to be sorted, much unanswered.) The oblatemaster is way behind after three months in Africa, an Oblate Weekend and sundry other items, struggling to get out this, the Oblate Letter of the Autumn quarter of the year—

Summer’s

 edition having been produced and sent out 

February/March

 (!)before going to Kristo Buase where the Summer edition was re-sent with Stop Press additions for the chosen few with email, from an Internet Café in Techiman the local county capital. This quarter is in fact almost six months later! (hence some of you saying “ I don’t seem to have heard from you”).

All this goes to bolster the fact that while we are immortal souls we are incarnated and thus very much subject to the limitations of time and place, poverty and riches, heat & cold, sickness and health. The way that we relate to our incarnation, the way we order our material existence is not neither here nor there in regard to out immortal destiny. We work out our salvation in the order or disorder of our lives. St Bernard would ask God to order his desires, and thus bring order and peace to his life. “PAX” is our Benedictine motto and it can only come about if through prayer we allow God to take hold of the material dispositions of our life even in all its seeming limitations.

Our “Monastic Voice” from a “Desert Father” helps to bring this home. Riches may be a curse, while straitened circumstances may be a sign of God’s help and blessings. Were I to have a flexible, infinite budget for the Oblate department, it might be the ruination of the Oblatemaster, of the monastery and of the Oblates. Christ is the life of the soul, of the monk and of the oblate.

The secular oblate is immersed in a particular way in the material locale of his/her life in all its limitations and possibilities. Material or physical constraints are not thereby spiritual constraints. “Bad” life conditions are not necessarily a stumbling-block to spiritual opportunity. Eulogius shows us that the reverse can be, and has at times been the case.

We are to hope in God for salvation, not a budget or the state, the company or the council. We owe our soul, bought and paid for by the redemptive blood of Christ, to Christ our Life—and not to the “company store”, bank or Mortgage Company. Even the material constraints of my life are God’s gift to me and to my spiritual upbuilding. “Crux spes unica!”

Prayer Intentions and Events

Br Antony made his Solemn Profession at Kristo Buase monastery on the anniversary of the Dedication, the 6

th

 August, The Transfiguration.

Fathers Pierre-Marie & Peter Thu have returned to Vietnam after two years here—Fr. Peter Thu’s brother has just died ( also a monk, RIP ).

Br.Jan was clothed as a novice and is now Br. John (the Baptist, understood).

Please pray for 

vocations to the monastery & for our Noviciate. Continue to pray in thanks for the Scottish Ordinariate especially for newly-ordained Fr. Stanley Bennie(Oban Cathedral) -----number two!  We pray for new Oblates: Alice McLeod, Anne Morgan & Christina Clare Teresa Nicol; new novices, Rebecka Winell-Reid & John Wilson, any others omitted since going to press or for any other reason.

The General chapter of the Subiaco Congregation met in September and elected (re-elected) Abbot Bruno Marin as Abbot President.

About twenty Juniors met at the Abbey for a week in July and were privileged to have talks by Fr. Michael Casey OCSO—any books with his authorship to be recommended, and retreats given by him.

The UK Oblates Team (who arrange the Congress and inter-oblate website for the UK) met here at Pluscarden to make it possible for our Oblates to attend on the 15

th

 September. Thank you! Pat Carrigan & Martin Gardner are now going to assist Jane Coll with the website. Bishop Moth also attended. The next Congress is near Rome in October next year—see the Congress website. Also the 3

rd

 National Oblate Retreat ( open to all oblates) is at Douai Abbey 10

th

- 12

th

 May 2013—cost about £140, I think, also see the Oblate Team’s website.

Please pray

 for the repose of the souls of Oblates:- Beth Fallows, James Cairns, Colonel Gretton Foster, and pastoral assistant and Congress attendee, Margaret Coll, and for their bereaved. 

Please pray sick Oblates especially 

Bob Barr, Tom Devine, Mary Buist, 

Gail Schmitz, Beth Fraser &  her husband, Marie Clare Fernandez, Bob Clark, Nick Macrae’s son, Martin Macrae, Irene Coultard, David Paterson & his wife, Jacqui’s daughter, Sally, Deacon William Joss,

 Eileen Grant & Eileen Kerr----both knee replacements,

 Mary Roche, Poppy Sinclair, Pamela’s  auntie Shirley, Ian Brodie, Carolyn Boardman, Val Farrelly and for all the sick, and those who care for them.

 THE 2012 

OBLATE WEEKEND 27

th

 to  30

th

  JULY TOOK PLACE AS CAN BE SEEN BELOW! Fraternity and edification were side by side. Martin Gardner is making a  dvd of the whole thing and you can get your copies from him if you simply mail him at:- Dunmoir,18 Gurney St., STONEHAVEN, Kincardineshire, AB39 2EB or  email him at 

martin@guardair.co.uk

 & all he asks is that you make a donation to the Abbey!—Thank you from all of us to Martin Gardner. There may be some written and other excerpts in the next issue & in PB and on the Oblate Congress Website.

Sermon for the Mass for the end of the Oblate Weekend, Monday, July 31st 2012 with Renewal of Oblation. (Other texts from the Oblate Weekend may be in future Oblate Letters as they become available.)

OBLATE WEEKEND

2013

 2nd to 5

th

 August on CALDEY ISLAND (WALES!) to commemorate 100

th

 anniversary of the conversion of the Caldey community. 12 places of fifteen already taken. £100 each plus your own travel. Name & contact details to me please saying that you intend to come. (There may be one or two more places so worth trying!)

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 

smcb_oblates@live.co.uk

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

. St.Peter’s Chapter Oblates Group The group meetings are held in Flat 19/ 3rd floor, Donview House, Seaton, Aberdeen. All meetings will be on the 1st Wednesday of the month except September and October Weds 12th September at 7.30pm Weds 10th  October at 7.30pm  Weds 7th November at 7.30pm Weds 5th December at 7.30pm For more information please speak to Brian Milne on Tel.no (01224) 485 781 or E-mail; sacristanstpeters@talktalk.net

St  Mary’s Chapter Dundee

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

samsiamese@googlemail.com

Moray Group

: As announced  ( May alternate local/Pluscarden—local being Forres, Elgin, Fochabers )       

PRAYERFUL MICHAELMAS BLESSINGS

Fr Martin    pax