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On Monday 8th September, Feast of our Lady's Birthday and 77th anniversary of the resumption of monastic observance at Pluscarden, our postulant Philip Thomson was clothed as a novice.
In last week’s Gospel (Luke 13:22-30) we heard our Lord’s response to those who found themselves locked outside the kingdom of heaven: “I do not know where you come from, depart from me all you workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27)
A most successful and well-attended Summer retreat took place at the Abbey from 2nd to 5th August this year 2025 (a month later than last to catch the higher temperatures!)
Sister Tamsin Geach OP gave the Retreat---three talks over two days bracketed by the arrivals day and departures day-- and Storm Floris!
This year's response to our Monastic Experience Weekend invitation was most encouraging. Those invited had to be single Catholic men, below the age of 40, practising their faith, and at least open to the idea of a possible monastic vocation. Over 30 young men applied: probably more than we have ever had before, for a single event of this sort.
I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
In the plan of St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, travelling with determination towards his Passion, Death and Resurrection. The first incident in that journey recounted by St. Luke is an unhappy attempt to enter a Samaritan village. There James and John ask if they should call down fire from heaven to burn these people up (cf. Gn 19:24). But Jesus rebukes them (Lk 9:54).
Our summer this year has been marked by scarcely broken hot sunshine. Actually for many of us the weather has been too hot, and too dry. But on Monday 4th August this tranquil calm was rudely interrupted. “Storm Floris”, as it has been named, was an unseasonable cyclone sweeping in from the Atlantic
The Pentecost Lectures, 10-12 June 2025: Professor Tracey Rowland on Trinitarian Anthropology. What does it mean for “all of Creation to be marked by the Form of the Trinity”?
“Petite Messe Solennelle” translates as “Little Solemn Mass” in French. However, the title is ironic as the work is “neither small or particularly solemn” as Napoleon the Third remarked;………
First as a deacon and now as a priest, I have always found the various secret prayers prescribed by the rubrics very consoling – the obligatory ones, which should be said during the liturgy, as well as some of those no longer strictly required. For example, as you prepare the chalice on the altar at the Offertory, you are meant to say: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity”.
Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves (v. 3). Behold, I am sending you out as prey among predators; as helpless victims amongst ruthless destroyers; as those symbolised by all that is feeble and defenceless, amongst terrifying and voracious predators.