Homily of Prior Simon for the Feast of the Epiphany, 5 January 2025

The word “phenomenon” came into English from the Greek, and technically means a thing or fact perceived, the immediate object of actual perception. Today we are celebrating the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “epiphany” is related to the word “phenomenon” and denotes a manifestation of a supernatural being.

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family, 29 December 2024: Luke 2:41-52 DJC

Today we are invited to contemplate the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph – in the scene from St Luke’s Gospel when for three days Mary and Joseph lose Jesus only to find him again in the Temple in Jerusalem.

Pluscarden Benedictines No. 208 News and Notes for our Friends Winter 2024

The quarterly magazine which generally includes a letter from Fr Abbot, a diary of recent activity at the Abbey, book reviews and articles by monks, oblates or visitors.

Pluscarden Benedictines No. 207 News and Notes for our Friends Autumn 2024

The quarterly magazine which generally includes a letter from Fr Abbot, a diary of recent activity at the Abbey, book reviews and articles by monks, oblates or visitors.

Fr. Prior Simon’s Christmas Day Homily 2024

God created the world ex nihilo, out of nothing, meaning that there had been nothing there before, of course, but also that the stuff that the world is made out of is simply nothingness.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, in him was life” – outside of him nothing at all.

Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Dawn Mass of Christmas Day; 25 December 2024 (Isaiah 9:1-6); Luke 2:15-20

Lux fulgebit hodie super nos – Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us. This is the text for the Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass. The ancient Gregorian Chant setting for this is in the noble Eighth mode. The Antiphon is a slightly adapted version of verses from Isaiah Chapter 9. The Oracle of Isaiah Chapter 9 is one of the strongest, most explicit, most exalted of all the Messianic Prophecies of the Old Testament.