On Monday 23 October - at last! - Robertson's Building contractors began work in earnest on our new Ladies' Guest House, to be known as St. Joseph's.
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Sunday 28A, 15 October 2023, on Matthew 22:1-14
Through the parable of the Royal Wedding Banquet we hear the thrilling invitation of Jesus: Come to my feast! Put on your glorious attire! Enter into my joy! This is God’s invitation to us to enter eternal life; to clothe ourselves in the incomparable dignity of divine Sonship; to join the communion of all the Angels and Saints in heaven, eternally rejoicing. And yet: this parable does not make us feel at all comfortable, and it’s not meant to; any more than it was meant to make the Scribes and Pharisees feel comfortable. For the weight of this story falls not so much on the invitation, as on the refusal of those invited. It ends uncompromisingly, on a note of harsh condemnation: Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness.
The Tom Donald Chant and Piano improvisation Project
Nobody had ever before asked us to collaborate in a project putting together Gregorian Chant and live improvised Piano. When we receive odd requests, we usually attempt to respond with a sweet smile. This will normally be followed by a straight No, or possibly by lengthy prevarication, which usually comes to the same thing. In this case the request was repeated, and more than once. Um… ah… well… Then some phone conversations took place; then some discussion on our own side; some more prevarication, followed by two or three visits. Then: we know this is a big risk, but because - just perhaps - it will give glory to God; we know this sounds crazy, but Yes!
Homily for Sunday 27A, 8 October 2023: Esther 4:17 (13:9); Philippians 4:6
Solemn Profession of Brother Benedict-Joseph Miller
Homily for St. Cecilia’s Abbey Ryde, Sunday 24A, 17 September 2023: Mt 18:21-35
“Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?”
Readiness to forgive is taught by many of the great philosophies and religions of the world. Why? Because you can’t be happy, or have any sort of inner peace, far less inner joy, if you refuse to forgive. Dwelling on past hurts, nurturing resentment, indulging simmering anger: these things can blight or embitter a person’s whole life.
Homily for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Quarr Abbey Chant Forum Meeting; 14 September 2023: Numbers 21:4-9; (Phil 2:6-11), John 3:13-17
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
St. Paul speaks of God highly exalting Jesus in his Resurrection – Deus exaltavit illum – we just sang (Phil 2:9). For St. John, Jesus is already exalted on the Cross.
8 September 2023
This year, the 8th of September, Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, marked the 75th anniversary of the official Restoration of Monastic Life at Pluscarden.
This was also the day chosen for the official blessing of our Building Site, in preparation for the construction of a new Guest house for ladies to the South of the monastery, to be called St. Joseph’s.