Oblate letter of the Pluscarden Benedictines,
Elgin, Moray, Scotland. IV30 8UA.
Ph.
(01343) 890257 fax 890258
Autumn --St John
Chrysostom-- 2013
Monastic
Voice:- Fr. Mark Hargreaves, Procurator of our Subiaco Cassinese Congregation on
"the Fr Aelred Carlyle" of our
Congregation ,Fr Pietro Casaretto.
part one:
1810-1843 (sample-for you to follow-up in past Numbers of PAX, Prinknash
Abbey's magazine.)
"Introduction
This article
began as notes taken from a collection of essays which were produced on the
occasion of the first Centenary of our Congregation in 1972 which formed the
basis of a series of talks given to the young monks of our foundation in Ghana,
Kristo Buase monastery, in the summer of 1998.
My interest in Pietro Francesco
Casaretto arose when I went to work at S. Ambrogio, Rome, (seat of the
Abbot President and his Curia) and realised that I knew almost nothing of our
past history. This is a common fault
among monks, who are more aware generally, as is only right, of the origins of
their particular monastery (e.g. Prinknash) rather than of the
Congregation to which it belongs, as a whole.
At S.Ambrogio, however, the emphasis is necessarily to the
contrary, giving those of us who live there the immense privelege of being able
to see, as it were from the centre, the beauty and diversity of an entire
religious family, with about c.1,200 monks spread over 21 countries in 65
houses, its most recently elevated Abbey as far away as Vietnam, together with
c.1,000 nuns and sisters, in 14 countries and over 40 houses, who are
"aggregated" to the monks' Congregation, while retaining their own
Constitutions and such fecundity had
to have a
starting-point. It is my belief that we
owe it to Casaretto and the early
monks of his reform movement, to study their ideas as a way of understanding
our present situation. We are what we
are, partly because of him. Such historical
research, fashionable everywhere today as a means of "finding one's
roots", takes on a particular relevance in Ghana, where much emphasis is
placed on the cult of ancestors. The classes at Kristo Buase monastery were
thus presented, from a Christian and monastic perspective, as a rediscovery of
our common "spiritual ancestry" in the persons of the 19th century
reformers.
Casaretto was a founder. Yet founders of
religious congregations are often mysterious and even difficult people. Those who, for instance, affirm the obvious
holiness of Mother Teresa of Calcutta would readily admit that she could
appear, at times, stubborn and uncompromising.
Zeal for reform and a consuming desire to make things better do not
guarantee that one will always have friends or make easy company.
Pietro Casaretto, though not a
candidate for canonisation, certainly was a man of remarkable vision and
audacity, not to say holiness. As is
written of Sir Christopher Wren, architect of St Paul's Cathedral, London, si
monumentum requiris, circumspice (if you seek his monument, look around
you). Had there been no "golden
thread" of genuine spirituality, shining through Casaretto's foibles and
blemishes, his work would not have endured and expanded, as is obviously the
case. All of us together - monks, nuns
and oblates - are his epitaph, words written by the Holy Spirit on the tablets
of the human heart.********
*******Born on
16th February 1810 in Ancona, at a time when Napoleon's troops were driving out
the religious of Rome (including the Benedictine nuns who once inhabited S.
Ambrogio) while Pope Pius VII was exiled in France, Pietro Francesco was the eldest son of
Giacomo and Maddalena Casaretto, his father, a prosperous merchant with
dealings in many countries of the Mediterranean, his mother, a strong and
generous woman of faith, without affectation (according to her son). Pietro was, from the first, a sickly
child. Very sensitive, with a tendency
towards pessimism, discouragement and scrupulosity, these difficulties of
health and temperament would, in his adult years, sometimes lead to accusations
of laxity, authoritarianism, abrupt changes of mind and a kind of moodiness,
which antagonised his enemies and made life a little strenuous for his
friends.
Nevertheless,
he must have been a man of great charm and persuasive speech. Early photographs of show him to have been
tall and handsome - and he certainly gained a number of friends in high places,
including Pope Pius IX and the King of Piedmont and Sardinia.
Showing signs of a vocation at the
age of 15, he went first to the archdiocesan seminary at Ancona but soon wanted
to join the Camaldolese at Monte Cònero.
His parents, though devoutly religious themselves, could not tolerate
the thought of their son's frail constitution languishing amid the rigours of
the monastery, and persuaded him instead to join the diocesan clergy. This phase clearly did not last long,
however, as on 11 June 1827, aged 17, he entered the Benedictine monastery of S.Maria
del Monte, near Cesena, a community which, like many others in Italy at
that time, was starting to revive after the ravages of war and expulsion during
the Napoleonic period.
The monastic observance there,
though generally good, was very much influenced by the piety of the period,
rather than by a genuine liturgical spirituality. Preferred authors for spiritual reading were
St Alphonsus together with two others now unknown, Segneri and Scupoli. We have to remember that the great
rediscovery of the Fathers of the Church and monastic authors, now considered
as standard monastic lectio,
began only in the latter part of the 19th century and is still in the process
of development. As a result, the
monastic theory and practice of Casretto's era were, to our eyes, somewhat
confused. It is worth mentioning at this point an abuse found in the monastery
which Casaretto would always strive to eradicate and which would become, in
time, a salient feature of his reform.
The difficulties of the revolutionary period, combined with a general
loss of fervour, had made it usual practice for monks of the Cassinese
Congregation to retain small sums of money from the community fund, in order to
cater for their personal needs. This
tended to get out of hand, with the result that the common life began to
suffer. Casaretto's Constitutions (1867)
would insist that the money chest of the community should have no less than
three locks, the keys of which were to be held respectively by the Prior,
Bursar and Cellarer, so that any outgoings could only be by mutual consent This must have been highly impractical, if it
was observed at all, but we should understand it in the light of the abuse
which it was designed to counteract.
The 17th August 1828 saw young
Pietro making his monastic Profession which, though called "Simple",
was for life. The practice at this time,
and indeed, right up to the appearance of the Code of Canon Law of 1917, was
for choir monks to take simple perpetual vows followed by Solemn Profession as
much as ten years later, even after priestly ordination. Solemn Vows were thus a ratification of what
had already been conscerated for ever.
Pietro
then suffered a series of characteristic illnesses. In July of the following year, 1829, he was
struck with tuberculosis and went home to Ancona for a few months. 1830 came and his health was no better. In 1831 he was sent to Pegli, to the parish
of S. Martino, at that time administered by a monk of the Cassinese
Congregation, D. Mauro Rapallo. He
managed to undertake some kind of priestly studies under his guidance, but his
intellectual formation would remain feeble throughout his life 1832 saw him
well enough to receive the Subdiaconate and Diaconate, but his health soon gave
way once more and he was forced to take refuge with his family. It appears that he was not so ill that he could
not make a trip to Constantinople with his uncle, followed by further
excursions to Palermo, in Sicily, to Rome, then back to Ancona.
Meanwhile, in the world of national
and international politics, the first stirrings of what would later be called
the Risorgimento, or movement for the unification of Italy, with its
concomitant anti-clericalism, were being felt, while the country felt itself
under pressure by turns from Austria, whose troops occupied Bologna, and
France, who occupied Ancona, both in 1832.
We can only really understand what would take place in ecclesiastical
and religious circles in the light of these commotions.
On the 22nd September 1832, at the
age of 22, Casaretto was ordained priest in Ancona, by the Cardinal
Archbishop. Mindful of his health
problems, the authorities of the Cassinese sent him to the monastery of Cava,
Salerno, towards the end of the year, but the humidity of the south did not
suit him either. It seems strange that
he was then allowed to make a trip to Algeria, as a chaplain to the French
troops, whose climate can scarcely have been more agreeable.
As with Père Jean-Baptiste Muard,
founder of the monastery of La Pierre-qui-Vire in France which was to have an
enormous influence on the future of the Congregation, Casaretto's most enduring
ideas of reform came to him during a visit to the Sacro Speco at Subiaco
(where St Benedict had lived in a cave).
The latter part of 1833 and the first half of 1834 see him ensconced
there with a growing desire for solitude
Even the
beauties of Subiaco did not suit him for long, however, and he set off
for St Paul's-outside-the-Walls in Rome, so that he could find medical
care in the City. Reading between the
lines, and with the greater psychological awareness of today, we may wonder
whether the cause of his illnesses was partly psycho-somatic. His avowed desire for solitude is
contradicted by his incessant wanderings.
We shall discover a number of such contradictions as we proceed with the
story.
Further changes
were in store as, on 17 March 1835 he was assigned to the monastery of S.
Severino in Naples. He never arrived
there, however, and, instead, decided to petition his superiors for permission
to return to his first love, the Camaldolese.
Permission was granted by the Holy See and he presented himself at Fonte
Avellana, where he was clothed again, this time in white, on 2nd June of
the same year. It will not surprise us
to learn that his health let him down again and he returned to his family at
Ancona where, in 1836, he was assigned as Spiritual Director to the
archdiocesan seminary.
History and politics intervened and,
with the coming of the plague of cholera among the French troops then in
occupation, he asked to be relieved of his seminary duties and went to serve as
hospital chaplain for several months.
This appears to have been a great success, indeed, it was one of the
"golden threads" of which we spoke earlier. There are numerous
testimonies to his devotion and competence at this time, leading eventually to
his being decorated by King Louis-Philippe of France. The autumn of 1836 saw him back at the
seminary. One can readily understand that the authorities of the Cassinese
Congregation, however sympathetic they might have wished to be towards the
young man, found him something of a problem.
It was finally thought best to petition for an indefinite exclaustration
(permission to live outside the monastery) which was granted by the Holy See on
2nd June 1837 The records of the same year give us some insight into his
devotional life, especially with regard to the Blessed Virgin. He had exposed an image of her before the
French troops in hospital and, on 8th December 1837, feast of the Immaculate
Conception, solemnly consecrated himself to her, a practice which would later
be repeated annually by his disciples and is still carried out in many Subiaco
houses, including Prinknash. This
fervour of devotion would go hand in hand with a rather minimal monastic
observance on his part. We know that in
1842, his spiritual director, Canon Ubaldo Marini, renewed for life the various
dispensations he had already received on account of his health, namely, he was never
to fast, not even in Lent (something which was then obligatory even for lay
Catholics) and he need only recite the hours of Prime and Compline from the
Divine Office. In later years his
enemies would seize on these and other points as evidence of his supposedly
dissolute life
It was in this same year, 1837, that
Casaretto obtained permission to go and live in a little old sanctuary called La
Madonna di Portonovo, near Ancona, where he spent his time in prayer and
pastoral ministry towards the local peasant population and fishermen. Judging
by his previous pastoral experiments, one imagines that this was a
success. He certainly appears to have been
happy and the next few years would be a time of relative stability for
him. In 1841, he was joined by a priest
and a lay man who, it seems, did not remain very long.
But the peace was not to last and
the Cassinese had not forgotten about their wandering monk. On the 10th March 1842, the Procurator
General, Benedetto Tomasetti, sent Casaretto a letter, asking him to be ready
to leave his beloved solitude of Portonovo and return to the parish at Pegli,
where Rapallo, by now an old man, was looking for a replacement. We now see a
characteristic move on Casaretto's part, who always knew how to seize a moment
and use it to the advantage of his own projects. Instead of accepting the request tout
court, he prepared a "memorial", addressed to the Holy Father and
his superiors in which he states that he is willing to accept on condition
that he is not left isolated from his brethren and that a "true
Benedictine community with the entire observance of the Rule" be set up at
Pegli. It would not be too much
to say that he knew his request would find all the more favour in the eyes of
the authorities since Rapallo's style of life, as a isolated monk in a parish
situation, had latterly been the cause of some complaintand the spirit of the
Cassinese was very much set towards the restoration of the glories of its past
monasteries. A certain contradiction
can also be seen here. Casaretto had, of his own volition, isolated himself at Portonovo
and appeared to be happy with it, yet now he wants a community life which, up
to now, he had not been able to live for any length of time.
The young man got his way and the
superiors apparently gave their approbation, although the documents are not now
available to us. At any rate, Casaretto set out to see his new project on 12th
June 1842, passing through Forlì, Florence, Livorno and Genoa. This last would be the scene of a
particularly important meeting between him and the then General of the Jesuits,
Fr Johannes Roothaan, who from that point on held a high opinion of him and
supported him in various ways The Archbishop
of Genoa, possibly influenced by the General's approval, gave his consent to
the new foundation and Casaretto made his way to the Minister for External
Affairs of the Kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia, Count Solaro della Margherita,
and eventually, to King Charles Albert himself, who gladly gave his approval,
monastic reform in his realm being very much according to his wishes. Soon the necessary rescripts from the Sacred
Congregation for Bishops and Religious and the Abbot President were obtained
and, on 20th January 1843, Casaretto and the ex-novice master of Subiaco, D.
Raffaele Testa having only a few coins in their pockets, arrived at Pegli, to
take possession of the parish and monastery, and were received warmly by the
local populace.
On 25th January, the "primitive
observance" began. +PAX
From The Oblatemaster’s Desk :-
As for the exorcism of individual souls so it is one could say by transference
and extension and by analogy of whole societies and peoples and of the present
ills of society and of humanity as a whole. The Church as a whole as it is in
heaven is perfect and perfected, while on earth it is wounded, striving and
imperfect. Even as wounded and imperfect it must strive against the ills of the
time especially in their institutionalised forms—like attempts to pervert law,
to destroy innocent life, or destroy and pervert marriage as the basis of
society.
As with
individual exorcisms so predictably (though it surprises some) when the Church
confronts institutionalised evil, like rebuking the attempted perversion of law
(law of course cannot be perverted—a false or unjust law, as Tertullian said, is
not a law)—When the Church rebukes the perversion of law then predictably the devil replies in a
parallel fashion except now the devil has a slightly larger armoury than with
an individual exorcism. The devil can cast up institutionalised imperfections
and failures of the Church at large and in addition each and all the sins of any of the "faithful"
individually or taken together. Only the Church in heaven, the Sacraments and
prayer can stand against this. Only Christ can stand against this vastly
improved armoury. We see the truth of this in our own country today as the
Church confronts the falsification of law on marriage and the devil replies not
only by attacks on the Body of Christ of the Church as a whole but through the
sins and failures of each of the faithful singling out of course the most
heinous. Nevertheless this proves that the Church as “exorcist” of society like
the exorcist of the individual, is doing her God-given job, to advance the
Kingdom of God.
The Church should not expect peace on earth
while she strives for perfection however seemingly ineffectually. If the Church
on earth enjoyed peace it would be because she had given up the struggle and
ceased to be the Church.
Even
the devout and quiet and assiduous seeking of God apart from the world
necessarily involves this spiritual warfare and confrontation of the powers and
principalities on high
.
We are
recently returned from our heaven-blessed, Oblate pilgrimage to Caldey Island
in Wales where our monastic community
began its pilgrimage. There you find a beautiful island and beautiful Abbey and
ideal setting for contemplative peace. This peace our forebears gave up.
A hundred years ago was the fateful
meeting where most of the Caldey community decided to become Catholics which
led to their loss of the peace of the contemplative haven of their Abbey on
Caldey Island ,that Abbey and Island that had cost them such effort to
establish!
We are
in the 100th anniversary of their sacrifice in response to God’s
call, a sacrifice that has given our brethren at Prinknash their peace and
given us our peace here at Pluscarden. Their warfare has given us our peace.
Their entrance by the narrow door has led us into our way at Pluscarden.
Or again there is the present-day
story of the 12 sisters who were Anglicans until recently and temporarily
housed at Ryde Abbey, Isle of Wight after “converting” to the Ordinariate. They too have chosen the stormy, "Caldey
path" to peace, the narrow door to the way which still continues bravely
on in hope as they have just left Ryde Abbey for their new home in Birmingham.
Yes
my dear sisters and brothers let us not be fair-weather sailors or again to
change the image, as soldiers of Christ let us not be surprised when the
bullets fly! ( Alarmed, perhaps! Surprised, no!) If all were quiet for us on
the Western spiritual front then as disciples of Christ we should have to be
worried and ask ourselves in consternation, “Have I entered into God’s
peace and entered by the narrow door or entered into the false peace of
surrender to the world?" St John
Chrysostom ( September 13th) stood out for the truth and died in exile.—In the
words of prayer we plead “Graciously
sustain us that in all things we may please You, Lord and not the
world!” AMEN. May the Lord grant that it may be so!
Announcement: There is to be a weekend OBLATE RETREAT
at Pluscarden, probably next Lent. Please let me know as soon as possible if
you are interested 2014.
Prayer Intentions :- For Abbot Anselm's and Bishop Hugh's
intentions. For vocations at Pluscarden. For Br. Ben
our new pre-postulant. For Br. Martin
Junior here for his studies from Kristo
Buase, Br. Finber. health. St Mary's, Petersham & Kristo Buase. For the
repose of thec souls of Fr. Amrose’s mother, Mary Flavell, and of Oblate Jean
Boylan.Br Gabriel’s mother and Fr.
Dunstan’s parents, failing . Our new Oblates: John
Ignatius of Loyola Wilson & Georgina Mary McKillop Quinn. We pray for the new
Dominican Sisters in Elgin. Please pray for sick
Oblates especially for Sarah Drever’s husband Leslie, Brigitte Mackay awaiting
heart surgery, Mrs Maggie Barrett recovering from heart surgery, Paul Miller
90's and hernia, Margaret Rawcliffe, Mrs. Gertrude Corker’s two daughters, for Bob Barr, Brian Milne, Mary
Buist, Gail
Schmitz and her son Julian, recovering from kidney transplants, Maurice
Dufficy, Mary Bradley, Graham Dunbar, Pauline Reid, Beth Fraser & her
husband Chris, Marie Claire Hérnandez, Bob
Clark(poorly), Nick Macrae’s son, Martin Macrae and wife Sharon, kidney
transplants, Dr.David Paterson & his wife Angela, Jacqui’s daughter, Sally,
Deacon William Joss, Poppy Sinclair, Ian Brodie, Carolyn Boardman & son
Malcolm, Val Farrelly, David Braine, philosopher, Susan Stephen and all friends
of the Abbey and for all oblates, friends and all the sick, and those who care
for them.
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
limited funding for Josaphat thanks to
further sponsorship.
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.
Phone: - 01358-721512 or Mobile:- 07762-432080
Events -----
There is to be another pilgrimage for the
100th Anniversaryof the Conversion on Caldey next month,16th -19th October (
18th is St Luke the "Homecoming" day!)-- this time a monastic
pilgrimage-- please pray for the success
of this. Some of you contributed for a stone statue gift for the Abbey
there. It is to be of St Aelred of Rievaulx ( Cistercian & hero of the
Caldey monks) and it will probably be handed over then (if it is ready!)Abbot
Anselm will be there, please God.
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' ( first word of the Rule) - the Oblate listening in the World”. Martin
Gardner and Jim Bradley are representing
Pluscarden. Thank you both.
BOOKS and Media :- The community magazine Pluscarden Benedictines:
Contact The Editor Fr. Bede to go on the mailing list at the Abbey.--£5. Caldey
DVD-donation to Pluscarden, as before please & apply for your copy from
Martin Gardner, martin@guardair.co.uk. Post:- Dunmoir, 18, Gurney St.,
Stonehaven,AB39 2EB.
"The Caldey Conversion"--A contemporary
Chronicle. Pluscarden Publications--£6 +p.and p. from
our bookshop. Original sources- highly recommended.
Highly recommended: books by
Fr. Aelred Baker, the expert who knew 6 of the original community "The
Flood-Gates of Memory"--The life of Abbot Aelred Carlyle and
Community.--THe Eyre Press--Leatherhead. "All those Years in
Exile"--The Life of Abbot Aelred Carlyle and his Community" "
Abbot Aelred Carlyle"--The Diffiicuties in Writing his Life. "From
Poverty to Prinknash" --A History of the Community at Prinknash Part !:
1896-1913. Some of these may be available from Prinknash Abbey.
All the books
by Peter Anson too may be recommnended
(who was "there")-- but some are acknowledged to lack balance.
"Abbot
Aelred Carlyle, Caldey Island, and the Anglo-Catholic Revival in England"
by American monk Rene Kollar--Published by Peter Lang ISBN 0-8204-2469-2--quite
a good bibloigraphy-- but not as close to the sources as the above.
Meetings of Oblate Groups:-
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
St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso. Contact Jane
Coll. "Scaraben”, Westside, Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness, KY14 8YD. Phone
01847 851467
St Mungo’s Chapter Glasgow. As announced. Peter Aitken 11, Maxwell
Grove, Glasgow. G41 5JP. Phone:0141
4272084.
INTERMONASTIC EXCHANGE PRINKNASH/PLUSCARDEN 12 -14 JULY
2014 (draft)
Time? Oblates
arrive where Collection by
Stephen/Pam?
11ish Oblates
arrive at Brownshill and settle
in
12.30pm Lunch
at Brownshill
2pm Minibus
leaves Brownshill for Gloucester
Cathedral
2.55pm Meet
Frs Stephen and Martin McC outside
Cathedral
3pm Tour
of Gloucester Cathedral
Minibus
returns to Brownshill
6pm Vespers
at Brownshill
6.30pm Supper
at Brownshill
8.15pm Vigils
Sunday
13.7.14
7.15am Lauds
8.00am Breakfast
9.00am Minibus
leaves Brownshill for Prinknash
10.30am Conventual
Mass/Oblate Annual Gathering
12.30pm Sext
12.40pm Buffet Lunch in the Monastic Refectory/garden
|
Prinknash Abbey
|
3.50pm None
4.00pm Tea
4.30pm Vespers and Benediction
5pm Return to Brownshill
6.30pm Supper
8.15pm Vigils
Monday 14.7.14
6.30am Lauds
8.20am Terce followed by Mass
10.00am Farewell Brownshill
Minibus to Prinknash
12.30pm Mid-day Office
Lunch in Conference Centre
2.30pm Presentation in Conference Centre by
Frs Martin/Stephen followed by presentation by Pluscarden
Oblates
4.45pm Minibus leaves Prinknash?
Time Farewell ….
Booking
form Send
to: Mrs. Pamela Morey, 6, Cotteswold
House, Gloucester St., CIRENCESTER, GL7 2DC
pam@pamelamorey.net
----------------------(Cut and send or copy/photocopy and send
please)------------Name ………………………………………………………
Address
…………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………..
E.mail address …………………………………………
Tel. Number ……………………………………………
I wish to occupy a single room
…………………
I wish to share a twin bedded
room with ………………………………………………………………
I shall be arriving at:
Birmingham Airport/Gloucester Railway Station/Gloucester Bus Station
Time ………………………………………………………
The
suggested offering for the weekend accommodation at Brownshill Monastery
------------------------------------------------------------
Brownshill
has 14 rooms :
5 are twin
bedded
Please
cut, copy or photocopy & return
RENEWAL
OF OBLATION OR INTENTION TO MAKE FINAL OBLATION AUTUMN 2013Oblates normally renew their promises on or about 21
November, the feast of the Presentation of Our Lady. Please indicate your
desire to continue living according to the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict,
in union with the monastic family of Pluscarden Abbey, by signing this form and
returning it to the Oblate Master, Pluscarden Abbey.Delete as appropriate
(Either)For Oblates ( delete part 2) parts 1 and 3(Friends simple delete all of parts 1 and 2!--go to part 3.
please)
1."Peace. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
I renew my oblation and I offer myself to
Almighty God, as an Oblate of the monastery of Our Lady and St John the
Baptist, in the valley of St Andrew at Pluscarden. I promise, before God and
all the saints, the conversion of my life, in the spirit of the Rule of our
holy Father St. Benedict, according to the statutes of the oblates, and in
union with the Pluscarden community.”or For
postulant or novice Oblates delete part 1. & fill in 2 and 3 , please
2."I desire and intend to make my final oblation, offering
myself to God according to the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict, in union
with the monastic community at Pluscarden."
3.
SIGNED:
-----------------------------------------------------------DATE----------------------------------BLOCK CAPITALS(surname)-------------------------------(Christian
name)-----------------------------ADDRESS-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TOWN--------------------------------------POSTCODE---------------------------------- PHONE----------------------------------------------------------MOBILE-----------------------------EMAIL----------------------------@-------------------------
LOVE and BLESSINGS.,
MAY THE LORD FILL OUR AUTUMN WITH
THANKFULNESS!
YOURS IN CHRIST and SPNB,
fR.Martin