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Nothing Dearer than Christ Oblate letter of the Pluscarden , Elgin, Moray, Scotland. IV30 8UA. Ph. (01343) 890257 fax 890258 Email [email protected] and

[email protected] Website www.pluscardenabbey.org DMB series No 41 Lent 2019

Monastic Voice

This quarter the Monastic voice is your accompanying reprint of our Oblate Statutes as approved in 2003.

From the Oblatemaster’s Desk

Fr. Benedict's accompanying commentary of 2003 on our statutes: “Let us proceed with the help of the Lord to draw up regulations for the strong kind of monks: those who live in community” (Holy Rule 1:13).

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A senior chosen for his skill in winning souls should be appointed to look after the novices with careful attention. His concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God... (Holy Rule 58:8)

Canon Law:-Can. 303 Associations whose members live in the world but share in the spirit of some religious institute, under the overall direction of the same institute, and who lead an apostolic life and strive for Christian perfection, are known as third orders, or are called by some other suitable title.

From the Code of Canon Law, Book II: The People of God; Part I: Christ’s Faithful; & Part III: Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Canon Law: Can. 304 All associations of Christ’s faithful, whether public or private, by whatever title or name they are called, are to have their own statutes. These are to define the purpose or social objective of the association, its centre, its governance and the condition of membership. Can. 677 Institutes which have associations of Christ’s faithful joined to them are to have a special care that these associations are imbued with the genuine spirit of their family"

St. Benedict did not mean to found an order. In this he is unlike many later saints - such as St. Francis or St. Ignatius; nor did he intend to write the Rule for any save his own monks at Monte Cassino. These facts, to me at any rate, say something important about the Benedictines. We do not see ourselves as having any particular mission or function in the Church. We do not set out to change the course of history. Page 3 of 12

We are just there - almost by accident from a human point of view. And, happily, we go on “just being there”.

"Since St. Benedict did not intend his Rule to have application beyond his own , why has that Rule been such a success? Why has so much been achieved through it and because of it? I think one of the Benedictine secrets is that monks are, on the whole, quite ordinary people. We are not spiritually star performers. But the Rule of St. Benedict makes it possible for ordinary folk to live lives of quite extraordinary value. The weak have a place to do their best. In fact one of the great guiding principles of the Rule is the importance of the weak and the ordinary. How important it is not to treat people equally nor to attempt to mould them into one set pattern. The Rule demands that monks be seen as individuals, each precious in the sight of God, and the Rule is full of compassion.

"Wise, moderate, compassionate; these are the characteristics of the Rule of St. Benedict, and I believe its success is partly due to the presence of these characteristics and their exercise in favour of the weak and the ordinary. When we come to consider why the Rule has made possible so many achievements, it is harder to make objective judgements. One thought attracts me. If you ask anyone who is knowledgeable about Church matters, to name two or three Benedictines who are world famous, he would not be able to get further than mentioning a name or two from some Benedictine community known to him. On the whole, monks do not become famous - and that is a good thing - but do - and that is an excellent thing. In other words, it is the community that matters. It is as a member of a community that the individual monk does his particular job. Page 4 of 12

It is within the monastic family that he grows and learns, develops his talents and is supported.... We still have to answer the question, what is the secret of the success of a monastery? There are two interrelated causes. First, there is the central part which prayer does, and must, play in the life of the monastery and in the life of each monk. The praise of God, day in, day out, all the year round: this is always the main work of the community, the Opus Dei. If this ceases to be so, then the effectiveness of the monastery diminishes. Secondly, the dedication to living the Gospel is equally important. The monk comes to the monastery to seek God, and this he does, like any other Christian, by becoming a follower of Christ. We may say that the sole purpose of a monk is to love God above all things and his neighbour as himself. That, after all, is simply the heart of the Christian life; and it must be in the heart of every monk. Then: that love is to be poured out. So the riches of the monastery, whether spiritual or material, are to be shared with others."

From In Praise of Benedict (1980) by George Basil Cardinal Hume OSB, 1923-1999

------Fr. Benedict in 2003 "Dear oblate, This abbreviated letter(!!) accompanies the Oblate Statutes which Fr. has now approved for publication. Fr. Ambrose conceived the idea of drawing up a set of statutes for our oblates when he was first Page 5 of 12 appointed Oblate Master in 1995. On his departure for Ghana in 1997, he left me his translation of the statutes produced by the Italian monasteries and approved by the Holy See in 1975, together with a free authorisation for their copying or adaptation. I have followed the basic structure of these Italian statutes, but, in the course of successive redactions, have re- written them almost completely. An oblate canonical expert has assured me that this is perfectly permissible. Individual monasteries approach their oblates in extraordinarily diverse ways. I’ve tried to outline here the specifically Pluscarden approach, and hope you find this helpful. I owe thanks to not a few people who have helped me in this onerous task, with suggestions, advice, comments and criticism; and to all of you who continually demonstrate how one can be a follower of St. Benedict in the midst of the modern world.

Footnote from the Oblatemaster’s Desk We are producing an Pluscarden Oblate Handbook, which will include the text of these Statutes, together with an oblate ritual, notes on the Rule, and on the history and life of our Page 6 of 12

Abbey and community, various useful prayers etc. This is an idea inherited from Fr. Ambrose and Fr. Benedict and an Oblate of our monastery has this well underway even as we write!-- Please pray for this intention! DMB

 Abbot Anselm's meditative Lenten retreat 2019-- the(“quiet”) Lenten Retreat Friday 8th - Monday 11th March (quiet “non-shared meals” as before i.e. usual arrangements).

Arrivals Friday 8th--Please Note:- Residents meal arrangements in guesthouses just as normal this year. Liturgy-- standard times as notice boards and website. Special items only as follows:- Saturday 9th 10.30 am first conference Saturday 10th 3.00 pm second conference Sunday 10th 10.00 am Mass sermon FR. ABBOT Sunday 10th Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 2.00-4.00 pm--opportunity for confession during. Renewal of Oblation during 9.00 am Mass Monday 19th. St Scholastica's and St Benedict's are reserved for YOU so don't be shy about booking! Page 7 of 12

Richard Moth Summer oblate weekend 2019 retreat this year 16th-19th August  ( shared meals at St Scholastica's). St Scholastica's and St Benedict's are reserved for YOU so don't be shy about booking!

(When booking with the guestmaster it is useful if you can let the oblate master know your intention of coming as also if simply visiting and you want to see the oblate master.)

 The 2019 Pluscarden Pentecost Lectures-- "Beauty"---Fr. Martin Boland 11th-13th June 2019

14/15/16 October 2019 at Belmont Abbey, Hereford HR1 9RZ to be led by The Rt Rev Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop of Arundel & Brighton,Oblate of Pluscarden .At the time of booking a non-returnable deposit of £50 is required and the balance is payable in full by 6 September 201 9 Payment can be made by cheque to ‘UK Oblates Team’ or by electronic transfer Page 8 of 12

toSort Code: 08-92-99 Account number: 65302976 Reference: Your name etc

...... BOOKS AND MEDIA

This quarter--- The Statutes ------ Are you a subscriber to the Pluscarden Abbey Magazine "Pluscarden Benedictines"? If not write the Editor Fr. Benedict to be put on the PB mailing list.

PRAYER INTENTIONS For the repose of the souls of Oblate Alice Sullivan. For Abbot Anselm's and Bishop Hugh's intentions. For Oblate Bishop Richard Moth's intentions. Netta Ewing 12th April, Jubilee of Oblation! Fr. Stuart Chalmers (Oblate) spiritual director of the Scots College in Spain. For Bede. For Fr. Ambrose Flavell in charge of the Shetlands. For vocations to Pluscarden especially Brs. Innocent ( visa to return!! and for his father's health) and Benedict Joseph; vocations to St Mary's and St. Scholastica's, Petersham, U.S.A and Kristo Buase , Ghana. Andrew Laing making his Oblation on the 20th February Page 9 of 12

For new novice Oblate Sarah Akehurst being received in to the Church on Iona on the 19th or 20th March(she wants the 19th!) and for her young son Jonny's health. For all our novice and postulant Oblates and all our Oblates living and dead. Please pray for the health of Fr. Matthew, Br. Cyprian, Br Finbar & of the Very Rev Mgr. Robert Provost McDonald, Rev. Christopher Mayo, Fr. Bob Halshaw, Rev. Angus Macleod, for Mary Bradley poorly, for Gillian Cockwill's mother, for Gail Schmitz. For Siobhan Gilmour's husband, for Mrs. Allie Brien, , Mrs. Janet Fraile, Gitte Mackay, Martin Farrelly, Kay Fernandez, Leonora Duson and her daughter, and Margaret Rawcliffe, Robert Cantafio’s mother Margharita, Ursula Humphrey Octogenarian(!), Joe Barrett, Maureen Woodhead, Bob Barr, Brian Milne, Fiona Sellar, Johan(Joy) Baillie, Graham Dunbar, Nick MaCrae’s son, Martin MaCrae battling illness, Dr. David Paterson and his wife Angela, Jacqui Heath-Anderson( moved to Elgin) and daughter Sally and grand-daughter Iris, Hester du Plessis, Poppy Sinclair, Ian and especially Frederick Brodie--the twins-- both poorly but moved to Drumnadrochit, for Pat Foster, Pam Woodhead poorly, Carolyn Boardman, Marshall & Malcolm Boardman & all the family, and also for Albert Paterson and his mother-- very ill, Eileen Kerr ,very ill Peter Wynne, Susan Stephen, Cindy’s husband, Danielle & her son Osyp, Evelyn, Violet and Sheila, Bernadette Harris, Alistair Macdonald and all friends of the Abbey and for all Oblates, and for ALL the sick and Page 10 of 12

those who care for them--and for ALL our sponsored seminarians Our sponsored seminarians

Ugandan Seminarian Update 1 February 2019 Josaphat Josaphat has completed his first phase of pastoral work. He was in Budaka Parish under the guidance of Fr. Joseph Kamiza. He is now back in his home parish, Nyangole Cathedral (Archdiocese of Tororo). He is waiting for his next appointment. He will go to another parish, where he will again learn another language of that tribe. Charles He came home for some holiday in December. He has been active in his parish and spent time with his family. He is now going back to the formation house, where he will stay until September. At that point he will join the major seminary, to study philosophy. Okamgo Okamgo went back to the seminary on the 1 February. He is doing well. During the Christmas holidays he came to daily Mass and helped the Priest with some work in the parish.

We are now supporting three seminarians, which is really good. Please pray for these young men as they train for the priesthood. Please pray also for Sr. Catherine who co- ordinates everything in Uganda. If you would like to make a financial contribution (usual amount is £10/£20 standing order per mth) please contact: Campbell Murdoch, email: [email protected] or mobile: 07810 350006 (Address: Fircroft, Knockbuckle Road, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, PA13 4JT). Page 11 of 12

OUR OBLATE CHAPTERS St Mungo's chapter, Glasgow:-We meet on the second Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. Contact can be made via Peter Aitken. Tel. 0141 427 2084, or via Graham Dunbar at 0141 558 4323 as group Secretary and Treasurer. St Margaret’s Chapter, Dunfermline monthly meetings as announced. All details contact Deacon Pat Carrigan [email protected] St. Monica’s Chapter, Thurso. Contact Jane Coll. "Scaraben”, Westside, Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness, KY14 8YD. Phone 01847 851467 and as announced St. Peter's Chapter –next 11th December. 7.00-8.00 pm each second Tuesday of each month, next 12 th March Church Hall St Joseph’s, 2 Tanfield Walk, Aberdeen &/or contact Mr Robert Ian Johnston, 31, Tay Road, Mastrick, ABERDEEN AB16 5LA St Meinrad’s Chapter—For details contact Norman Macdonald [email protected] or [email protected] St. Mirin’s Chapter. Paisley. Date: 1st Saturday each month. Time 2-4 pm. Venue: Hall 2, St Mirin’s Cathedral, Cathedral Precincts, Incle Street Paisley, PA1 1HR— secure parking there within Cathedral enclosure. Farther information: St Mirin Chapter, Benedictine Oblate Group, c/o Campbell Murdoch, Fircroft, Knockbuckle Road, Kilmacolm, PA13 4JT "St Andrew's Chapter" Pluscarden Abbey-- next Quarterly meeting 2.00 to 3.30 a Saturday in June Page 12 of 12

2019 in St Benedict's parlour no 1. No prep just arrive-- tea and biscuits during. "St Columba's Chapter" in Dundee -- if interested please contact Mrs. Georgina Quinn 2D, Church Street, Broughty Ferry DUNDEE Fife DD5 1EZ E-CHAPTER- Brian Milne phone 01224 485781 mobile 07443032289 -- due to poor health Brian is encouraging any of our Oblates in a similar position or living far from other oblates to join an e-chapter e.g.– that of Oblate John McKinlay—the “Benedictine Prayer Circle"--The idea is to help oblates who might feel lonely or isolated to connect, through prayer, with their brother and sister oblates--- If interested please contact John G McKinlay by email for further details, and/or a copy of the prayer schedule: [email protected]

"The praise of God, day in, day out, all the year round: this is always the main work of the community"

Our Lady of Pluscarden, pray for us as we keep Lent! In the love of Christ With a blessing, Fr. Martin

PAX