A note to readers about Pluscarden Abbey

A note to readers about Pluscarden Abbey

The other week I had one of the most unusual and interesting weeks of my life, when I visited Pluscarden Abbey in the Highlands of Scotland. I thought I should mention it in case anyone starts to wonder about the sudden increase in the number of references to monks. And I imagine that in all sorts of ways in coming weeks, my experiences there will seep into what I’m writing.

It was certainly a wonderful week, and the fulfilment of a very long-standing ambition. I visited Pluscarden 29 years ago with my wife – just for the day – while we were having a holiday in Scotland, in order to visit an old school friend who is a monk there. I know Elgin is a long way away, and life is busy, but it’s taken nearly 30 years to get back. However, it’s a place where I’ve said to myself, “One day, I must go to Pluscarden”, so, now that I have the freedom of retirement, I took the opportunity to go. And I am very pleased that I did.

Pluscarden is a Benedictine monastery, with about 15 monks, set in a beautiful valley about 7 miles outside Elgin. They go into chapel 7 or 8 times a day (depending on whether it’s Sunday or not) to sing divine office, using the traditional Latin. I was staying in the guest house, and – while not attending all services, especially not the one that starts at 4.30am! – loved joining in several of the services each day, and I also had the privilege of joining the monks at lunchtime.

If I give just one thought now, which was the thing that struck me most of all. The monks live such a distinctive life, and it is clear that they have given everything in order to express their complete devotion to God. So, the question this raises is: how can I, in the life I live, express my complete devotion to God?