Say a prayer for the Abbot of Pluscarden, Hugh Gilbert OSB, who has been appointed Bishop of Aberdeen. A wise, holy man who has governed his Abbey with prudence and kindness, he has suffered the lot of many such religious down the ages, and been taken from his community for the benefit of the Church. I am sure that his brothers will be sorry that he has to go, and that he will be sad to leave them.
This is a very good appointment. In omnibus Deus glorificetur.
17 comments:
It is wonderful news. I shall be looking forward to his first visitation of this parish!
Lucky Aberdeen.
It is great news for Catholics in the north of Scotland. Abbot Hugh had long been the front runner according to rumour. It should be a popular choice in the dioscee. Hopefully it wil lead to an improvement in the standards of liturgy and music which are, with a few exceptions, dire. It will also be interesting to see if Bishop Hugh proves to be more tolerant of the Extraordinary Form than Bishop Peter. Hopefully it will also result in a warmer welcome being given to the Orcadian Redemptorists than was afforded by the out going bishop,
I remember Abbot Hugh was tipped for Archbishop of Westminster but one of his 'key aides' in the monastery left to get married and he decided the monastery needed him to ensure stability. I wonder if things have stabilized now.
Also, I know the reformed liturgy is celebrated in Latin at Pluscarden, but I have heard from one of monks that Abbot Hugh is not terribly sympathetic to the traditional Roman Rite. I do hope he will follow the Holy Father's lead in promoting the traditional liturgy as a treasure for all the Church, and publicly celebrate it himself. Let's pray for him.
Why does Scotland get all the luck?
Nicolas Bellord
Along with other houses of the Solesmes, Pluscarden has been committed to the celebration of the Novus Ordo with fine chant and impeccable reverence.
When I stayed there, I both celebrated a private Mass in the EF, and attended the conventual Mass in Choir. The community could not have been more accommodating, and Abbot Gilbert made his own chapel available to me.
So I don't think there is need for any worry on that score.
This is very good News.
I think Latin has always been preserved in the Pluscarden liturgy under the Abbot.
This is particularly good for the "Reform of the Reform", which is now becoming a hot topic since so many of our Novus Ordo Masses have degenerated into little more than Protestant communion services with the Redemptive and Sacrificial nature of the Mass lost in all the partipicipation.
It might even be good news for the Tridentine Mass in the diocese!
I've had a smile on my face for two days straight. He will be my Bishop!
I feel sorry for him that he has been called to this, but we in the diocese are lucky and I for one am very grateful to the holy father for this appointment!!!
Dear Fr.
Brick by Brick.
Deo Gratias.
I too heard the rumour re. the Abbot and Westminster. "Auguri" for his episcopacy. But in defence of Bishop Peter, on the only occasion we met (in conjunction with the Apostleship of the Sea) I found him a charming dinner companion and a fan both of Peter Anson and Arthur Ransome. So not all bad!!
2 thumbs up
http://kingofages.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/pentecost/
"Abbot Gilbert made his own chapel available to me"
Does the Abbot "own" a chapel?
My recollection of the place is that the chapel to which you refer is the only one available for private Masses. The liturgy is not that good and the layout of the liturgical space a typical, if not strange, Vatican II mishmash complete with an ugly, modern, stain glass window.
Pluscarden is not a house of the Solemnes congregation, but of the Subiaco Congregation. In any event, some Solemnes houses do have the EF Mass only - Clear Creek, for example.
Hopefully this means that the Transalpine Redemptorists will finally be canonically erected.
SV - in Benedictine Abbeys there is usually an Abbot's chapel.
I think Pluscarden have done well with what is left of the building. The Liturgy is all sung in Latin and their chant is exemplary.
Alex - thanks for the correction. I often get that wrong!
Generally Solesmes houses are thoroughly committed to the Novus Ordo because Solesmes has put so much effort into their new psalter etc. But whether this will last is another matter.
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