FATHER FRANK’S LOG: 23rd – 30th NOVEMBER 2025
I have just returned from a week’s private retreat in Nunraw Abbey, which lies 7 miles beyond Haddington, and around 30 miles outside of Edinburgh. I had visited the abbey a number of times over the years, but this was in fact my first visit since I left St Gabriel’s, Prestonpans, and that was almost 25 years ago. There are just 6 Cistercian monks there now, 4 priests and 2 brothers. Like all religious communities, they are experiencing aging and diminishment, and wondering how long they can continue in that location. However, they made me very welcome and essentially made me part of the monastic community for that week, eating with them in the refectory (vegetarian food and in silence); concelebrating the Holy Eucharist with them each day in the chapel, and joining them in the choir stalls for most of the Hours of the Divine Office. I have to confess that I didn’t join them for Matins, which was at 3.30am, but I did join them for Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 6.30am; Sext at 11.45am, Vespers (Evening Prayer) at 6pm, and Compline (Night Prayer) at 7.30pm. I did my best to accompany them in the chants. I’m sure the occasional visitor, sitting in the church, wondered what someone was doing up there in a Passionist habit.
In between times, I was following an 8-day retreat programme I had planned out for myself, sometimes praying in the chapel, and sometimes in a lovely little prayer room in the guest house. Apart from the day I travelled, and the day I returned, both of which were torrential rain, I was blessed with the weather, with only one wet day during my time there, which meant I was able to enjoy some lovely contemplative walks as well, mostly through the wooded area that was part of the old monastery grounds. I also had a day where I had arranged a time with one of the monks for a chat and for Confession, which was good.
Everything went as I would have wanted it to, except that on my last full day I ended up in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Without going into too much gory detail, it was in relation to my present health issues, and it involved a lot of blood. This happened at 6am as I was getting ready for Lauds. One of the monks kindly drove me to the hospital and stayed with me. Gladly, traffic was light at that early hour, and the A&E department was relatively quiet, so I was seen to very quickly. While in the A&E cubicle I began to gush even more blood. It was like a scene from the Jack Nicholson film, The Shining. If you haven’t watched that film, and you don’t like blood, keep well away from it. I have to confess it was a bit scary, especially when I was told I was being taken to a resuscitation ward. However, the hospital staff, of which many became involved, including observing students, were wonderful, even though I was a tourist from Glasgow. After a few hours, I was allowed back to Nunraw, still accompanied by my monk companion, with instructions to follow things up when I returned west, which I am in the course of doing. Thankfully I was able to pick up on the final day of my retreat, and return home safely the following day. I’m sure God had a purpose for me in that gory experience. He just hasn’t revealed it to me yet. I will let you know when He does.
Having said that, I have a lot to be grateful for. Firstly, to the monks of Nunraw Abbey for their welcome, their hospitality, their prayerfulness, and for looking after me in my time of need. Secondly, for the medical staff at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, for their swift and timely response, which was at all times calming and re-assuring. When the chips are down, you can still rely on the good old NHS. Sadly, having lost a fair bit of blood, I was totally exhausted on the Tuesday night when I arrived home, and so I went to bed early. That meant I missed watching Scotland beating Denmark 4-2 to reach the World Cup Finals. It’s being said that it was one of those occasions when you will always remember where you were when it happened. All I will remember is that I was in bed. However, I did enjoy the highlights next day – which saved me the stress and the anxiety of watching it live. God is good.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
I have just returned from a week’s private retreat in Nunraw Abbey, which lies 7 miles beyond Haddington, and around 30 miles outside of Edinburgh. I had visited the abbey a number of times over the years, but this was in fact my first visit since I left St Gabriel’s, Prestonpans, and that was almost 25 years ago. There are just 6 Cistercian monks there now, 4 priests and 2 brothers. Like all religious communities, they are experiencing aging and diminishment, and wondering how long they can continue in that location. However, they made me very welcome and essentially made me part of the monastic community for that week, eating with them in the refectory (vegetarian food and in silence); concelebrating the Holy Eucharist with them each day in the chapel, and joining them in the choir stalls for most of the Hours of the Divine Office. I have to confess that I didn’t join them for Matins, which was at 3.30am, but I did join them for Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 6.30am; Sext at 11.45am, Vespers (Evening Prayer) at 6pm, and Compline (Night Prayer) at 7.30pm. I did my best to accompany them in the chants. I’m sure the occasional visitor, sitting in the church, wondered what someone was doing up there in a Passionist habit.
In between times, I was following an 8-day retreat programme I had planned out for myself, sometimes praying in the chapel, and sometimes in a lovely little prayer room in the guest house. Apart from the day I travelled, and the day I returned, both of which were torrential rain, I was blessed with the weather, with only one wet day during my time there, which meant I was able to enjoy some lovely contemplative walks as well, mostly through the wooded area that was part of the old monastery grounds. I also had a day where I had arranged a time with one of the monks for a chat and for Confession, which was good.
Everything went as I would have wanted it to, except that on my last full day I ended up in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Without going into too much gory detail, it was in relation to my present health issues, and it involved a lot of blood. This happened at 6am as I was getting ready for Lauds. One of the monks kindly drove me to the hospital and stayed with me. Gladly, traffic was light at that early hour, and the A&E department was relatively quiet, so I was seen to very quickly. While in the A&E cubicle I began to gush even more blood. It was like a scene from the Jack Nicholson film, The Shining. If you haven’t watched that film, and you don’t like blood, keep well away from it. I have to confess it was a bit scary, especially when I was told I was being taken to a resuscitation ward. However, the hospital staff, of which many became involved, including observing students, were wonderful, even though I was a tourist from Glasgow. After a few hours, I was allowed back to Nunraw, still accompanied by my monk companion, with instructions to follow things up when I returned west, which I am in the course of doing. Thankfully I was able to pick up on the final day of my retreat, and return home safely the following day. I’m sure God had a purpose for me in that gory experience. He just hasn’t revealed it to me yet. I will let you know when He does.
Having said that, I have a lot to be grateful for. Firstly, to the monks of Nunraw Abbey for their welcome, their hospitality, their prayerfulness, and for looking after me in my time of need. Secondly, for the medical staff at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, for their swift and timely response, which was at all times calming and re-assuring. When the chips are down, you can still rely on the good old NHS. Sadly, having lost a fair bit of blood, I was totally exhausted on the Tuesday night when I arrived home, and so I went to bed early. That meant I missed watching Scotland beating Denmark 4-2 to reach the World Cup Finals. It’s being said that it was one of those occasions when you will always remember where you were when it happened. All I will remember is that I was in bed. However, I did enjoy the highlights next day – which saved me the stress and the anxiety of watching it live. God is good.
As ever, protect yourself, your loved ones and others, and protect Christ in your lives.
RSS Feed