The plague: Two views of a pandemic, from St Peter’s and Dublin – Pages 36 & 37 The Irish Spirit May 14th, 2020 SPIRIT’S Issue No. 2 RISKY NUALA Ireland in Bloom ALIVE Discover the beauty and wonder still BUSINESS O’LOAN accessible during the time of COVID
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT The Bee Sanctuary INSIDE: 8-page special of Limerick How much uncertainly Yes it’s tough, but
A POSITIVE PRAYER FROM on the beauty around Fr Paddy Byrne will you live with think of those who us Pages 17-24 ....and much more! now? Page 34 have it worse Page 9
(Stg £1.70) f Thursday, May 14, 2020 €2.00 Mike O’Sullivan out with his dog, The-Irish-Catholic-Newspaper L @IrishCathNews www.irishcatholic.com walking along the wild garlic path on Ross Island, Killarney National Park. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan Hopes for quicker return to Mass as distancing to become norm Chai Brady and gations would not be permit- Róise McGagh ted to gather for Mass until Loved ones are not forgotten July 20. Bishops have expressed cau- “I honestly believe that it tious optimism for a return to should be possible to begin public Masses before the Gov- sooner, but always giving pri- ernment’s July 20 target. At ority to public health. When- the same time, there has been ever it happens, it will require a welcome for the decision of flexibility and generosity of the northern Executive to put spirit on the part of every- the reopening of churches as body,” he said. a key priority in easing lock- down in the region. Attendance In a letter to priests, Arch- In his letter this week, Dr bishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin urged parishes to Martin said that “each church devise a seating plan and should be preparing its own clearly define the maximum clear plan in order to be ready number of people that the for opening”. He said that church can hold. “When this other European countries number has been identified, were providing a model that the parish must consider how Irish parishes could follow. to deal with possible larger Dr Martin said he believed attendance. that “Irish public health “This could mean sug- authorities will be influenced gesting that numbers be sys- by the measures taken in tematically spread around other European countries. the weekdays or that extra “The reopening of chur- Masses be scheduled for Sun- ches in a number of Euro- day,” he said. pean countries has in fact He also said that “it would been accompanied by strict seem that the preferred norms of public health,” he option is for Comunion to be said. brought to people rather Bishop of Elphin Kevin than by a procession to the Doran said he finds it “disap- altar”. pointing to think that smaller, Bishop Doran said that he Bishop Noel Treanor visited both Newtown and City Cemeteries in Belfast at the weekend to perform the traditional physically-distanced congre- » Continued on Page 2 blessing of the graves. Covid-19 restrictions prevents families from attending. See story, Page 3.
MARY KENNY SACRAMENTS MOST HOLY KEEP THE PRESSURE ON Re-cycling boom How has our spirituality Irish bishops during the pandemic fared with church doors must tackle Mass PAGE 5 closed? PAGES 14 & 15 restrictions PAGE 8
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Inside this week It is a Herculean task to ready Love Notes Celebrating our parishes for the new normal during a ike many people, I am acutely lockdown feeling the absence of Sunday Mass. Parishes are doing their Editor’s Comment Staff reporter Page 34 Lbest, and there is a wealth of creativity in many of the Masses that are being streamed online. But it isn’t Michael Kelly the same – not really. Food for thought I am blessed where I live that churches remain open Why some things as places of prayer and isolation. A hundred people his disappointment that his on co-responsibility for are better now solace. In the stillness and in 100 houses with 100 own local parish church is the various tasks that are beauty of my local church iPads does not constitute not open for private prayer. required for the life of a Page 33 I am able to pray before the Church. Not really. When he enquired, he was busy parish. It’s not about the Blessed Sacrament. Returning to public told that all of the parish pensioning off those who Others are not so lucky. worship – even with small volunteers are over 70. But, are older, their wisdom is Many churches in various physically-distanced con- while expressing regret, it immense. But we do need hadn’t occurred to him until parts of the country gregations – must be our to lighten their load and I suggested it that the only remain locked much to priority. No one is suggest- understand that being an Notebook way to fix this was for him the dismay of parishioners ing for one minute that intentional disciple means to become a parish volun- even if they do understand the public health concerns more than 45 minutes of a An opportunity for teer. the genuine concern should be taken lightly. But Sunday morning. the Holy Spirit to for public safety that the goal must be to ensure A return to public Masses present a virtue motivates the closures. that the churches can be as Our response to will require a lot of thought, It is welcome news this safe as they can possibly and the❛❛ pandemic can be energy and work in terms Page 40 week that some diocese reasonably be. one that impels us of distancing, sanitising and have begun the process of It will take a Herculean operating one-way systems re-opening churches – at effort. The Covid-19 pan- forward to greater in churches to name just demic has shown up some three things. Managing Editor: Michael Kelly, [email protected] least for private prayer. responsibility for In the North, the civil of the challenges we face as A time of crisis is always Northern Correspondent: Martin O’Brien, [email protected] a Church. Take for example the life of our also a time of opportunity. authorities have indicated Aron Hegarty Multimedia Journalists: Chai Brady, [email protected] that opening churches will the priests over 70 who are God has not visited in active ministry and are parish” coronavirus on us to teach Róise McGagh, [email protected] be part of phase one of the relaxation of restrictions now cocooned. In five years’ Those of us who are us a lesson or to bring about Aron Hegarty, [email protected] there. Though oddly there time, they will mostly have younger and Massgoing some positive end. But our Newsroom: [email protected] 01 6874026 is no timeframe. retired. will have to step up. It is response to it can be one We have also become that impels us forward to Books Editor: Peter Costello, [email protected] not enough to marvel at Isolation reliant on a small and dedi- John and Mary who have greater responsibility for the Layout: Declan Moroney Jesus calls us all as cated group of volunteers been working in the parish life of our parish. We can’t Advertising: [email protected] 01 6874094 individuals, but he calls who are the backbone of for 60 or 70 years and leave it to the same few us to communion and every parish in the country. congratulate them on their people who do everything. Accounts: [email protected] 01 6874020 community. No man is A friend who in the distant commitment. We need a If our parishes are to have Magnificat: [email protected] an island and the faith is days of normality was a new generation of younger a future, we must be that not meant to be lived in weekly Massgoer told me of people to emerge and take future. Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9.30am–5.30pm Shop: [email protected] Hopes for quicker return to Mass Managing Director: Garry O’Sullivan » Continued from Page 1 ferent parts of the country,” clear process in place. We’re churches for private prayer is Annual Subscription Rates: Ireland €145. Airmail €250. Six months – €75. believed it was important for he said. delighted that the opening of on the top of the list,” he said. ISSN 1393 - 6832 - Published by The Irish Catholic, the Church to act in unison. Meanwhile, north of the 23 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. “For the sake of avoiding con- border the plan published Printed by Webprint, Cork. fusion or mixed messages, it this week includes reopening is something that we will of churches as part of phase Place an Advert have to do together. one of easing restrictions. Phone 01 687 4094 or [email protected] “This is not made any eas- Bishop of Derry Donal ier by the fact that we have McKeown said: “I’m very two political jurisdictions on happy with that. It will bring a the island, or the fact that the lot of joy to very many people. Support Irish Missionaries impact of the virus has been “I think people will be reas- significantly different in dif- sured that there actually is a v Capuchin Day Care Centre v LET'S WORK FOR A BETTER SOCIETY FOR 29 Bow Street, Dublin 7 OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. LEAVE A LEGACY FOR LIFE.
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Bishop Plea for older people not to be left leads blessing of ‘on the shelf’ during restrictions the graves has been an essential element of the “The cocoon isolates everybody without some level of risk. Chai Brady public health strategy during the pan- over 70 years of age. Many of these “The benefit of the cocoon must Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran has demic. people have a huge contribution to be constantly weighed against the Staff reporter warned that public health officials “While it has been very difficult make to the extended family and to enormous impact on individual peo- Traditionally, the annual must balance the benefits of coro- for people, I think many people have the communities in which they live,” ple and on society of placing an entire blessing of graves at Mill- navirus restrictions on older people welcomed the protection it afforded. he said. generation indefinitely ‘on the shelf’,” town Cemetery would alongside the contribution over-70s Usually, however, something comes Bishop Doran pointed out that he said. have taken place on the make to communities. out of a cocoon,” he said. “they are 30% of the priests in active Bishop Doran (67) is amongst second Sun- Under State guidelines, older peo- Dr Doran said that he is “concerned ministry in our parishes”. the majority of bishops who are not day in May. ple are now permitted to exercise that, while the ‘roadmap’ envisages required to cocoon. Archbishop Diar- However, daily but are still expected to avoid some relaxation of the ‘cocoon’, it Caution muid Martin, Archbishop Michael because other public contact including with doesn’t hold out any hope of a return Underlining the need for continued Neary, Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of the current family members. to some kind of active life for the caution and vigilance, Dr Doran said Brendan Kelly, Bishop Donal McK- pan- Bishop Doran told The Irish Catho- thousands of people who are cur- “we certainly have to be responsible eown and Bishop John Fleming are all demic lic that he believed that “cocooning rently ‘under protection’. about public health, but there is no life over 70 years of age. and sub- sequent restrictions on movement ‘Faith is key to my and gatherings, it was necessary to adopt a different approach to the ❛❛ life’ says former blessing of the graves this year. To mark the occasion, Bishop 007, Pierce Brosnan Noel Treanor [pictured] privately visited both experiencing mental ill Milltown and City Aron Hegarty health to “stay in contact Cemeteries in Belfast at Actor Pierce Brosnan has with friends, reach out the weekend to celebrate said that his Irish Catholic to people and if you have a ceremony of prayers for Faith has kept him in Faith, some prayers in the dead and bless the “good stead” through the your heart, God in your graves. ups and downs of his life. heart and entrust God in The James Bond star, yourself”. Solidarity who turns 67 at the Mr Brosnan recently “In normal circumstances, weekend, was speaking celebrated his 26th families would have on the Late Late Show in wedding anniversary to gathered together in support of Pieta House his wife, Keely. On being these sacred sites to and about the importance asked what is the key to affectionally remember Magnificat: [email protected] of Faith. having a long and happy and pray in solidarity Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Mr Brosnan recalled marriage, he said: “Itw’s for all the beloved dead growing up in Navan, constant work, supporting who are buried within Co. Meath where he and loving each other. these Milltown and City attended the local “We have been blessed Cemeteries. secondary schools run by with a good friendship in “United with families the Christian Brothers. life but always solving at home, we hold in our “I was brought up an problems because there prayers all those who Irish Catholic, which has is always going to be are buried within these kept me in good stead problems, so you have to cemeteries: relatives, throughout the trials and know how to solve them friends, family members tribulations of my life.” and get on with it,” he and neighbours,” he He advised those said. said.
ONLINE RETREAT DAYS LOUGH DERG PILGRIMAGE SEASON 2020 JOIN THE LOUGH DERG TEAM “Lough Derg has delayed the opening of the carried on our new dedicated website island for the 2020 Pilgrimage Season. www.loughderg.live DURING MAY We welcome the Government roadmap to We look forward to welcoming pilgrims back ease restrictions and we hope that the Island to the Island when Ireland’s public health Go to www.loughderg.live will be able to open for the later weeks of the restrictions allow, so that you can come to Three Day Pilgrimage Season. Lough Derg with confidence.” Saturday 16th May There will not be any One Day Retreats on Tuesday 19th May the Island in May, but we will offer a One Day Retreat in an online format on selected days Sunday 24th May beginning Saturday 16 May. These will be Prior La Flynn Wednesday 27th May
Lough Derg phone lines are open 9.00am – 5.00pm Mon-Friday during May - Tel: +353 (0) 71 9861518 The retreat begins Contact the team by email [email protected] and on the Lough Derg social platforms. at 10.30am Main website - www.loughderg.org 4 | News || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Most would rather Vatican approval of land pray than go for a pint l
five while 30% opted for Staff reporter schools while 26% said local gift for hospital ‘shocking’ More Irish people are sports facilities. just wrong, that abortion is compassion, justice, equality can reasonably turn around anxious to see a return to Churches and places of Chai Brady public Masses than pubs and worship came next with 24% wrong, I’ve no idea what the and advocacy for all into the and say that this eventuality restaurants with almost a of people – almost a quarter The Vatican’s decision to reason behind it is, why it’s future.” was unforeseen. being allowed, why it’s going Late last year, Rome-based quarter ranking churches in – ranking it in their top five. allow the Sisters of Charity to “It is bewildering that their top five. gift lands to the State worth ahead. The question you have moral theologian Fr Kevin those who have facilitated the Amárach research Theatres €200m for the new National to ask yourself is, was Rome O’Reilly OP told this paper process to date clearly do not ❛❛ faced with a fait accom- that he believed the Holy See asked people to rate which When it came to restaurants Maternity Hospital has been possess any degree of moral pli effectively?” had an obligation to block ventures or destinations they dubbed “just wrong” as abor- foresight. and cafes, 21% of people Fr Twomey said that “there plans by the sisters to facili- would like to open first, and tion will take place there. “One can only hope that ranked theim in the top five. is need for a maternity hos- tate the building of a new whether they would feel Moral theologians previ- the competent officials in Just eight percent of people pital quite obviously”, but National Maternity Hospital comfortable or safe in them ously urged Rome to block the Vatican will act in accord ranked pubs in their top five that due to the change in law where the Government said in terms of social distancing. while just one percent of the handover. with the Church’s constant The Amárach survey regarding abortion he is “very abortion will be facilitated. people ranked theatres and Following the order’s teaching and the dictates of also asked people to select disappointed” of the transfer. music venues in their top announcement of the Holy In the order’s statement Process right reason by forbidding the top five venues or five things that they would See’s approval to transfer Superior General Sr Patricia Irishman Fr O’Reilly, who this unconscionable act,” he destinations that they ownership of the Dublin 4 Lenihan said: “We are con- lectures in the Pontifical Uni- added. would like the Government give priority to opening. site, which will be “gifted” fident that the St Vincent’s versity of St Thomas Aquinas, Under canon law, Irish to prioritise as part of the A statement from to the people of Ireland, Fr Healthcare Group Board, better known as the Angeli- religious bodies cannot sell reopening roadmap. Amárach said “the research Vincent Twomey SVD said: management and staff will cum, said the move should or give away property worth DIY centres ranked top shows there is a conflict “I’m quite shocked. I’m dum- continue to provide acute be vetoed by Rome and that over €3.5 million without with 65%, dentists came between ‘priority’ vs ‘safety’” founded really, I just can’t healthcare services that fos- “in the wake of any future permission from the Vatican. second on 42% while 40% but reveals that people understand it. ter Mary Aikenhead’s mission abortions, no one involved in opted for hairdressers. believe that churches are “Everyone knows that it’s and core values of dignity, executing the transfer to date i See Page 8. Some 22% of people amongst venues considered ranked offices in their top “important and safe”. l These Sundays I ‘freelance’ across about Irish Catholic churches was that Indian sub-continent and the Philippines. Psalm 23 is headline news in Derry different churches, as I have mentioned, ‘the people treat the joint like their own’. But a webcam Mass is by definition ‘Trust in God’ Primate asks pupils for morning Mass via the wonders of the Clarendon Street has always been like ‘distancing’, and consequently a little webcam. Last Sunday I visited, virtually, that. arid. Webcam Mass, more than any facing cancelled exams St Theresa’s in Clarendon Street, Dublin, It has also had lovely music, during other, needs music, and other churches a church I’m very fond of. In normal normal times. So it was disappointing are managing to provide it. Staff reporter times, it attracts people just popping in there was no cantor on the internet All that’s required is one person Reaching out to school students the Primate of All-Ireland drew for a prayer, or catching a Mass during Mass last Sunday. It was a thoughtful, singing, with one back-up violin to create from Gospel asking them not to be troubled and “trust in God”. a lunch-break. I remember an Anglican calming Mass, served by a Scottish an uplifting and spiritual accompaniment Both A-Levels and the Leaving Cert have been cancelled north visiting cleric who said that what he liked priest and supported by priests from the to an internet Mass. and south of the border due to the coronavirus pandemic. Over the weekend, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh in his homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter said: “I think these words would also be very helpful for our A-level and Leaving Cert students who might be feeling anxious about what happens next. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled; trust in God still and trust in me’.” In another message to Leaving Cert students who are now set to received ‘calculated grades’, Fr Michael Toomey CC in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary said: “Don’t hesitate to reach out, to talk and get through this.” He added that although vast majority of the population weren’t about to do the Leaving Cert, “we know from what we have experienced since we have all been impacted with these restrictions, that together we will work this out”.
Young parishioners from St Joseph’s Church in the Parish of the Three Patrons, Galliagh in Derry, with a banner advertising their parish webcam Masses.
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No self-isolation for St Brendan The cycle of history is back! l May 16 marks the feast- day of St Bréanainn of ’m fascinated by the In the 1880s, young the bicycle, but it wasn’t Clonfert, who we usually cycle of history and women who took to their until after World War I that know as St Brendan the the way in which bikes were making the first a bike became cheap enough Navigator. The ‘Brendan things discarded Mary Kenny for most working people. I steps towards emancipation Voyage’ is described as outdated often come – regarded as very spirited My uncle remembered by O’Riain’s Dictionary back into fashion again. young ladies indeed. that by the 1920s, you could of Saints as the most The classic example is the buy a bicycle for between £1 influential of all mediaeval tram: declared redundant and 30 shillings, which was texts, attested by the 9th in 1949, the city tram has The bicycle is about the average weekly Century and translated returned as a wonderfully ❛❛ wage for many men. reckoned to have into many languages from efficient and environ- The bicycle – niftily used changed habits the Latin. Did Brendan mentally-friendly form of by Michael Collins in his dar- get to America? He got to public transport. of courtship and ing dashes around the coun- somewhere named the And now the wretched try – is reckoned to have Land of Promise which is a coronavirus is producing marriage” changed habits of courtship fair description of territory a new revival – although and marriage. Before the across the Atlantic. it had been gathering In the early 1900s, the advent of the bicycle, young pace over the past few bicycle was taken up by men and women tended years anyway: the bicycle. youth movements, including to marry within their own meet a sweetheart. And so The bicycle is about to be early Sinn Féin – Patrick communities and parishes. the bicycle brought about hailed as the best form of Pearse was very fond of his But the bicycle made it pos- more variety in spousal choice. public transport of all. In to be exhorted to emulate The bicycle has played bicycle. sible for young men to go This was reckoned to Britain, Boris Johnson has Amsterdam and Copenhagen its part in the history of Health movements, a-courting many parishes be good for the gene pool, exalted the bicycle above – where the bike is the most human movement, and feminist movements and away – a healthy chap could because of the dangers of and beyond any other ubiquitous form of transport. advancement. alcohol abstainers embraced cycle 20 or 30 miles away to transportation suited to kinship marriage within our times: clean, cheap, smaller communities. On healthy and perfectly Online prayer is great but a little music wouldn’t go amiss the minus side, I suspect it may also have allowed accommodated to ‘social l These Sundays I ‘freelance’ across about Irish Catholic churches was that Indian sub-continent and the Philippines. more reckless lads to distancing’. different churches, as I have mentioned, ‘the people treat the joint like their own’. But a webcam Mass is by definition seduce and abandon girls In buses, coaches and for morning Mass via the wonders of the Clarendon Street has always been like ‘distancing’, and consequently a little further away; within their trains, you may have to sit webcam. Last Sunday I visited, virtually, that. arid. Webcam Mass, more than any near to other people which St Theresa’s in Clarendon Street, Dublin, It has also had lovely music, during other, needs music, and other churches own communities they could cause contagion, a church I’m very fond of. In normal normal times. So it was disappointing are managing to provide it. might be held to account. were the virus to linger. times, it attracts people just popping in there was no cantor on the internet All that’s required is one person Oh yes, the bike is But on a bicycle, you’re in for a prayer, or catching a Mass during Mass last Sunday. It was a thoughtful, singing, with one back-up violin to create indeed part of the cycle of splendid isolation. a lunch-break. I remember an Anglican calming Mass, served by a Scottish an uplifting and spiritual accompaniment history, and it’s on its way All European cities are visiting cleric who said that what he liked priest and supported by priests from the to an internet Mass. back to the hub!
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or call Fiona on 01 497 2035. Thank You. Registered Charity Number: 2318 icmay20 6 | News || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Parishes on road back to Mass we see the restoration of what into their local church,” he relaxation.” journey ahead is uncertain Róise McGagh we would consider a normal said. In Cashel and Emly par- and there is still so much that Dioceses across Ireland have routine at parish level, jour- In Raphoe, there will again ishes have been advised to must be recommenced within begun working on their own neys always begin with small be strict rules on social dis- prepare to reopen church our churches. For now, let us roadmaps for a return to pub- steps, taken together and for tancing, hygiene and clean- buildings which have been prepare well for this first lic Masses. the good of all and, especially, ing for parishes that wish to closed since April 1. From stage so that the other stages Monica O’Dowd Archbishop Eamon Martin taking into consideration the open. May 18 they will begin open- will follow without any dif- said at the weekend that “our welfare of clergy and the Bishop Alan McGuck- ing daily for private prayer ficulty.” (née Heery) parishes and dioceses have needs of all our people.” ian stated: “This period of for a short time. Churches in Archbishop Eamon also Colvinstown, Tara, Co. now begun to draw up their He asked that parishes in gradual relaxation will be Cork and Ross will follow suit recognised the need to pray Meath on 1st April 2020. plans and ‘roadmaps’ for a Clogher to prepare for accom- important. We recognise that on the same day. at this time. He said on Sun- there is always the danger of Bishop Kieran O’Reilly of day that he is “sure that many Monica died suddenly at return to collective prayer as modating congregations and complacency setting in which Cashel and Emly said: “This people are growing closer to her home in Skryne. Pre- soon as it is safe to do so. to begin providing for the could have disastrous conse- important stage of re-opening God through this crisis, realis- deceased by her loving “It has been very difficult celebration of baptisms and quences. I believe now is the responds to the deep need ing perhaps that the way they husband Pat in December for us not being able to gather extra options for funeral time to cooperate generously of our parishioners to visit have been living their lives 2018, her parents Patrick together in our beautiful arrangements. in the gradual process of their local church to pray. The has been unsatisfying”. and Agnes, brothers Pat- church buildings. We’ve had to rick, Thomas, Michael, rely on spiritual communion. National effort Meanwhile, in Kildare and Matt, Bill, Seamus, John The Archbishop of Dublin Leighlin where churches and Laurence, and her sis- Diarmuid Martin has sug- ‘Faith is a great strength have been closed since March ters Ada, Eileen and Babs. gested that parishes begin to prepare a detailed plan for 30, Bishop Denis Nulty has Dearly beloved mother full re-opening of churches. decided to reopen churches of Mary, Pauline, Val, Many in the diocese have for a short time each day for in life’, says Dana Rosaleen, Patrick, Brendan, only remained open for pri- private prayer. Helen, Yvonne, Mick and vate prayer. He suggested that “For an ordered and gen- strength to me and is still a Laura. Aron Hegarty markers should be laid out tle reopening to happen and great strength to me through Sadly missed by her and written plans be devel- to continue to support the Forty years on from her his- my life.” family, her much adored oped regarding hand hygiene national effort in supressing toric Eurovision win, Dana The documentary traced 21 grandchildren, sons- Rosemary Scallon has spo- and church cleaning. the Covid-19 pandemic, each how St John Paul II’s Totus in-law, daughters-in-law, ken about her Catholic Faith In parts of the country parish would need to ensure Tuus (totally yours) motto brother Joe, sisters Ritie has helped her throughout where churches have been a safe environment for both and Bernadette, brother- life particularly during the for his 1979 visit to Ireland free closed, many will start to parishioners and parish staff,” period in the North known as inspired Dana to write her in-law, nieces, nephews, open in the coming weeks he said. ‘the Troubles’. first religious song. relatives and her many under similar strict social dis- “This gentle reopening During the RTÉ programme dear neighbours and tancing and health guidelines. of churches responds to the Dana – The Original Derry Album friends. Bishop of Clogher Larry deep need for parishioners, Girl broadcast this week, This led to an album of reli- Rest in peace Monica Duffy insisted that “while it some who have perhaps been home Mrs Scallon recalled how she gious music and she sang darling. will be some time yet before cocooned for weeks, to call felt inspired by her husband for the Pope in 1987 in New Damien keeping his Catholic Orleans and again in 1993 at delivery faith despite the repeated World Youth Day in Denver. bombings of his Newry hotel. Dana represented Con- The 68-year-old said her Seeking naught-Ulster in the European faith was “deepened’ by the Dana. experience. Parliament from 1999-2004. inspiration for “I could see that he documentary. She twice ran for the [Damian] had tremendous “Gradually I began to feel presidency losing to Mary your parish peace in the middle of this that deepening of my own McAleese in 1997 and Michael awful turmoil,” she said in the Faith, which was such a D. Higgins in 2011. prayer group? God with us and in us Looking for We may be irritated by the Spirit. “By their fruits you restrictions on our move- The Sunday shall know them.” St Paul a way to ments, anxious about the Gospel listed nine fruits of the Spirit. future of jobs and business, or Fr Silvester Three fruits manifest an inti- disappointed by no sport. We O’Flynn mate relationship with God: strengthen continue to need our regular OFM Cap. love, joy and peace; three doses of the Good News. fruits are qualities of a Chris- St Irenaeus, who lived Sunday by Sunday we are tian relationship with other your family’s about 100 years after Jesus, moving on from the Res- people: patience, kindness reflected on the wonderful urrection of Jesus towards and goodness; three fruits parable of the loving father spiritual life? Pentecost. The 40 days from describe the inner strength of Resurrection to Ascension welcoming back the prodigal son. Irenaeus focused on the Faith: trustfulness, gentleness were a time of transition for and self-control. the Apostles. They had to two hands of the father, one visible, the other unseen. The A great advance in per- Let Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap be your advance from knowing Jesus sonal prayer is from know- in the flesh to knowing the visible hand, warmly shak- guide through the Daily Mass Readings ing the trembling hand of the ing a remote God-up-there to ORDER unseen God in Faith. As the experiencing the warm pres- with Gospel Reflections and Prayers. Risen Lord said to Thomas: wastrel, represents Jesus. The ence of God-in-here. People “Blessed are those who have unseen hand, behind the son’s e weekly liturgy is food for the soul, YOUR COPY have called it the 14-inch not seen but yet believe.” back, is drawing him into the drop…from the brain to the providing optimism and hope. In today’s Gospel, Jesus heart of the father. This is the TODAY heart. rough two short reflections on each speaks of “another Advocate Holy Spirit, the second Advo- to be with you forever”. cate. I thank you, Lord, for the day's Gospel, followed by intercessory Advocate is a Latin word wonder of my being and the prayers you can deepen understanding €19.99 meaning a friend/helper Effects wonders of all creation. Even FREE Postage more wonderful is my shar- of the scripture and focus intentions called to your assistance. Jesus, speaking with Nicode- Paraclete is the Greek equiva- mus, compared the Holy Spirit ing now in your divine life. through all three liturgical cycles. lent. The first Advocate was to the wind. We do not see the You are as close to me as my Jesus, the Son of God come wind but we see its effects in breathing. Gospel Reflections and Prayers is a revised edition in human flesh, one with us. the slanting of smoke, the May the rhythm of my of Homily Hints and Prayers (2018) “The Word was made flesh scudding of clouds, or the breathing be the rhythm of and dwelt among us”. scampering of leaves. While my prayer. 01 687 4096 www.columbabooks.com 23 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2 The other or second Advo- we cannot see the Spirit we Come, Holy Spirit, fill the cate is the Holy Spirit. can recognise the effects of hearts of your Faithful, News Delivery brought to you by WE LIVE IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES… Don’t miss breaking news delivered directly to National effort your home each week free home delivery *geographical restrictions apply Stay up to date with analyses that represent your voice on the national stage.
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Churches frequently Visit www.columbabooks.com But the point is that Government had scheduled a for a safe return to public have the luxury of space. Post Cheque 23 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2 they could have public later return date for Masses, Masses but at the time of Hopefully the bishops ceremonies if they wanted. but the bishops pushed writing, no plan has been will come up with a suitable, They simply choose not to. back in a public statement made public. (The American published plan for a safe, Sweden has never released on April 26. bishops have published a earlier return to public stopped public worship They said the Government 23-page plan.) Nor do they Masses than July 20 and will either. Up to 50 can gather plan, “arbitrarily excludes appear to be lobbying the learn from bishops overseas in a church, and Sweden, the possibility of celebrating Government, the way the how to do this. The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | Comment ||9 r1 Nuala O’Loan The View In dark times we still have to think of those who have it worse than us s we face another taste, feel or hold. There to anything. We thought we degree the world had week in lockdown have been previous viruses had certainty. We thought, become a very challenging it would be easy to and there will be others for the most part, that our place as the rich got Abecome discour- in the future. Yet we have world would just carry on as richer, and homelessness aged, to wonder how on learned that many of us it was. Now we know that and extreme poverty had earth we can survive all this: can work from home, that there is no such certainty in become again part of our these are difficult days. there are different ways of this world. lives. As Catholics we should However, it is sometimes doing things. It is likely that reflect on what life had important to put things all those journeys to work, I think that to become. Together, now, we into context and reflect on involving both stress and have faced the reality and where we are from a wider ❛❛ expense, are not necessary some degree the the fear and in so doing perspective. – many people will be able we must make sure that Yes, there are profoundly world had become a to continue working from we hear with absolute difficult days ahead. This home. challenging place” virus has the potential to clarity the call which is kill and has killed nearly We have seen bluer As a community, as a fundamental to our faith: 300,000 people worldwide. skies emerge as the world people, we have seen much the call to love, the call to There are nearly four million stopped travelling by plane, unity, much selflessness holiness. As a people we cases across the globe. Some boat, train and car. We can and much courage in the had, to some degree, lost people will never know they Venice – once thronged with tourists, hear the birds sing much way in which so many our way, become trapped had it, and others will come now left in its own peace. more now, much of the have responded. Surely we almost in an unhealthy through it with relatively background noise which have to carry that unity of cycle. Somehow we have to little suffering. the age of 12 and 14, who which countries emerging dominated our world has, purpose, that courage and repurpose our ways of being Some of those cases are remember great hunger and from war and conflict often temporarily, ceased. that recognition of the need so that we learn to cherish in countries which are in deprivation. I remember lack. We start from a sound We have learned that the to protect the common good all our people in the days to a very different situation very well seeing barefoot base. world can be different and into the future. come, and that we do so as a from ours – countries with children begging in Dublin There are, of course, that there is no inevitability I think that to some holy people. no functioning health when I was a little girl and those who will benefit service capable of coping being profoundly shocked. financially from the virus with sickness and death We were poor, but not that – those who seize the on the scale which could poor. opportunity to provide occur. Countries such as goods and services in a The Syria, which is enduring a We will have different, often virtual way. different kind of lockdown ❛❛ There are those who are Dominicans where the country has to pay for what we exploiting the situation, collapsed after the nine-year buying and reselling civil war in which nearly are doing now in the personal protective 400,000 people have died days to come and it equipment at exorbitant The Power of Truth! and almost 200,000 are prices. In this, as in every missing, presumed dead; will be difficult” adverse situation which the in which millions have world has faced, there will Many alive today will been seriously injured and be those who make their remember an Ireland in up to half the population fortunes on the back of the which there were very few displaced – seeking refuge suffering of others. hotels, cafés, restaurants, where they can, their The global economy is businesses, shops or cars; economy collapsed, their a complex construct, but very few opportunities country destroyed. the end result of what really. It was an Ireland from It is in the context of happened was that we, too, which people emigrated that wider global tragedy enjoyed many of the good that we, in Ireland, face the in huge numbers seeking a things we had, because very difficult days ahead. future, because there was no other people laboured often Somehow, in the face of future for so many here. in other lands in situations deprivation, unemployment, Although we do have which were fundamentally poverty and all that comes great poverty in Ireland, wrong, working long hours we will have to keep in our north and south, although yet not even earning enough hearts a place for those people are still emigrating to live on. This was wrong. whose lot is infinitely worse for economic reasons, we The challenge for us now than that which we face. will not start after Covid- is to face our new reality – Their suffering will be 19 with the kind of zero we cannot go on indefinitely much worse than ours; their base we had in the 1970s. protecting people’s health needs much greater; their We have an infrastructure: at the cost of the loss of the prospects much poorer. transport, roads, health economy which supports services, schools, colleges, the way of life which we "Truth is like a lion; You don't have to Prosperity universities – all key to the have now secured as a All is not gloom and doom future prosperity of our people. We will have to pay defend it. Simply let it loose and though. It can be salutary country. for what we are doing now to remember Ireland of the We have a functioning in the days to come and it it will defend itself." 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Constitution, Dáil Éirann will be difficult. We will before prosperity – such as in the South, the Assembly ultimately have to go back - St. Augustine it is – became widespread. in the North, a judiciary, to work and to a way of life There are those alive police service and a prison which will be different. We today who remember service to accommodate have learned to socially walking to school barefoot, and attempt to rehabilitate distance. Vocations Director - Fr Colm Mannion OP who remember that there convicted prisoners. We have learned that was no general education We have an educated danger lies in a virus which Mobile: 086-0864420 | Email: [email protected] for all, who left school at population – something we can neither see, touch, 10 | Events || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Out&About Brightening up the Liberties
DUBLIN: On Holy Saturday, St Teresa’s Church on Donore Avenue, Dublin 8 embarked on an initiative to brighten up the community and bring hope to those who were traveling to work each day or restricted in their movements to the streets of the Liberties due to the two- kilometre restriction (see story below).
▲ LAOIS: Members of the music ministry team of Portlaoise parish offered an evening of Songs of Hope from the Church of Ss Peter and Paul. Pictured from left to right are Nuala Kelly, Aisling Rohan, Georgina Cathart, Fr Ciprian Matei, Fr David Vard and Vivienne Graham. The event was broadcast live on Shalom World television and can be viewed on this link: https://shalomworld.org/ episode/songs-of-hope
▲ DUBLIN: Dr Bernadette Sweetman from the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education at Dublin City University shared a virtual Service of lIght with her daughter Annie in preparation for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. INSHORT following day to see them joined by a knitted pain and suffering with millions of lives Modular Family Hub in Galway City, and the Shedding a little light rainbow, hung anonymously.” destroyed. Life would never be the same first families were placed in the homeless St Teresa’s Church in Dublin 8 is reaching out The parish has had submissions online again for a generation,” said the statement. service on May 6. to the community and trying to lighten the from the US, Australia, Belgium, Canada, As well as Archbishop of Armagh The modular family hub is the first of load of lockdown and brighten the days of France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Scotland. Eamon Martin the statement was signed its kind in Ireland and was developed by those who still travel to work (see photo at Ms Byrne says that any further rainbow by his Church of Ireland counterpart Dr Galway City Council in partnership with the submissions, even from outside the parish, to John McDowell, Dr William Henry of the top of page). Department of Housing, Planning and Local the railings are very welcome. Presbyterian Church, Rev. Sam McGuffin of According to parish pastoral assistant Government, and the Housing Agency. the Methodist Church and Dr Ivan Patterson Sam Byrne: “People in our parish were asked Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust said Church leaders of the Irish Council of Churches. to create and hang pictures of rainbows on that the “city council has done a great job the railings of our church with words of mark VE Day of delivering the project and we are looking Fr McVerry opens first encouragement, hope, support and love for Christian leaders across Ireland have marked forward to playing our role in working with others to read and draw strength from as the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe service in Galway the council and supporting families impacted they passed by. (VE) Day on May 8. In a joint statement, they The national housing and homeless charity, by homelessness in Galway. We will do “Our Initiative has grown substantially noted that back in 1945 “countless numbers Peter McVerry Trust, has begun operating its everything we can to ensure they get the since then,” according to Ms Byrne. “We of people celebrated as nearly six years of first service in Galway. The charity, which high quality and professional supports they started out with seven pictures laminated war came to an end. worked with over 6,000 people across need, as we work on a daily basis to progress and hung on the railings. We awoke the “Those years had brought immense Ireland in 2019, is managing Westside them out of homelessness.” The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | EveGHI ||11
Edited by Chai Brady Events deadline is a week in [email protected] advance of publication
On Holy Saturday, St Teresa’s DONEGAL: Members of the Cahill family from Letterkenny kept a safe distance while wishing granddad Dan a happy 86th birthday. Pictured (l-r) are Danny, Caoimhe, Méabh and Diarmuid. Mum Bairbre – who is a columnist with The Irish Catholic – took the photo.
TIPPERARY: The Cistercian community at Mount St
▲ Joseph Abbey in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary celebrated a festive lunch under lockdown to mark the 90th birthday of Dom Laurence Walsh OCSO. He is pictured here with Dom Malachy Thompson OCSO. offered an evening of Songs of Hope from the Church of Ss Peter and Paul. Pictured from left to right are Nuala Kelly, Aisling Rohan, Georgina Cathart, Fr Ciprian Matei, Fr David Vard and Vivienne Graham. The event was broadcast live on Shalom World television and can be viewed on this link: https://shalomworld.org/ episode/songs-of-hope ARMAGH: Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin blesses the work of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps at St ▲ Dr Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh. Bernadette Sweetman from the Mater Dei
Education at Dublin City University shared a virtual Service of lIght with her daughter
Confirmation.
CARLOW: Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin stepped in front of the camera to send a message of greeting to children who had been preparing to receive First Holy Communion and their families in the diocese this
month. KLM N Jv Fr McVerry opens first l In the current Covid-19 crisis, it is clear that most (and perhaps all) Church events, other than some Masses, are suspended. Consequently, we are withholding the popular Events Listing column CORK: The Parish of Doneraile in Cloyne Diocese is keeping parishioners in prayers at all the Masses and liturgies. until normal activities can resume in our parishes. Pictures of parishioners that were sent in have been put on the pews as a reminder of their lack of physical presence However, please do email us if you know of any during the pandemic. parish event planned and we will publish details. 12 | News || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020
May blessings for Co. Galway
Fr Tommy Marrinan took to the roads of Gort and Beagh in an open-air tour and blessing of parishioners, churches, cemeteries and townlands. Hundreds of families came to their gates to receive a blessing and it took five hours to complete, given the huge crowds The event was approved by Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora and Gort Gardaí. The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | Feature ||13 A corona of thornes their ‘voluptuous sweetness’ to burst forth. All around, on the drumlins and low hills of Leitrim, the startling yellow- gold blooms of the furze cast Eastertide is a fire of loveliness around us. the perfect time What could a would-be poet to contemplate do but write: the knowledge Now I sit, cocooned and quarantined, stare that each dawn at the fire dying in the stove; Christ rises I will let the summer moon rise high again with us above the poplars
and with us dies and the bats go whizzing by each evening, between the house and outhouse. There is writes John F. disorder everywhere Deane in the world, disorder in the blood, mourning have been and am in lockdown in Leitrim. in the deserted streets and With my wife Ursula, we down the twisting I are classified as vulner- mayflower-crowded country able. Without WiFi it has lanes. At sunset been difficult for me to write names of the dead are called poetry and be in touch with aloud and we see other poets. In such isolation I still am able to relish the again their well-loved faces. fellowship and encourage- of the resurrection; we die in much extra and arbitrary an older man weeps who he rises again with us and ment (by email) of poets like between. pain they caused him to has known humanity’s many with us dies each evening. Our covenant it took five hours James Harpur and Padraig J. I wrote a poem on undergo! failures. Then, the heart open I imagined those souls with cosmos is under strain, Daly, both of whom posted the death of a friend Sunday morning dawned to the covenant cosmos has watching from the forest and forcing the heart on some books to help us – handwritten, then with birdsong. At the feeder made with us, I felt that the they whispered to me: “Tell into original vulnerability, through. photographed on Ursula’s were the finches: goldfinch, Christ had stood beside me them,” they whispered, “tell to seek smartphone – and sent it It has been a time of dif- greenfinch, chaffinch. I at the red gate, that I saw the them.” by WhatsApp to a journal in ficulty and a time of blessing. opened the gate again onto deep punctures about his Now the blossoms of the beyond the plate-glass walls Britain; slow and laborious, Weather has been superb an empty road. I knew that brow, that crown of thorns blackthorn were fading and perhaps, but it worked. of commerce and spring in the countryside overnight the numbers of and briars hammered home. the nubs of the bitter dark for something blessed and has been magnificent. Easter I turned back, the dead had risen and I Now I could weep sloes began to form. At the vital we have lost Week, with its memories and would have wept, for them but I knew, this special same time the blossoms of while creation’s fire burns on promise, was an added grace. ❛❛ knowing we had all and for the Christ, wept as morning, that each dawn the whitethorn waited with and the days lighten. At first the ghostly blos- soms of the blackthorn hung died with him along the hedgerows in off-white nightgowns; the this day” early marsh orchids rose in The night of PRE ORDER NOW Lenten purple. But I knew Good Friday was BEES ARE that between the April black- dark; I walked down thorn and the May white, we cautiously to the red INCLUDING would suffer such sicknesses gate. New leaves on VITAL TO LIFE € . POSTAGE! and deaths that grief would the poplars rustled be our daily bread. A Paschal softly. I found my moon lifted white as but- imagination stirring! ON EARTH. termilk over the poplar trees I knew that the souls and the world lay in unset- of the countless dead tling stillness. Two thousand watched, in absorbed YET EACH YEAR THEY’RE UNDER years and our souls are still silence, from the small and hard as nubs, we pine-tree forest across EXTREME THREAT BECAUSE OF have not learned to care for the road. I closed the HUMAN ACTIVITY. the ground beneath our feet. gate, stirred again by the groaning sound it James Morrisey is looking to open Pressure made. Without a computer I had A gentle breeze people’s eyes to the importance of to write by hand again. That shushed all the forest bees. In The Bee’s Knees he rolls out a slowed me down but then in a shuddering sigh. I fascinating insight into the world of there was not much point turned back, knowing in hurrying. Hopkins wrote we had all died with this hardworking species and writes that “there lives the dearest him this day but only of the valuable part they play in our freshness deep down things” he was taken down and the world around us, into the abyss. ecosystem. From fun facts to in depth relieved of so much human During the read- profiles of Ireland’s beekeepers, pressure, at least for a time, ing of St John’s Gospel uncover the history of the honeybee showed forth the grandeur I was smitten for the of God’s creation. first time by the almost and discover how you can help ensure We lived Holy Week throwaway extra suf- its survival. in togetherness and were fering forced on the grateful for the television Christ; John writes that ceremonies. after they had scourged First, we were reminded, Jesus, “the soldiers there will be the long and twisted some thorns Order your copy by: Phoning 01 6874096 | Visitingwww.currachbooks.com penetrating shadow of the into a crown and put Posting a cheque to23 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2 cross, then the piercing light it on his head”. How 14 | Comment || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Without the sacraments will our spiritual lives have
To look at this been weakened...or will coronavirus spiritually is to we appreciate them more? see it as a call to conversion, both personally and as the Church, writes Fr John Harris OP n many occasions over the last few weeks I have been asked where Ois God in this lockdown and coronavirus crisis. Needless to say from the perspective of official Ireland, God is completely absent. Never in any of the public statements I have heard or read has there been any mention of prayer or God. Indeed, in the new phased reopening of the country, churches have been regulated with museums. I find this very interesting for it seems to point as to how the Church is seen by many in our society – a museum piece, a relic of the past which is kept as a matter of interest to a few. If my reading of the Government plan is correct one will be able to go to a restaurant, get one’s hair coloured or buy a cow at a mart before one can go into a church for Mass. There has to be a question human story. God in Christ Jesus united to him life takes on a new also reconnect in a new way with abandonment but rather moments here for Church-State separation! through the power of the Holy meaning. That surely is the story God. I must accept it as a time of growth when we are moving into It has been a long time in Irish Spirit is with us and we seek him in of redemption. Christ becomes of grace. God is not absent. If we a new phase of the spiritual life. history since the civil power felt it the midst of ours stories no matter one with us and in his offering of have the ears to hear and the During these moments of aridity, could regulate Church services. how complicated they may be. The himself invites us to give ourselves hearts to believe. We have to live God is calling us to a deeper love of But what of the Church herself? Christian always says in Faith: God to him. In this communion our lives beyond the secular and the voices him in himself and not simply for For many, the closing of the doors is with us. are renewed and glorified. of secularism. God is not in the the gifts he gives us when we are of the churches was a statement. The easiest way we can see thunder and the rocks splitting close to Him. In the April 30 edition of The Irish Christ present now is for us to see Distraction as we discover in the story of the Catholic, Bishop Donal McKeown how many people have reacted This present situation has been Prophet Elijah but in the simple When we gather challenged us as a Church that in love to this crisis. Doctors seen only as a health crisis and that silence breeze. It is a voice of great while we prioritise peoples’ ❛❛ and nurses have gone back into is okay for the health professionals, power who orders Elijah back to we are gathering physical health we must be able to hospitals and nursing homes, those but for us believers such a response mission and not to feeling sorry for in Christ, head and speak a language that goes beyond who have come back to Ireland to is inadequate. For us who accept himself. It is a silent voice to action, the economic and the hygienic. The work on the front lines. The people Jesus as Our Lord this is also a to true conversion. members, moments for bishop says “if after hearing the who have continued to work in moment of spiritual re-awakening. jjjjjjj Gospel we have nothing to offer care homes and in supermarkets. To look at this coronavirus encountering Christ but the ‘technocratic imagination...’ People who are living the Gospel spiritually is to see it as a call to The great writers on the spiritual sacramentally in our then we have nothing to offer”. in giving. Neighbours and gardai conversion, both personally and life have consistently written of who have knocked on doors of as the Church. For us believers, periods in the spiritual life when midst” Responses cocooned people, organisations we must endeavour to hear the God seems to withdraw from the We seek now God for himself These words need to be considered who have organised to help those voice of God in the silence, the lack affective powers of our souls. There and not for the anything for seriously in any new pastoral house bound. For as Christians, we of entertainment and the lack of are times when we feel God has responses to this ongoing health believe where there is true love distraction. This can also be for us abandoned us, when he doesn’t ourselves. It is a moment of crisis and any others which may be there is God. a spiritual and religious moment. A seem to answer our prayers, times the growth in love, of deeper part of our social lives moving into But this crisis asks us to go moment for us all to reflect on God we get no good feeling from prayer, conversion. “Come back to me” says the future. deeper. The crucifix reassures in our lives. we enter into an arid, desert period the Lord, as a Church and in our But what of the deeper us that Christ never abandons Now we have the time to in our spiritual lives. But the great personal lives. As a 2nd Century question – where is God? Has he his people, even in the face of rediscover our families and our spiritual writers reassure us that author writes from the Office abandoned us? What is he saying death. Christ is at one with us and neighbour communities we can such times are not moments of of Readings Week 32, Saturday: to us as believers? As Christians, “The Faithful do not reap a quick we always have to look for God in harvest: they have to wait for it the situations we find ourselves To look at this coronavirus spiritually is to see it as a call to to ripen slowly because if God living through and not outside. The conversion,❛❛ both personally and as the Church. For us believers, rewarded them quickly religion logic of the Incarnation is that God would be a career and not worship is always to be found within the we must endeavour to hear the voice of God in the silence” of God. It would consist in the The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | Comment ||15
with and the Mass has once again become central. These months can be a time of real refocusing for us as a Church. We are being told by the experts that there is no going back to life before March 2020, there is now going to be a new normal. People are asking will the web camera now become the new normal for attending Mass. Maybe the absence of the real celebration of the Mass each weekend will cause us to look again at how we actually celebrate Sunday, as the Day of the Lord. The actual celebration❛❛ and being part of the Eucharistic community is the source of our strength to be Christians in the world of today” I am reminded of how Pope Benedict XVI spoke in May 2005 of the martyrs of North Africa who gave their lives for celebrating Mass on a Sunday. Presiding at the closing Mass of the 24th Italian Bro. Chris Gault OP who has returned from his studies for the priesthood to help out in the Belfast hospital National Eucharistic Congress, the where he trained as a junior doctor. He and people like him remind us that the easiest way can see Christ Pope spoke in his homily about the present now is for us to see how many people have reacted in love to this crisis. Photo: Mal McCann group of Christians who were killed sacred places, which invite us to go faithful to turn towards the altar of the question: “When the Son of in 304 during the persecution of beyond the immediate and enter the Lord in an attitude of adoration Man comes will he find any faith the Roman emperor Diocletian. into the mystery – a door inviting and contemplation.” on earth?” (Luke 18:8). Over the The theme of the congress was us to the more rather than the less. last few years I have been reflecting the motto of the martyrs: ‘We As the virus has taken so much Hopefully during more and more on this question. Cannot Live without Sunday.’ The of what we thought we could not emperor, had prohibited Christians, these❛❛ times, we can As our society has changed so live without, pubs, cinema, work, radically over the last decade this “under pain of death, to possess the travel, entertainment...maybe we Scriptures, to meet on Sunday to discover the place of question seems so much more real are being asked to go deeper to the to me. celebrate the Eucharist and to build more. sacred places in our When this health crisis is over, A priest celebrates Holy premises for their assemblies”. Many years ago the spiritual lives” be it this year or next, if ever, when Thursday Mass via livestream writer Max Thurin, one-time monk Abitene the new becomes the normal April 9, 2020, at a nearly empty of Taize wrote: “Every church Hopefully during these times, church in Bonn, Germany. We In a small village called Abitene, will this have been a time of a building must be ‘praying’ even we can discover the place of sacred Tunis of today, 49 Christians, deepening of Faith or a weakening. must pray that this doesn’t when no liturgical celebrations places in our lives, when we go into become our new normal. meeting in the home of Octavius are taking place there, it must be our churches as doors to heaven in Without the sacraments will our Photo: CNS/Harald Oppitz, KNA Felix, were taken by surprise on a place where, in a restless world, the sense of opening us up to God. spiritual lives have been weakened a Sunday while celebrating the one can meet the Lord in peace. Maybe we can learn through this or will we appreciate them all the Eucharist, defying the imperial pursuit of self-interest, not piety”. The Eucharistic liturgy is an act time of desert to say again with St more? prohibitions. Arrested, they This time can be for the of thanksgiving, a connection, Peter: “Lord to whom shall we go, Without the normal, going were taken to Carthage to be Church all over the world a time a memorial and an offering you have the message of eternal regularly to church and the interrogated by the proconsul of refocusing our minds and accompanied by intercession, life.” sacraments, let us pray that this as to why they had violated the intentions on God for himself. which invite the celebrants and In St Luke’s Gospel, Jesus asks doesn’t become the new normal. While the social aspect of our Faith emperor’s order, one of the group is central to what we are called answered simply: “We cannot live to as followers of Christ, yet our without meeting on Sunday to Christianity can never become just celebrate the Eucharist. We would an individual activity (although it not have the strength to face the is always personal), likewise this daily difficulties and not succumb.” ❛❛ The Pope Emeritus reminded social aspect can never become the central reason for our coming the assembly that “it is not easy together. The Church is not simply for us either to live as Christians” a social institution. It is primarily in a world “characterised by a supernatural reality, and so rampant consumerism, religious jjjjjjj when we gather we are gathering indifference and secularism in Christ, head and members, closed to transcendence.” So the moments for encountering Christ actual celebration and being part sacramentally in our midst. As the of the Eucharistic community is social aspect of our Faith has been the source of our strength to be limited during these months, maybe Christians in the world of today. we are being called to refocus how Maybe these months without the we come together. Are our moments communal celebration of the Mass of Faith together moments of the can be for us a refocusing of what encounter with God? the Sunday Mass is as the source As an example, celebrating of our Christian life. Maybe God funerals during this time have is calling us back to Mass by our become very different moments being absent from it. of encounter. They are now much For us Catholics, our churches more focused on the death of the are not simply places of person, the family gathered and assembling, they are places where the offering of the Holy Mass. A we go personally to pray and ❛❛ encounter the Lord in the Blessed lot of the ceremonies which have grown up around the celebrations Sacrament amidst the communion Pope Francis cuts a solitary figure in St Peter’s Square during his March 28 prayer vigil. The crucifix reassures of funerals have been dispensed of saints. They are places of worship, us that Christ never abandons his people, even in the face of death. Photo: Vatican Media 16 | Sponsored by Sightsavers || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Ireland’s Historic Role in Fighting Global Disease
Alison Bough
s the Covid-19 crisis continues around the globe, hopeful eyes are A firmly focused on the scientific community in develop- ing a vaccine. Huge numbers of Irish medics and specialists have flown home to play their part in fighting the pandemic, but many may be unaware of our country’s role in historic medical break- throughs. Irish born doctors and scientists who have changed the course of modern medicine include Dublin’s Francis Rynd who developed the hypodermic syringe, Co Down cardiologist Frank Pantridge who created the portable defibrillator as we now know it, and Offaly’s John Joly who is responsible for developing radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer. In more recent years, Ireland has produced a Nobel laureate, with Donegal-native, Professor William C. Campbell, jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2015. Millions of people❛❛ have received treatment, curing existing disease, creating immunity, and breaking the cycle of infection” Simon (left) and his seven-year-old granddaughter Dorcas outside their family home in Nigeria. Simon lost his sight 30 years ago as a result of Professor Campbell and his river blindness. Dorcas received the one billionth treatment for NTDs from Sightsavers and partners. Thanks to this treatment, Dorcas will be colleague Professor Satoshi protected from river blindness. Simon told Sightsavers, “I have many hopes for my granddaughter Dorcas but the main one is that she is able Omura received the honour to grow up without ending up blind like me.” Photos: Graeme Robertson/Sightsavers. for their pioneering work on “Sightsavers teams regularly disease, creating immunity, and the drug Ivermectin, which encounter entire farming villages breaking the cycle of infection. has defined an ongoing battle that have been abandoned With the situation we find against a number of parasitic because of the fear of infection ourselves in at the moment with diseases in both animals and from blackfly. Unfortunately, Covid-19 it really brings home humans. One such disease is the nature of the disease is that the commitment of Ireland’s Onchocerciasis – more commonly people who are infected with scientists, doctors, nurses and known as River Blindness - a Onchocerciasis can transmit it health workers in the field over painful and debilitating disease back to uninfected blackflies, so many, many years and throughout that continues to ravage entire the cycle of infection continues. the world.” farming villages and communities Our founder John Wilson Speaking on the occasion of in the developing world. witnessed the devastation caused Sightsavers’ billionth treatment The disease is spread by the by Onchocerciasis in Ghana back a couple of years ago, Professor blackfly, which breeds in fast- in 1952 and was appalled by it. He Campbell himself was keen to flowing rivers and streams in was inspired to work to eliminate praise his fellow countrymen and tropical areas of Africa, Latin avoidable and curable blindness. women who had changed the face America and Yemen, and leaves It was actually his wife Jean who of modern medicine: men and women irreversibly coined the term ‘River Blindness’, “For all those heroic men blind. Rivers make the soil which immediately explains how and women around the world fertile, resulting in agricultural Onchocerciasis spreads and the who have ventured out and communities naturally gravitating impact it has.” transformed a medicine into a towards them in spite of the However, Ms Smullen says that miracle, I say that I salute you and risk. Dublin-based Sightsavers with the support of pharmaceutical I thank you.” Ireland are an international company MSD and the very drug that i Last year alone, Sightsavers charity working to completely Professor Campbell co-developed, delivered over 42 million eradicate the disease by 2025 the process to eliminate this terrible treatments to protect people Dorcas plays with school friends. Dorcas and other children like her, who and CEO Ciara Smullen explains disease is now well under way: against river blindness - to receive treatment for diseases like river blindness, are now able to go the devastating impact River “Millions of people have learn more about our work visit to school and continue to live their lives without the threat of neglected Blindness can have: received treatment, curing existing www.sightsavers.ie tropical diseases (NTDs). The Irish Spirit May 14th, 2020 Issue No. 2 Ireland in Bloom
Discover the beauty and wonder still accessible during the time of COVID
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT ❛❛ The Bee Sanctuary of Limerick
A POSITIVE PRAYER FROM Fr Paddy Byrne ....and much more!
Mike O’Sullivan out with his dog, walking along the wild garlic path on Ross Island, Killarney National Park. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan 18 | The Irish Spirit May 14, 2020 Ireland in Bloom Despite the current situation, nature is still thriving in Killarney and the locals are taking an opportunity to enjoy their surroundings. Photographer Valerie O’Sullivan writes of the beauty and wonder still accessible during the time of Covid. iving in Killarney with 25, 000 acres of National Park, has made the Lunprecedented Covid-19 pandemic more bearable, not wanting to brag, but it is wonderful to see all the locals still managing to walk their favourite route each day, and wonder at all its bounty. Nature is turning its head in all directions, dispersing its winter coat and unfurling its beautiful colours for summer. The usual question around the 15th April - ‘Did anyone hear the cuckoo yet? And the excitement when it arrives, means summer is definitely on the way. The annual carpet of bluebells in
Muckross, a popular stomping ground for Holy Communicants for family Gardeners in the National Park are very photographs, is unusually void of people this year. A sea of wild garlic has covered Ross Island, and the smell just keeps on giving. The Cherry happy dispensing information and their blossom has been and gone, which allows for one week of chatter of how beautiful it is along the Cherry Drive in Killarney House and Gardens. The wealth of knowledge of planting and pruning.” older generation are talking about the bitter ‘Scairbhín na gCuach’ usually the last two weeks of April and the first weeks of May. It’s a cold biting wind, ‘Garbh’ is rough and ‘Síon’ is bad weather. This year nature seems to be happy with just the local residents living Time to be biased…but within the famous 5km radius, to enjoy the colours of the bearded irises, keeping my distance for this photo was so difficult. Time wild violets, marigolds, orchids and the whitethorn bush. Gardeners in the for Bluebells as Ollie (5) and National Park are very happy dispensing information and their wealth of Alice Pyne (3) get a chance knowledge regarding planting and pruning. to play in this year’s annual crop of Bluebells in Killarney Eggs have begun to hatch, and an eagle has successfully hatched in National Park. Glengarriff, Co.Cork, which has made headline news recently. People have time to look and listen this year. Normally, a tourist destination like Killarney gets busy after St Patrick’s Day, hospitality is the lifeline of the town. Tourism has played an enormous role in the town since the 1700’s, when the founding father of tourism in Killarney, Thomas Browne, 6th Baronet & 4th Viscount Kenmare, a progressive Catholic landlord and politician encouraged his aristocratic friends from the stately homes of Ireland, England and Europe to visit Killarney . The seat of the Bishopric was established in Killarney, the lands of Muckross transferred to the Herbert family who accumulated fortunes mining cooper at Muckross Peninsula. Both the Herberts and Brownes built grand, new estate houses at Muckross and Knockreer Demesnes. This ‘Beauty’s Home’ or ‘Heaven’s Reflex’ with its lakes, mountains and never ending valleys, the island monastery of Innisfallen, views and towers at Aghadoe, Ross Castle attracted Poets, like Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Wordsworth, Thomas Moore, and many painters, Jonathon Fisher, Mary Herbert, Sir John Lavery. The reputation and proud tradition of tourism has been established for centuries, even withstanding The Great Irish Famine, when the landlords provided for their tenants and townspeople. However, a powerful pandemic May 14, 2020 The Irish Spirit ||19
Thanks a bunch…Sisters, Bébhinn, Réailtín and Muireann O’Donoghue from Woodlawn Park, gathered some bluebells this week.
Stephen Moore keeping Muckross Gardens in pristine condition during the current Covid-19 restrictions in Killarney National Park. Muckross House Gardens
COVID-19 which has brought with it consequences for all mankind, has stopped Killarney in its tracks. Staff work long and unsociable hours, it’s a busy vibrant town, with tourists flocking to fulfil their bucket list and take the statutory selfie theon Lakes, climbing Ireland’s highest mountain, a jaunting car trip, cycling, walking, and of course the nightlife. For the first time in all these busy centuries, tourism has been paused, the industry has fallen silent, and the busy staff, many of whom have worked in the trade since their school days, are now the very people who get to fully enjoy what the tourists came to see. It will be a long road to recovery, the community is a strong and supportive one, and know how lucky they are to have this ‘ heaven’s reflex’ to wonder and walk upon. ‘The Splendour Falls on Castle Walls’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson was written about his time at Ross Castle:
The splendour falls on castle walls And snowy summits old in story: The long light shakes across the lakes, And the wild cataract leaps in glory. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.
FREE POSTAGE ON ALL ORDERS Valerie O’Sullivan is a A Year in the Life, Glenstal Abbey: A Flavour of Order your copy now at: photographer and media Glencairn Abbey Through the Seasons Kylemore Abbey provider, based in Killarney. A 01 6874096 M [email protected] She covers a wide range www.columbabooks.com of events in the Public Relations, Press, Tourism or send a cheque to: Columba Books and Outdoor Sectors 23 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, and is a winner of many D02 XE02. national awards in the Press Photographs Association of Ireland competition. PRICE: €24.99 PRICE: €24.99 PRICE: €24.99 20 | The Irish Spirit May 14, 2020
The Men’s Shed of St Mary’s Parish takes pride in their honeybee colony and enjoy sharing the hive with people The Bee in the local community.
lack honeybees feast under a very special piece of street Bart in Limerick city. A triptych of the late Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan overlooks a wildflower meadow Sanctuary provided for pollinators by the local authority. Ger Ryan, Pat Collins and fellow members of St Mary’s Parish Men’s Shed are almost as proud of the new artwork sprayed on a gable end of St Nicholas’s Street by Dublin street artist Aches, as they are of their apiary. Of Limerick Constance Smith A graffiti image of Limerick actress Constance Smith, who was cast in over 30 films in Hollywood in the 1950s, bookends the streetscape in Limerick’s medieval quarter. Colonies of the native Irish honeybee have “reserved dining” from the wildflower crop close by, but they know they can also take off down the river Shannon for dessert. ‘We got our first queen from a keeper in Clonlara, and we built the hives ourselves,’ Ryan and Collins explain, walking down the garden of the men’s shed premises. ‘We got our first swarm in a copper beech tree across the road, and we learned how to merge two colonies,’ they explain. ‘ We think that first swarm came from a hive on the roof of Brown Thomas in the city...’ St Mary’s There’s been a tradition of keeping in St Mary’s - better known as “the parish” – with several hives on the roof of St Munchin’s TOP: Beekeeper, Pat Collins opening the Ryan is from a family of fishermen and knows how to pole an angling beehives. cot up the weir, how to track eels and the social impact of restrictions on Church of Ireland church for a time, while the Hunt Museum BELOW: Pat Collins, left, and Ger Ryan, has both a hive and a small “bee loud glade” planted close by. estuary fishing for salmon over the past decade. right, wearing the protective gear to attend Like Collins and a number of friends in the men’s shed group, he has a When the St Mary’s Men’s Shed opened in 2012, the initial their beehives. busy schedule of bodhrán sessions and art classes and other activities, but focus was on planting a herb, vegetable and flower garden, BOTTOM RIGHT: Beekeeper using the with flowers donated by local garden centres. A carpentry smoker to calm and control the colony is fascinated by the life cycle of the native Irish honeybee. bench is fitted with tools for carving Welsh marriage spoons during an inspection. ‘So we got called out when people saw this ball of bees on a flower and constructing hulls for local boats such as the Shannon cot Photos by Valerie O’Sullivan stand between Catherine Street and Shannon Street, and a Polish lady who and the gandelow. owns a cafe nearby was able to tell us it had a queen as her father had kept bees back in Poland,’ Collins says. The men then installed several hives in an enclosed yard next to the Forty Shilling Almshouses, built in the 17th Century near St John’s Castle. A steel door protects this apiary, complete with sliding peep holes to allow people to have a glimpse of the “Bee Sanctuary”, as it is called. ‘We got 16 jars of honey this year, and didn’t go looking for more as we feel the bees need to have something to sustain them,’ Collins and Ryan say. ‘And what sustains us is watching them come and go, and introducing people to them for the first time. We have suits for people to wear, and it is wonderful to watch the reaction...’
We got 16 jars of honey this year, and didn’t go looking for more as we feel the bees need to have something to sustain them” May 14, 2020 The Irish Spirit ||21
singer Dolores O’Riordan overlooks a wildflower meadow
A graffiti image of Limerick actress Constance Smith, who was cast in over 30 films in Hollywood in the 1950s, bookends the
Irish honeybee have “reserved dining” from the wildflower crop
‘We got our first queen from a keeper in Clonlara, and we
‘We got our first swarm in a copper beech tree across the
‘ We think that first swarm came from a hive on the roof of
Ryan is from a family of fishermen and knows how to pole an angling HONEY & HEALTH Church of Ireland church for a time, while the Hunt Museum Pure honey consists mainly of sugar but also includes: estuary fishing for salmon over the past decade. • antioxidants When the St Mary’s Men’s Shed opened in 2012, the initial • vitamins focus was on planting a herb, vegetable and flower garden, • iron with flowers donated by local garden centres. A carpentry • zinc bench is fitted with tools for carving Welsh marriage spoons ‘So we got called out when people saw this ball of bees on a flower Honey, according to the Mayo Clinic, the American medical centre which employs over 4,500 physicians and scientists, has several attributes and: • can act as a reliable cough suppressant • might offer antidepressant and anti-anxiety benefits • could be associated with reduced risk of heart disease Forty Shilling Almshouses, built in the 17th Century near St John’s Castle. • assists with healing of wounds, particularly in burns • might help relieve gastrointestinal conditions It is advised that honey should not be given to children under the age of 1 year. ‘We got 16 jars of honey this year, and didn’t go looking for more as we people to them for the first time. We have suits for people to wear,and it The Bee’s Knees James Morrissey
PRICE: €19.99 + FREE POSTAGE A 01 6874096 M [email protected] www.currachbooks.com or send a cheque to: Currach Books, 23 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, D02 XE02. 22 | The Irish Spirit May 14, 2020 Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a source of comfort and blessing Paddy Byrne he following prayer is a very Over the years I have helped to this devotional formula with a guest Tpowerful one, a prayer I coordinate a novena to Our Lady of speaker giving a testimony about he grew up with in Carlow Perpetual Help in various parishes. or she finds God’s presence in the Cathedral during the annual solemn The iconic image of this devotion bits and pieces of daily life. Personal novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual is a powerful one: a young child in testimony is key to evangelisation, Help. These novenas were a time of his mother’s arms, comforted and ordinary people witnessing extraor- great blessing and grace when God’s assured despite the horrific images dinary faith and healing. spirit anointed the prayers of his of his future passion and death, Mary is a woman who challenges people with those wonderful Christian which angels around him are holding. us. She looked beyond her own com - virtues of faith, hope and love. In my life, devotion to Mary has fort at a young age when she went O Jesus, we believe in you, we hope been a source of comfort and bless- to help her cousin Elizabeth in her in you, and we love you. ing. She is a gentle intercessor, always need. In the same ways she challenges Strengthen our faith, renew our hope available, whispering my needs into me to never look inward or become and love, and grant our prayers. the ears of her beloved son. I pray blinded by the comfortable. The image Touch with your healing love, O Lord, the rosary daily. It helps me to enter of Mary at the foot of the cross is both all who feel the hurt of life’s into the mystery of God’s presence. heartbreaking and comforting. Her wounds. I’m attracted to Mary because heart must have bled to see her son in Long ago, when people prayed to of her great courage and generosity. agony, but her joy was great when he that deep down Mary was greatly But her spiritual trust tran- you for healing, Mary’s yes was given wholeheartedly rose from the dead, victorious over the alarmed during that family wedding scended her human fear, leading to the necessary transformation You listened to them, blessed them, when she responded to an angel’s powers of darkness and oppression. she attended with her son Jesus. In Cana, her son was about to perform and spiritual blessing that turned And answered their prayer. invitation to be the mother of God’s Mary ponders things in her heart and a miracle but such a sign would - Heal us now of our sinfulness Son. In the same spirit, Mary listened we can all emulate her contemplation. water into wine. The transforma bring him closer to confrontation tion we need may be fear trans- And of the hatred that divides us. to Gabriel’s inspirational and positive Sometimes in life we don’t have formed into hope, sickness into Take away our hardness of heart. words, ‘Nothing is impossible to God’. the answers or even the right words. with authority. To say that she must have had health, debt and unemployment Open our eyes, which are often blind Part of the annual novena to Our The beauty of cultivating a personal to the needs of others. Lady of Perpetual help is gathering relationship with God is that no mixed feelings is an understatement. into new opportunity. Remove our selfishness and our thousands of petitions from those verbose formulas are necessary greed. who attend. In 2016, our nine-day in order to converse with him. My All will be well by Fr Paddy Byrne Give us self-control at all times, and annual novena was attended by thou- greatest spiritual conversations happen PRICE: €14.99 fill our hearts with your eternal sands of people in Portlaoise. The in the silence of my own heart. A 01 6874096 | M [email protected] love. petitions they presented were very Mary is blessed with trust. ‘Do www.columbabooks.com O Jesus, we ask you now to heal much the ‘meat’ of our prayer. They whatever he tells you’. or send a cheque to: Columba Books, 23 and bless us, and fill us with your Merrion Square, Dublin 2, D02 XE02. were heartfelt petitions, often from Trust is indeed a spiritual gift; it peace. mothers praying for blessing and heal- is an innate understanding that no Amen ing upon their families. I try to ground matter what, all will be well. I’m sure
The Sacred Life of Everything by Sister Stan and Silé Wall Take Time - to Stop, Observe and Feel Price: €14.99 Everyday experiences can be sacred long time, standing still and tall, staring Meditation A 01 6874096 M when we take the time to stop, pause, into the garden. We immediately [email protected] Allow your body to settle in this place. www.columbabooks.com pay attention and encounter a place, covered the pond with a net only Allow your mind to settle, as you or send a cheque to: person, situation or object, in a fresh Columba Books, 23 Merrion Square, to find four of our fish were already watch. way, as though experiencing it for the Dublin 2, D02 XE02. gone. The heron continued to stand Breathe in and out with the heron. The Sacred Life and stare, silent and still, all morning first time. In the book, Gaze at the heron’s majestic posture. of Everything, Sister Stan and Silé Wall and afternoon, as she moved position Tune in to the stillness of the heron. invite you to meditate through the to another rooftop overlooking the Allow the silence and stillness to image and poem given. Scene garden and pond. Hour after hour, envelop you. Steps day after day for the next three days The Heron can stand silent for hours in quiet Breathe in the silence. 1. Quiet the body she continued to stand and stare, water, waiting and watching and scanning the Breathe out the silence. 2. Invite the mind into stillness focused, concentrated and still as water for small fish which they skilfully prey on Breathe in the stillness. 3. Seek guidance death – waiting for her opportunity, and devour. They embody silence and stillness Breathe out the stillness. 4. Gaze on the image watching us as we watched her. as they stand and wait. On the morning of Breathe in the quiet water. 5. Become absorbed Watching her watching us brought a 17th December 2018, a heron arrived on Breathe out the quiet water. 6. Read / reflect on the poem or silence, a calmness, a stillness. For three top of a building overlooking the Sanctuary Breathe out the peace of this scene. saying days she had become our teacher garden. We watched her perched there for a Savour the peace and stillness it brings. 7. Express gratitude reminding us to take time to be still. Stay with the scene as long as you can. FREE POSTAGE ON ALL ORDERS May 14, 2020 The Irish Spirit | 23
THE BUTTERFLY You must have already heard about God’s marvels The Ecstasy manifested in the way silk originates, for only Over the years I have helped to God could have invented something like that. The powerful one, a prayer I coordinate a novena to Our Lady of silkworms come from seeds about the size of little Perpetual Help in various parishes. or she finds God’s presence in the grains of pepper. When the warm weather comes bits and pieces of daily life. Personal and the leaves begin to appear on the mulberry novenas to Our Lady of Perpetual of St Teresa tree, the seeds start to live, for they are dead Help. These novenas were a time of his mother’s arms, comforted and until then. The worms nourish themselves on the great blessing and grace when God’s assured despite the horrific images dinary faith and healing. mulberry leaves until, having grown to full size, they Craig Larkin, S.M. settle on some twigs. Then with their little mouths, which angels around him are holding. us. She looked beyond her own com they themselves go about spinning the silk and virtues of faith, hope and love. In my life, devotion to Mary has making some very thick little cocoons in which to help her cousin Elizabeth in her they enclose themselves. The silkworm, which is ing. She is a gentle intercessor, always need. In the same ways she challenges fat and ugly, then dies, and a little white butterfly, which is very pretty, comes forth from the cocoon. the ears of her beloved son. I pray blinded by the comfortable. The image the rosary daily. It helps me to enter Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle into the mystery of God’s presence. heartbreaking and comforting. Her I’m attracted to Mary because of her great courage and generosity. But her spiritual trust tran ne of the delights for God. She knew, too, the hesitation Mary’s yes was given wholeheartedly any tourist in Rome The image of the butterfly emerging from its cocoon that we so often feel at the outset she attended with her son Jesus. In O when she responded to an angel’s powers of darkness and oppression. is that one can walk [...] helps us to see the really human side of Teresa, of our journey to the Lord. From invitation to be the mother of God’s almost anywhere and find, in and brings home to us again the truth that while God has made personal experience she knew that Son. In the same spirit, Mary listened we can all emulate her contemplation. water into wine. The transforma unexpected places, treasures of us, loves us and keeps us as we are, God also invites us to a life the only fear greater than the fear to Gabriel’s inspirational and positive Sometimes in life we don’t have art or architecture that would be that is different, fuller, richer and more glorious – if we want it” of asking God to set us free is the words, ‘Nothing is impossible to God’. the answers or even the right words. with authority. considered priceless anywhere in fear that this may actually happen! Part of the annual novena to Our the world. On the side of a not- superficiality on the one hand, and extraordinary graces of prayer Teresa knew what it meant to let go Lady of Perpetual help is gathering relationship with God is that no mixed feelings is an understatement. into new opportunity. too-frequently used street in Rome St Teresa of Avila on the other a struggle with some granted to her by God, or her of one life and emerge into another. Remove our selfishness and our is a little church, not much different alarming illnesses. For these years tireless energy in reforming and Her famous book, The Interior who was formed from an early age who attend. In 2016, our nine-day in order to converse with him. My from the other 904 churches in the Teresa always prayed from a book, refounding convents. Perhaps the Castle, describes the spiritual into the highest stages of prayer. city. Inside, the light is dim, and one and one of her prayer books is two things are just two sides of the voyage as a journey through the fill our hearts with your eternal But she didn’t begin this way. She sands of people in Portlaoise. The in the silence of my own heart. could easily miss a precious piece still preserved in the convent. Its same coin. She journeyed round doors of a mansion: one door was a spirited woman, and in real Mary is blessed with trust. ‘Do of work by Bernini, tucked away on pages are yellow and dog-eared, those convents in an old, lumbering, leads to another, and another and prayer she was a late starter. She another. Then we realise that this much the ‘meat’ of our prayer. They whatever he tells you’. the left hand side of the church. It and it is heavily marked. But prayer covered wagon, sleeping in bug- and bless us, and fill us with your came from an affluent family from castle is actually within each one depicts the Transverberation of St was hard for Teresa. She tells us that infested inns on very cold nights. At the Spanish city of Avila. She was of us, and as we emerge from it, Teresa, an incident in the life of St she would often spend the time of the same time she was also writing one of 12 children, and when she we enter into the everyday world ing upon their families. I try to ground matter what, all will be well. I’m sure Teresa of Avila, when, after a series prayer watching the hands of the prodigiously. She said once: “I wish I was only seven she ran away from to which we belong, but with a of intense visions, Teresa’s heart clock. For a year she gave up even could write with both hands, so as home with her little brother to transformed view of reality. was, as it were, pierced with a spear trying to meditate. not to forget one thing while I’m seek martyrdom at the hands Teresa’s writing is full of wonderful by Jesus, symbolising her union with But then, at the age of 40, a change saying another.” She had a mission, of the Moors. When Teresa was images, but the image of the Him and the suffering that this took place. Teresa began to have only 13 years old, her mother and having once known the touch would cost. This is what the mystics visions “with the eyes of her soul” butterfly emerging from its cocoon died. Teresa was a pleasure-loving of God, there was nothing that is one of her best. It helps us to see into the garden. We immediately call the state of “mystical marriage’’. and to hear through her “inward Allow your body to settle in this place. girl, and her father sent her to a would stop her on that mission, not the really human side of Teresa, and The sculpture is a masterpiece, and ear” voices speaking to her. She convent ‘finishing school’. even the severe criticism that she brings home to us again the truth to find four of our fish were already watch. Bernini adds a human – almost feared that she was deluding herself. At the age of 21 Teresa entered had to suffer. A papal nuncio, one of that while God has made us, loves gone. The heron continued to stand Breathe in and out with the heron. comical – touch to the work. Some of her directors were sure the Carmelite convent of the her many opponents, called her “a us and keeps us as we are, God also first time. In the book, On either side of the piece he she was deluding herself. But she Gaze at the heron’s majestic posture. Incarnation just outside the city, restless, disobedient, contumacious invites us to a life that is different, has carved a number of people, found good guidance from three Tune in to the stillness of the heron. joining a community of 150 nuns. gadabout”. But Teresa knew what it fuller, richer and more glorious – if presumably friends or members of priests, two of whom were later In her autobiography, Teresa writes meant to be changed by the love of we want it. image and poem given. garden and pond. Hour after hour, envelop you. his family, sitting in viewing boxes, that she was afraid of marriage. canonised: St Francis Borgia, St Peter of Alcantara and Balthazar Alvarez. Breathe in the silence. watching the experience as if it That may have been one of her Mystics by Craig Larkin, S.M. 1. Quiet the body Breathe out the silence. were an opera! motives for entering the convent, With their encouragement, she Price: €12.99 2. Invite the mind into stillness pressed on with her inner journey. water for small fish which they skilfully prey on Breathe in the stillness. That part is not factual, but Teresa’s but she also admits that she was A 01 6874096 | M [email protected] 3. Seek guidance and devour. They embody silence and stillness Breathe out the stillness. experience is. It took place in 1559, not fired by great love of God in This journey led her to become www.columbabooks.com 4. Gaze on the image watching us as we watched her. as they stand and wait. On the morning of Breathe in the quiet water. twenty-three years before she died. doing so. She herself writes that one of the greatest mystics and at or send a cheque to: 5. Become absorbed Breathe out the quiet water. St Teresa is one of the greatest her first 20 years in the convent the same time one of the greatest Columba Books, 23 Merrion Square, 6. Read / reflect on the poem or silence, a calmness, a stillness. For three Dublin 2, D02 XE02. Breathe out the peace of this scene. mystics the Church has known, and, were what she called “20 years reforming figures in Catholic history. garden. We watched her perched there for a Savour the peace and stillness it brings. perhaps because of this, most of us on a stormy sea”. The stormy It’s difficult to know what is more 7. Express gratitude reminding us to take time to be still. Stay with the scene as long as you can. are inclined to see her as someone sea was a life of flippancy and remarkable about Teresa: the FREE POSTAGE ON ALL ORDERS 24 | The Irish Spirit May 14, 2020
Finding and loving your true self Glad New
From the book The Happiness Habit by Daniel O’Leary Day The aim of your life is to be truly Each morning yourself, fully alive and grateful we can choose To live out your most precious dreams, to blossom into the best possible version of yourself, to grow into your the quality of full power, to find your own voice and to use it – that the day ahead is the purpose of your whole life, the reason you were created. In the end, that is what good teaching, good From the book Already Within parenting, good friendship, good religion and good art by Daniel O’Leary Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan are about – to convince you of the beauty of your own ‘wild and precious life’, and of how to make it flourish. To ome people are at their best in every morning provides an opportunity invitation that lies waiting just below the be fully alive is the greatest gift you can give to yourself, Sthe moming; others blossom in to begin again, to stand on another surface of our conscious preoccupations. and to the universe. ‘Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask the late evening; a few give little mountain with a whole new perspective, Like Thomas, we are so slow to believe. yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do evidence of any interest at all in the day’s to refuse to settle for what at first sight Yet this vision, this reality is, no more, that. Because what the world needs is people who have proceedings. What we do, think and say, seems inevitable. For everyone there is no less, what the Christian faith means. come alive’ (Howard Thurman). Take a moment now to first thing in the morning, the saints tell us, another chance to decide what the day, Our wildest dreams, which may well be ask yourself what makes you feel alive. deeply colours the rest of the day. When and the rest of our lives, will be like; a God’s dreams too, are within our grasp I was a child we were taught to ‘make To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night choice about what to set down on the if, for instance, even between showering our Morning Offering’. It was a kind of the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. blank page handed to us by each dawn; and waking the children, we can, with a statement of intent. No matter what, our will it be a sad sequel to yesterday’s spent – William Shakespeare dogged loyalty, simply utter a heartfelt dawn promise to God would hold true. words – or a unique work of art? Every ‘yes’. Another opportunity!‘ When you feel and face your fear Once we managed to get it right after new morning, new week, new year offers you transform it into courage we woke up, then everything would be us a choice – do we dance it, or do we We should Fear is a crippling thing; it diminishes your mind and right all day long. In his Sabbath, Wayne endure it? Just as we still struggle with apprentice body; it shrivels your soul. Do you want to live in fear Muller quotes an old Hasidic poem: the mystery of how a divine incarnation ourselves to coming or in freedom? Everyone is afraid to some extent. Fear “Take special care to guard your tongue could happen in an ordinary little baby in awake,[...] treat it as a is an intrinsic part of being human. But be aware of its before the morning prayer. a very ordinary place in the course of our form of mastery” subtle power. Do not attack, avoid or try to banish your A person who wakes up in the morning ordinary time, so too, even while raising ‘How we greet the dawn is a measure fears; meet them, accept them – and you will slowly is like a new creation. the morning coffee-cup to our lips, we transform them. They hold the key to your new purpose. AIl of your words each day are related to continue to struggle with the shocking of the freedom we have made for Make frequent attempts to do what you fear most, to one another. belief that the cloud of our fears and ourselves,’ writes Whyte. ‘Freedom in the move outside your comfort zone, and then notice how All of them are rooted in the first words despair can be dispersed from our hearts midst of imprisonment, freedom in the strong you feel. Remember, most fear is imagined: F. E. A. that you speak.” by the healing shaft of light we call God. midst of all the catastrophes common to R. – False Evidence Appearing Real. It takes daily courage ‘We should apprentice ourselves to It is the very ordinariness of the timing the sins of humankind, the hidden made to achieve this huge blessing, to live your life fearlessly. coming awake,’ the poet David Whyte of the incarnate God that confounds us. glorious by sudden vlsibility … One of Begin taking the risk today – just one small, bold word writes, ‘treat it as a form of mastery. The There is something essentially Blake’s most famous engravings is of a or action! Try always to speak and act out of your true threshold of waking, the entry to the day, is Paschal about concepts such as newness, young man leaping out of the picture essence rather than your false ego. the musician’s foot lifted to begin the beat. beginning, beginning again. Few faiths with a great blaze of light behind him, Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain. Miss that beat and you will have to come carry such compassionately repeated called The Glad Day. It carries enormous – Ralph Waldo Emerson to a stop, and start again. The dash and flair opportunities for personal and universal energy and youthful power, as if the youth of the day comes from that foot hitting the repair, recovery and renewal. And the is leaping right in our face to ask us what floor after the correct restful anticipation. realisation of this redemption from the we are up to on this glad day.’ I think of night of our fears and losses, can steal Sometimes a prayerful, painful approach the Morning- Christ wrenching us from into, or slam into, our consciousness to a difficult day may mean stopping and the tomb of our nights, bringing us to the starting a hundred times, until we learn, while we are busy washing our faces or threshold of a sweet freedom. like a virtuoso, the thorough, attentive, brushing our teeth. True to the essence “Every day is a new day, a new calendar. rhythmic presence of the true musician.’ of incarnation, the whole economy You must begin today to remake Fear can ruin our timing – and energy. of our salvation is revealed through There are those who dread the arrival of the tiny spaces between our fleeting your mental and spiritual world ... The Happiness Habit The Healing Habit The Heavenly Habit each new day, their stomach already in a preoccupations. With the precision of Only free people can make a free world. by Daniel O’Leary knot. The shadows that surface at night a skilled surgeon, God’s fingers find the Infect the world with your light. Price: €12.99 Each continue to haunt us in the light. Too fissures in our attention. Don’t be afraid to love or to be loved. Buy All Three for €30 many of us, quietly and hopelessly, wake As within, so without.” A 01 6874096 M [email protected] It is difficult to capture in logical www.columbabooks.com up to another day of silent despair. Yet prose the divine pleading, the urgent — Ben Okri or send a cheque to: Columba Books, 23 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, D02 XE02. Read more inspiring stories like this one in Already Within by Daniel O’Leary from Columba Books. You can order by phoning 01 6874096 or visiting www.columbabooks.com. Price: €11.99 FREE POSTAGE ON ALL ORDERS The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | Feature ||25 Sr Clare ‘on the scale of St Therésè’, says Carmelite
At a time when young people need to see the shallowness of celebrity culture, the Church has found a powerful witness writes Ruadhan Jones he Church should “look at and rec- Photo: Alana Vacris ognise that some- Tthing extraordinary happened” in the life of Derry nun Sr Clare Crock- ett, according to Fr Stephen Quinn, a Derry-based Car- melite priest, who says he is “convinced of her sanctity”. Fr Quinn told The Irish Catholic that Sr Clare – who Photo: Cara Barr died in an earthquake in Ecuador four years ago – follow a new vocation as should be “held up to the described the culture in a sister in the Servants of light for all to see” and which modern young the Home of the Mother, prayed for her miraculous people grow up as having a relatively new Spanish intercession in an anni- a “cult of celebrity”. He congregation. versary Mass on Sunday, said that young people are She entered as a novice April 19, in Termonbacca fed on this culture from in 2001, taking her perpet- Carmelite Monastery in the a young age, and it was ual vows in 2010. She was Maiden City. despite this Sr Clare discov- only 33 when she died in Fr Quinn spoke of her ered her vocation. an earthquake in Ecuador “profound importance” “Famous actors and in 2016, and her fourth and of his own conviction actresses appear to have it anniversary was celebrated regarding her sanctity. all sorted, to have everything on April 16. “I’m a Carmelite priest they want,” he said in his and we have many saints,” Fr sermon. “Their opinions are Quinn said. “There are ele- courted on everything, from In his sermon religion to politics. One can ments of them I see reflected ❛❛at her anniversary in her life. That’s why I, and only imagine the thrill, it so many of our friars, are must be intoxicating.” Mass, Fr Quinn convinced of her sanctity.” Fr Quinn believes that described the Sr Clare’s importance is culture in which on a par with that of St Therésè of Lisieux and, modern young because of the way in people grow up as which she grew up, she is an ideal model for our having a “cult of Photo: Siobhán Summerville young people today. A celebrity” tearaway as a young girl, “We had good response “An awful lot of people are The Irish Catholic that a mira- it wasn’t until she was 18 Since her death, a strong to the photo campaign, with praying to her,” Fr Quinn said. cle in a county near Derry is that she discovered her devotion to her has grown people sending photos from “There’s a family in Derry, being attributed to Sr Clare’s vocation. locally and internationally, England and Canada. We one of them is very sick with intercession. “Sr Clare, in her family including in the Carmelite had a big response around coronavirus, and they are “There was a young life, is the polar opposite. Order. Fr Quinn and his Derry as well. praying every day to Sr Clare. woman who was discovered St Therésè came from a brothers in the Termonbacca “We had 800 cards with There have been answers to Catholic home…and used to have a large growth,” he Gerry McDaid Monastery have devoted a photograph of Sr Clare, prayers in some cases.” this to propel her into an Masses to Sr Clare every and a prayer for her beatifi- In recent months, a said. “She prayed to Sr Clare extraordinary life. Sr Clare second Sunday for a year cation on the back. The 800 number of miracles have that it wouldn’t be cancerous came from a broken fam- and a half. went in two days, and that been attributed to Sr Clare’s or life-threatening. When ily in which the mother and “At a young age, Sr Clare “We celebrate a Mass was just us. Her sisters are intercession. Speaking to they opened her up, they father had separated, and faced a big life choice – to every month here,” he said, doing the same work and The Irish News last month, discovered that there was the children didn’t practice be a famous actress or a “asking for her intercession they had 1,000 and those Shauna Gill, Sr Clare’s sister, no cancer in the growth and the faith. famous nun…She only and for her to be recognised went as well.” said a young boy in the US the doctor was amazed. He “She went through all found truth and happiness by the Church. The more I According to Fr Quinn, who was on life-support couldn’t understand why the behaviours typical of in the moment she bent to get to know her, the more the campaign is a sign of the recovered after a priest there was no cancer in a teenagers – the drinking, kiss the feet of Christ on profound she is and the more strong local devotion that asked the Derry nun to inter- growth that size.” the celebrity culture. Yet, the Cross. She saw Divine profound her witness is.” has developed in Derry. In cede. The nun’s intercession knowing all that, she was Mercy itself… and realised Fr Quinn recently organ- the Facebook livestream of is also credited for the birth Fr Quinn finished by say- able to make this radical how valued she is by God.” ised a photo campaign, the anniversary Mass, more of twins to a couple who ing that Sr Clare speaks to choice for Christ.” Following this encounter, asking people to display an than 200 people commented were believed to be infertile. “young people in a way that In his sermon at her Clare gave up her ambition image of Sr Clare, then take a seeking her prayers and Though he couldn’t give no sermon can, and very few anniversary Mass, Fr Quinn to be a famous actress to picture and share it. intercession. exact details, Fr Quinn told priests can”. 26 | International news || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 World Report
IN BRIEF Uganda Martyrs Day EU bishops warn religious postponed due to Covid-19 l The Annual Martyrs Day celebrations in Uganda that were set for June 3 have been postponed due to the coronavirus. freedom under threat The decision to defer the celebrations was taken by the An influential umbrella dimension expressed in all bishops at the request of the Catholic diocese of Masaka. organisation for bishops main human right texts, “Even if the current lockdown is eased it will not be possible across the European Union including the EU Charter. in the time available to properly organise the 2020 Namugongo has warned that restrictions The approach of certain (Shrine) Martyrs Day,” said Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa, on public Masses and other secularist actors against the chairman of the country’s episcopal conference. ceremonies are a risk to reli- role of religion in the pub- Martyrs Day is a public holiday to remember the killing of gious freedom. lic square may, according 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts to Christianity in the In a statement the Com- to COMECE, have contributed historical Kingdom of Buganda. mission of the Bishops’ Con- to its marginalisation in the ferences of the European context of the present pan- Pope appoints Apostolic Union (COMECE) has that demic. basic freedom is at stake in In its document Respect- Nuncio to Ghana the continent’s battle with ing democracy, rule of law l Pope Francis has named the Rev. Henryk Mieczyslaw the coronavirus. and human rights in the Jagodzinski as the new Apostolic Nunion to Ghana. Msgr Fr Manuel Enrique Bar- framework of the Covid-19 Jagodzinski takes over as the country’s ninth nuncio from Most rios Prieto, General Secretary sanitary crisis - A toolkit for Rev. Jean Marie Speich, who has been reassigned to Kosovo. of COMECE, warned there is a member states, the Council of Born in 1969, Msgr Jagodzinski (61) was ordained a priest widespread feeling within the Europe (COE) underlines that in the Diocese of Kielce in his native Poland then earned a Church that the “fundamental Closed: church doors throughout Europe. the effective enjoyment of the doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of the Holy right” of religion and worship trary way, in full respect of right to freedom of religion in fundamental right to freedom Cross in Rome. could be eroded. and in dialogue with ecclesial anti-Covid-19 public policies of religion is “a benchmark of He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in July “The reopening of churches institutions.” should be part of the process. modern democratic socie- 2001 and had stints in Belarus (2001-2005), Croatia (2005- must be implemented by civil COMECE pointed out that The ‘Joint European Road- ties”. 2008), India (2015-2018) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018- authorities in dialogue with in the current emergency, map towards lifting corona- The COE also calls on the 2020). ecclesial institutions,” Fr Bar- having dialogue between virus containment measures’ authorities to ensure that any rios Prieto insisted. Churches, the European recently published by the restriction is “clearly estab- Turkey’s Christian “Freedom of religion, Union and national institu- EU Commission lacks of any lished by law, in compliance including freedom of wor- tions is as crucial as ever. explicit mention of religious with relevant constitutional ‘doctor of the poor’ dies ship, is a fundamental right services. guarantees and proportionate Context l A Christian in Turkey, his community. and a real necessity for many “This is disappointing,” to the aim it pursues”. people. The Council of Europe – known as the “doctor of the In 2004, Turkish In the context of the ever- said Fr Barrios Prieto, adding “The reopening of growing attention of the EU that “it neglects the key role not to be confused with the poor”, has succumbed to authorities accused Dilmener churches,” he continued, “in for the upholding of funda- of religion in European socie- European Union – is a 47 the coronavirus and passed and 135 other doctors of compliance with the rules mental rights and the rule of ties.” member state body set up in away last week. stealing public funds and Murat Dilmener, aged 78, of sanitary caution, must be law in the member states, the COMECE reiterated that the aftermath of World War treating poor patients free of implemented by civil author- organisation said monitoring religion is not a private issue, II to promote dialogue and was the first Syriac Christian charge without permission at employed as a professor ities in a clear and non-arbi- respect for the fundamental but a public and collective mutual cooperation. in a medical school in the a public hospital in Istanbul. country. The accusations were He was born in Mardin later disproved and he Myanmar bishops call on and volunteered for became branded as the initiatives in the churches of “doctor of the poor”. China bishop dies after Catholics for day of prayer virus recovery The Catholic Bishops’ Conference general of the CBCM, signed the letter people to follow guidelines from the of Myanmar (CBCM) has urged the last week, while Cardinal Charles Bo of Health Ministry. l Bishop Joseph Zhu Baoyu, who recovered from Covid-19 in Faithful across the country to join a the Archdiocese of Yangon called for a February, died in his sleep aged 98 last week. day of prayer to overcome the Covid-19 focus on prayer, fasting and charitable Campaigns Bishop Zhu of Nanyang Diocese was diagnosed with pandemic. works on the date. The CBCM and Caritas (Karuna) pneumonia on February 3 and admitted to hospital. Pope Francis accepted a proposal “As prayer is a universal value,” Myanmar have joined the nation’s There he tested positive for Covid-19 and when he left from the Higher Committee of Human said Pope Francis. “I have accepted the hospital on February 14, he was reportedly the oldest person Fraternity for May 14 to be a day of proposal of the Higher Committee of battle against Covid-19 through to have recovered from the virus at the time. prayer, fasting and works of charity Human Fraternity so that believers of awareness campaigns, providing health Bishop Pietro Jin Lugang succeeds him and, in doing to call for divine intercession to help all religions unite spiritually in a day of aids, equipment and offering Church humanity overcome the virus. prayer and fasting and works of charity properties as quarantine centres. so, becomes the first underground bishop to be recognised The Pope made the announcement to implore God to help humanity In addition, diocesan response teams by the Chinese government since 2018 China-Vatican after praying the Regina Caeli at the overcome the coronavirus pandemic.” and nuns have also reached out to the agreement. Vatican and the CBCM issued a letter Church officials in Myanmar have requesting bishops from 16 dioceses to extended the suspension of public communities most in need by providing Diocese in UK creates encourage Catholics to join them. Masses and other liturgical ceremonies basic food items such as rice, cooking ‘dial-a-Mass’ service Bishop John Saw Yaw Han, secretary- in 16 dioceses to May 15 and urged oil, beans and salt. l A Catholic diocese in the UK has launched what is believed Catholic official warns lifting Pakistan lockdown is ‘risky’ to be the first-ever Mass available to listen to directly by phone. A Pakistan Catholic figure Karachi, hopes that the gov- virus situation. another while public trans- The new service is being provided by the Middlesbrough says the easing of coronavirus ernment’s decision would not “The government should port is unavailable. diocese for Catholics without internet access. restrictions by the country’s jeopardise the efforts made to at least have issued strict “If the government has The idea was proposed by a local Knights of Columba leader is a “risky move”. contain the virus. guidelines such as manda- decided to reopen businesses, member and a phone number was set up. Fr Albert Schembri of Despite a record spike “The government is obvi- tory wearing of face masks it should have allowed public of new cases in a single day ously more concerned about and enforcement of Standard transport with certain condi- St Mary’s Cathedral celebrated the first recorded Mass with 100 (1,523), Pakistan’s Prime Min- the plight of daily wagers and Operating Procedures regard- people last week. ister Imran Khan last week other low-income groups,” he ing social distancing in offices, tions,” he added. Canon Derek Turnham, head of diocesan communications, announced the lifting of the said. workplaces and factories.” “Mandatory thermal scan- said he was “delighted” by the new system, which expands nationwide lockdown. “But it should keep in mind Fr Diego expressed his ning before entering or exit- upon the digital outreach by parishes already taking place over Fr Saleh Diego, vicar gen- that this can turn out to be a concerns about workers ing a workplace should also email and social media networks. eral of the Archdiocese of risky move in view of the traveling from one place to be considered.” The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | International news ||27
Edited by Aron Hegarty Vatican [email protected] roundup Dog-gone hungry!
‘Respect dignity of farm workers’, says Pope l Pope Francis has appealed for migrant farm workers, who pick crops with bad conditions and low pay, in Italy and worldwide to be respected and not exploited during the pandemic. The Holy Father made a fervent appeal for the respect of the dignity of workers who have called out to him for help. “I have received several messages on the world of work and its problems,” said the Pope during his General Audience last week. “In particular, I have been struck by the plight of farm labourers, many of them migrants, who work in the fields of the Italian countryside. “Unfortunately,” he pointed out, “on many occasions they are very harshly exploited. It is true that there is a crisis for everyone, but people’s dignity must always be respected. “That is why,” he continued, “I add my voice to the appeal of these workers and of all exploited workers. “I urge everyone to use the crisis as an opportunity to focus once again on the dignity of the human person and make the dignity of work the centre of our concern.” Caritas joins Pope plea A dog in Ocean City, Maryland licks its lips at a bucket of french fries held by its owner. The US has begun to ease for global solidarity coronavirus restrictions. Photo: CNS l Caritas Internationalis most affected by the has followed Pope virus,” said Secretary Francis’ request for the General of Caritas Cardinal Sarah denies signing promotion of a ‘global Internationalis Aloysius creative solidarity’ John. to avoid another “This new letter on pandemic exploitation “humanitarian tragedy”. humanitarian crisis The organisation said cannot be stopped unless Just hours after the publication of However, Cardinal Sarah’s denial population with the sole aim of it is deeply concerned courageous actions are a controversial open letter, one of raises questions about the legitimacy permanently imposing unacceptable about the humanitarian taken to support the most the signatories – the prefect of the of other reported signatories to the forms of restriction on freedoms, of crisis that is following the vulnerable communities.” Vatican’s Congregation for Divine letter. controlling people and of tracking spread of coronavirus He stressed that “the Worship and Sacraments – said he did Jeanette DeMelo, editor of the their movements,” read the letter. and urged the use of international not sign it. National Catholic Register, said Among the letter’s reported international community aid to respond to Cardinal Robert Sarah denied the principal author of the letter is signatories were four cardinals: to take courageous and national needs is not signing the letter, titled ‘Appeal for the Archbishop Carlo Vigano, a former Cardinal Sarah, Cardinal Gerhard immediate actions. the right solution” Church and the World’, which says the Papal Emissary to the US. Muller, Cardinal Joseph Zen and “We are aware that and if no immediate coronavirus has been exaggerated to DeMelo said that Vigano had Cardinal Janis Pujats. we are facing an atypical action is taken, “the foster widespread panic and establish vouched for the authenticity of Sarah’s Along with several bishops and emergency in which consequences of the a “one-world government”. signature. priests, the letter’s reported signatories the countries that are coronavirus will kill He tweeted: “I share on a personal “The Register contacted Archbishop also included academics, journalists normally among the more people than the basis some of the questions or Vigano, the principal author, and asked and scientists. largest donors are the pandemic itself”. concerns raised with regard to him specifically about the authenticity Vatican journalists Marco Tosatti restrictions on fundamental freedoms, of the signature of Cardinal Sarah and Robert Moynihan, Lifesitenews Pope combines Canada but I have not signed this petition. and he said ‘I can confirm 100% that editor John-Henry Westen, Population “I explicitly asked [sic] the authors Cardinal Sarah signed it’,” DeMelo said. Research Institute president Stephen diocese and archdiocese of the petition titled ‘Appeal for the The letter argued that the pandemic Mosher and pro-life group leaders l The Holy Father has ordered the merging of the Church and for the World’ not to has been sensationalised and exploited were among those listed. Archdiocese of Ottawa and the Diocese of Alexandria- mention me.” to impede civil rights and exact In the letter, they encouraged Cornwall in Canada. In doing so, Pope Francis has named The cardinal was listed as a government control over individuals Catholics to “assess the current current Archbishop of Ottawa, Terrence Prendergast, as signatory of the letter when it was and families. situation in a way consistent with the Archbishop of the new ecclesiastical circumscription of published last week by the National “We have reason to believe [sic] teaching of the Gospel. This means Ottawa-Cornwall. Catholic Register, LifeSiteNews and that there are powers interested in taking a stand: either with Christ or In addition, the Pope has appointed Bishop Marcel other websites. creating panic among the world’s against Christ”. Damphousse as Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, transferring him from the office of Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie. Archbishop Prendergast, born in Montreal, was ordained Young Vietnamese Catholics feed the hungry a priest in 1972 and holds Master of Divinity and Doctor of Marie Le Tran Thuy Vi and her She said the pandemic is Fr Martin Tran Dinh Khiem and to serve the poor in the Theology degrees from Regis College in Toronto. friends are living their Faith a good chance for Catholic Ai, assistant priest of Phu hard time,” he said. He later served as Dean of Theology at the college through preparing, cook- youths to live out the spirit Trung Parish said parents of Vi said the pandemic is a before taking up the role of Executive Secretary of the ing and packing food at Phu of love and charity with con- catechism students volunteer grave crisis, but has opened Vatican’s Apostolic Visitation of Canadian seminaries. Trung Church to hand out to crete work. to prepare dinners from 1pm young people’s hearts by Nominated a bishop in 1995, Archbishop Prendergast the poor of Ho Chi Minh City. “We are very happy to to 6pm. inducing them to return to was installed as the Archbishop of Ottawa by Pope Vi, 22, and her group with serve free dinners to peo- He added that young core values and spend more Benedict XVI in 2007. 10 youths hand out 150-175 ple in need and help them Catholics transport and offer time doing charitable work, Archbishop Damphousse, born in Manitoba, was servings within 45 minutes overcome the Covid-19 pan- meals to poor people in the ordained priest in 1991 and incardinated in the Archdiocese serving the common good. each night. Recipients include demic,” she said. city’s six districts, finishing of Saint-Boniface. homeless people, lottery “We are grateful to them as their work at 10pm. “I hope many young peo- He was appointed Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall in ticket sellers, guards, motor- God sends them to us so that “The pandemic provides ple will find value in life and 2012 and was consecrated before being transferred to the bike taxi drivers and street we can do something helpful a good opportunity for local commit themselves to build- Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie in November 2015. cleaners. for them.” Catholics to work together ing a better society,” she said. 28 | Opinion || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020
Post to: Letters to the Editor, The Irish Catholic, 23 Merrion Square North, Dublin 2, Letters or email: [email protected] Letter of the week acebook community The wisdom of Pope emeritus Benedict Each week we publish a selection of comments Dear Editor, How to sad to read [IC there is a continuity between Benedict decision to relinquish the papacy from The Irish Catholic Facebook page 7/5/20] that Pope emeritus Benedict XVI and Francis. It is also evident to in 2013. I wonder, though, with the No patient’s needs should be dismissed because XVI feels that there has been an me that both men share a genuine benefit of hindsight might the Church attempt to silence him in retirement. affection for one another and a deep and indeed the papacy be better they are no longer deemed useful to society There has certainly been a sense love for the Church and the People of served if Benedict had of stuck to what from some ideologically driven voices God. seemed to be his original plan: to Maddening to hear when someone makes a comment to the within the Church to present him The institution of a Pope emeritus effect that “most of the deaths from the coronavirus were accompany the Church in silence in his in opposition to his successor Pope was never going to be an easy thing in nursing homes”, as if those deaths aren’t every bit as Francis. Unfortunately, this has come to navigate in the Church and there retirement. meaningful to our society and humanity. Each person has from people who would describe will certainly be lessons for the future. Just a thought. their own ‘dignity’ from conception to the grave. themselves as liberal as well as people Benedict XVI is a man filled with Yours etc., – Cynthia Neary who would describe themselves as wisdom and humility – a strength Alan Smyth, conservative. It is clear to me that of character displayed in his initial Drogheda, Co. Louth. Archbishop Eamon Martin’s comments for exam students Our sense of sin has vanished When will the archbishop have a word for all the Catholics in this country without access to sacraments until end of Dear Editor, I wish to congratu- July? When?– Guillame Ryou late Maria Steen on her splendid , timely and courageous article We need answers about the failure to protect on sin [IC 30/4/20]. The whole nursing home residents sense of sin has vanished from our Catholic consciousness. The vast majority of Catholics have no A lot of older people are in the nursing homes have a lot of complaints. – Eilish Higgins knowledge, or very little, knowl- edge of the Commandments, or Yes the Government does have a lot to answer for in the the teachings of their Church, with treatment of the elderly in these homes! – Catherine the result that they don’t know the Rose difference between right or wrong. It’s a case of pleasing oneself, and OLA Sisters – a gift of life to the world forget the consequences. People attend Mass when it pleases them and go up and Happy feast day sister. What would the world do without receive Holy Communion, even great missionary like you. Thank you and may Jesus keep you and all the sisters. safe. Great work for the poor. though they may not confess their – Jacinta Newell sins in the Sacrament of Penance for years. What do you think? Join in the conversation Why don’t our bishops and on The Irish Catholic Facebook page priests point out to the Faithful that they must always receive Return to prayer would be a blessing Holy Communion in a state of Dear Editor, Hundreds of column inches exposed at the moment will help people A source of inspiration grace? They could easily make that have been written about how 2020 will to understand that we are one family and announcement at the beginning change us forever. Many commentators we are all dependant on God. in tough times of Mass. To do so would be a great confidently predict that the coronavirus A return to prayer and the importance Dear Editor, I wanted to write to express my sincere act of charity and mercy, and many pandemic will fundamentally change how of Faith in daily life would certainly be a gratitude to you and all at The Irish Catholic for the way souls would be saved. we view the world. Perhaps they will be blessing. that the newspaper has continued seamlessly in what must Yours etc., correct. Yours etc., be difficult times. It continues to be a source of inspiration, Eilis McNamara, We can certainly hope and pray that Peter Kirk, information and hope at a time when many of us are anxious Glin, Co. Limerick. the fragility of our world which is being Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. and even frightened by daily news of the coronavirus pandemic. More hypocrisy from NHS on saving lives The newspaper continues to highlight the positive things that are going on and the work that the Church does to try Dear Editor, Recently the doing themselves in offering of the practice with near as a something that would to reach out to people in very difficult circumstances. I am commentator Douglas praise for the 75-year-old dogmatic zeal proves the make the Charge of the Light delighted that I am still able to get the newspaper in my local Murray of The Spectator institution, it would appear hypocrisy of this new chant. Brigade look like a sensible church even though we are no longer having public Masses. I has asked, in the light of the so! Until worldwide medicine military exercise. love to see the many creative ways in which parishes all over current praise for the NHS, However, with the new rediscovers the Hippocratic the country are responding at this very said time. is it taking on aspects of a chant of “save lives, protect Oath in its purity by which Yours etc., Yours etc., secular Church? the NHS” a darker aspect it was first envisioned – not Breda Ennis, Fr John McCallion, With the weekly Thursday emerges that rings hollow. to kill the unborn – then Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan. ‘clap’ of support, together The NHS’ close alliance the current adulation of Coalisland, with politicos and others out abortion and its defence the NHS could be viewed Co. Tyrone. Letters to the Editor All letters should include merits of letters. We do not Fuelling the car but not the soul the writer’s full name, postal publish pseudonyms or address and telephone other formulae to conceal Dear Editor, It is high time to allow any petrol station but cannot refuel my God also says that “if my people, who numbers (day and evening). the writer’s identity, such the faithful to attend public Masses in soul. We can buy food and alcohol in are called by my name, will humble Letter writers may receive a as “name and address their local churches. Morning Masses our supermarkets but cannot feed our themselves and pray and seek my face subsequent telephone call with editor”. We do not from Monday to Saturday are not spiritual lives in our local church and turn from their wicked ways, then I from The Irish Catholic as print letters addressed crowded so no problem maintaining Jesus said that “where two or three will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive part of our authentication to someone else, open social distances. The same applies to are gathered together in my name, there their sin and will heal their land” (II process which does not letters, or verse. Letters to Eucharistic Adoration. am I in the midst of them”. So he is well Chronicles 7.14). amount to a commitment to the Editor should only be Weekend Masses are generally well able to protect his followers from the publish. sent to The Irish Catholic, attended so the crowd could be handled coronavirus. Indeed, in Psalm 91, God So if people say more prayers this We regret that we and not other publications. as follows: the elderly and those not at tells us that “you will not fear the terror will end the coronavirus pandemic. cannot give prior notice of Letters should not exceed work could attend morning Mass on of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, a letter’s publication date, 300 words and may be Saturday or go to a morning or evening nor the pestilence that stalks in the Yours etc., acknowledge unpublished shortened for space Mass on Monday. darkness, nor the plague that destroys at Liam de Paor, letters or discuss the requirements. It is ironic that I can refuel my car at midday”. Carrickane, Co. Cavan. The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | The week in pictures ||29 Around the world
LEBANON: Women pray during Mass at the Maronite Catholic Cathedral of the SOUTH AFRICA: Children wait in line for food at a school near Cape Town during the Resurrection in Beirut. Photos: CNS Covid-19 pandemic.
▲ BRAZIL: An indigenous child in Manaus. Church-backed agencies are accusing the Government of doing very little to protect the country’s indigenous population from Covid-19. MEXICO: People wait in a long line to enter a wholesale ▲ market to buy cakes for Mother’s Day celebrations on May 10 in Ciudad Juarez.
SWEDEN: Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm speaks via Zoom. The cardinal has expressed concern over the government’s relaxed approach to Covid-19 and its effect on USA: Dr Sara Stulac reads a book with a two-year-old after she did a routine checkup in the elderly and migrants. the back of an ambulance in Boston. 30 | Spirituality || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020
here is such a thing as a good death, a Leaving peace behind clean one, a death that, however sad, leavesT behind a sense of peace. I have been witness to it many times. Sometimes this recognised as our farewell gift explicitly when someone dies, sometimes unconsciously. It is to our families, our loved ones, our business inside us. known by its fruit. Faith community and our world. Positively then, what constitutes I remember sitting with a man How do we do that? How do we peace? When Jesus promises peace dying of cancer in his mid-50s, leave the gift of peace to those we as his farewell gift, he identifies leaving behind a young family, Fr Rolheiser leave behind? it with the Holy Spirit; and, as we who said to me: “I don’t believe know, that is the spirit of charity, I have an enemy in the world, at When some people joy, peace, patience, goodness, least I don’t know if I do. I’ve no ❛❛ longsuffering, fidelity, mildness unfinished business.” things to cling to, and he ends with needed. When I lost my parents leave anything, a job, a and chastity. I heard something similar from a these words: I am going away, but I at a young age, I still desperately marriage, a family or a How do we leave these behind young woman also dying of cancer will leave you a final gift, the gift of wanted them (and believed that I when we leave? Well, death is no and also leaving behind a young my peace. still needed them), but I came to community, they leave different than life. When some family. Her words: “I thought that I suspect that almost everyone realise in the peace that eventually people leave anything, a job, a I’d cried all the tears I had, but then reading this will have had an settled upon our family after chaos behind, a legacy of marriage, a family or a community, yesterday when I saw my youngest experience of grieving the death their deaths that our pain was in disharmony, unfinished they leave chaos behind, a legacy of daughter I found out that I had a of a loved one, a parent, spouse, still wanting them and not in any disharmony, unfinished business, lot more tears still to cry. But I’m at child or friend, and finding, at least longer needing them. In their living business, anger, anger, bitterness, jealousy and peace. It’s hard, but I’ve nothing left after a time, beneath the grief a and their dying they had already bitterness, jealousy and division. that I haven’t given.” warm sense of peace whenever the given us what we needed. There Their memory is felt always as And I’ve been at deathbeds memory of the loved one surfaces was nothing else we needed from division” a cold pain. They are not missed, other times when none of this was or is evoked. I lost both of my them. Now we just missed them even as their memory haunts. Peace, as we know, is a articulated in words, but all of it parents when I was in my early 20s and, irrespective of the sadness of Some people on the other hand whole lot more than the simple was clearly spoken in that loving and, sad as were their farewells, their departure, our relationship leave behind a legacy of harmony absence of war and strife. Peace awkwardness and silence you often every memory of them now evokes was complete. We were at peace. and completeness, a spirit of is constituted by two things: witness around deathbeds. There a warmth. Their farewell gift was The challenge for all of us understanding, compassion, harmony and completeness. To be is a way of dying that leaves peace the gift of peace. now, of course, is on the other affirmation and unity. These people at peace something has to have an behind. In trying to understanding side of this equation, namely, the are missed but the ache is a warm inner consistency so that all of its this, it is important to distinguish challenge to live in such a way that one, a nurturing one, one of happy Disciples movements are in harmony with between being wanted and being peace will be our final farewell gift memory. In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives each other and it must also have a Going away in death has exactly a long farewell speech at the Last completeness so that it is not still the same dynamic. By the way we Supper on the night before he dies. Peace, as we know, is a whole lot aching for something it is missing. live and die we will leave behind His disciples, understandably, are ❛❛ Peace is the opposite of internal either a spirit that perennially shaken, afraid, and not prepared more than the simple absence of war discord or of longing for something haunts the peace of our loved ones, to accept the brute reality of his and strife. Peace is constituted by two we lack. When we are not at peace or we will leave behind a spirit that impending death. He tries to calm it is because we are experiencing brings a warmth every time our them, reassure them, give them things: harmony and completeness” chaos or sensing some unfinished memory is evoked. Family& Personal Profile Emma Edgeworth: inspired by sisters in Zambia
Page 34 LifestyleThe Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 The problem with cheap food that won’t go away ❛❛
Social solidarity’ is apparently This is an issue that has re- A recent statement on the experiencing something of a emerged with some force within beef crisis by the President of The renaissance of late. How should the principle of the agricultural community. Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ ‘ Acts of reciprocal kindness a fair days pay apply to those For despite the reality of the Association (ICSA) sums up the are increasing. coronavirus and the threats to issues at stake: Our hard-nosed individualism who nurture, grow, and livelihoods that it is creating; “The relentless focus on driv- is being destabilised through a produce the very food we exploitative and manipulative ing down price is part of the reawakening of a sense of inter- practices by supermarkets and problem, but it is also the insist- dependence. eat asks David Mullins meat processing monopolies ence that farmers are entitled to Communities, families, and continue apace. less than half the retail price after a process of breeding and feeding politicians have all stepped up This is something that is Will those of us who take our But what of all those other that takes three years. to applaud frontline healthcare easily forgotten as the supermar- hands out of our pockets to clap ‘frontline’ services and workers? “Then, within three weeks, the workers. kets and monopolies undergo them on be prepared to put them In particular, how should processors carve up the major- At the same time questions are something akin to reputational back in when it comes to increas- the principle of a fair days pay ity of the value of the animal for already being asked about how ing their salaries? apply to our farmers; those who rehabilitation. themselves. It is not good enough durable that sense of solidarity I suspect that many people nurture, grow, and produce the “We are all in this together” so that retailers with considerable will be when it comes to meet- will be more than prepared to very food we eat and without the messaging goes. influence on the food chain can try ing increased pay demands from accept such claims on the prin- whom the food chain would be Except of course that from to dodge their responsibilities.” these essential workers in the cipled basis that a fairs day work reduced to a series of brittle the farmers’ perspective, this is ❛❛ post-Covid-19 world. deserves a fair days pay. links? simply not true. » Continued on Page 33
i 32 | Family & Lifestyle || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Family News How much risk AND EVENTS FAMILY BEHIND WELL- KNOWN HOTEL LAUNCH to tolerate COOKBOOK FOR CHILDLINE Many families who are under lockdown are re-discovering the art of cooking – with varying degrees of success. Now, the family behind the famous Gougane is a question Barra Hotel in Ballingeary, Co. Cork have launched a cookbook in aid of Childline. Chef Katy Lucey and daughters Jane and Ali hope that their book can help families enjoy time together as well as raise much-needed funds for children who are in need. of practical “Our homely recipes for brown bread, scones and vegetable soup have amassed a huge following on Facebook since I began posting them during the lockdown,” according to Katy. “The video on making scones attracted wisdom a worldwide audience of 90,000 viewers including from places like Sydney, United Arab Emirates and the USA! It’s mad, but wonderful,” she said. People across the globe are savouring a little piece of West Cork heaven. “The bakers are sharing photos of their culinary efforts with us. They are really enjoying the s we start coming out chance of the new Wuhan whole experience,” according to Katy. of the coronavirus coronavirus causing a global The e-cookbook with 17 recipes costing €7 is lockdown, people are pandemic of this scale was, available on the Gougane Barra Hotel website. talking a lot about risk. Everyday A as far as most of the world All proceeds to Childline. How sure should we be that the situation is completely under philosophy could reasonably tell, still NORTHERN EXECUTIVE control before we reopen? How genuinely quite low. But ANNOUNCES FRESH much risk of infection should given the devastation that we be willing to tolerate for Ben Conroy pandemics cause, it would have HOSPICE FUNDING individuals? How much risk been entirely reasonable of should we accept of a renewed governments and policymakers The Nooth’s Finance Minister Conor Murphy what the likely levels of risk When something surprising spread of the coronavirus to apply the precautionary has announced £6.75 million (€7.74 million) actually are. and bad happens to the world, through society? principle: taking more action for local hospices to support them with the What they cannot tell people often say that someone It’s tempting to say “let the us is how to weigh risk and to avert an unlikely disaster current financial challenges they are facing. experts decide”. Let those who should have seen it coming. than a strict utilitarian calculus Making the announcement, Mr Murphy said: reward. To pick two completely know the most about public There are always some warning might warrant, because the “The care and support our hospices provide made-up numbers, imagine health weigh up the risks and signs, and those are seized disaster’s consequences are is truly inspiring. that the experts told us that on in order to justify charges make their recommendations, keeping a full lockdown in so terrible. Politicians and “Our Hospices are there for people and their of incompetence and neglect and let the rest of us fall in line. place until September would policymakers would have been families when they need it most,” he said. against the people who let the But this would be a mistake. result in a 0.03% chance of a right to do more than experts This support package includes: bad things happen. This is not, at all, because major resurgence of Covid-19, were then advising. Sometimes, of course, those l £3.2 million for the NI Hospice including medical or scientific experts whereas as a phased reopening Of course, applying the charges are absolutely justified. the Children’s Hospice; are unreliable. It is because plan like that being pursued precautionary principle to the question of how much risk But what’s often forgotten is just l £1.6 million for Marie Curie; in Ireland would give us a 0.5% the greatest extent possible to tolerate is not a medical or l £1.1 million for Southern Area Hospice; chance of a resurgence (again, how unpredictable the world would be just as much of a scientific matter; but a question l £600,000 for Foyle Hospice; and totally made up numbers). generally is. The real warning disaster: it would bring about a of practical wisdom – in this l £250,000 for Cancer Fund for Children. Could medicine or science tell signs are hidden among millions hypochondriac world, cringing case, a question of political us what the right option to take of red herrings. Most potentially at the shadows of possible philosophy. GARDAÍ WARN OVER would be? They could not. To really bad things won’t actually pandemics. But this is the be that bad. PARCEL SCAM How sure should do so is not their function. point: knowing how much The craft involved in caution to apply is a tricky Gardaí have warned against a scam targeting ❛❛ decisions like this is the craft we be that the balance that requires practical consumers is capitalising on the fact that situation is completely of politics. Weighing up a wisdom. There is no rulebook more people are shopping online due to the whole array of important that will give you the correct current pandemic. under control before social goods against uncertain level of caution for every In this instance, a phishing email purporting we reopen? and shifting risks of varying circumstance in advance. to be from courier DPD has been sent to a severities is not the sort of task The point about acceptable customer claiming that the courier was unable Lest there be any doubt: that can be accomplished just levels of risk doesn’t just apply by learning and following a set to deliver a parcel. The consumer is then listening to expertise is wise. to pandemics or politics, but of rules. It requires practical prompted to fill out a contact form. Despite the failings (some of to many areas of life. What wisdom, the wisdom to know However, according to the DPD website, there them egregious) of some public threshold level of certainty how to approach a situation are a number of ways to identify a fraudulent health experts and authorities should we require before the where the right answer is not email including; poorly written sentences, an in this crisis, the response to publication of the results of the pandemic would have been and cannot be specified in impersonal greeting, or a vague email address. a scientific experiment? How much worse had we ignored the advance. And practical wisdom Gardaí are warning people to be wary of links confident should we be that experts. In aggregate, more lives is a virtue that leaders and contained in emails requesting a small fee to we won’t be hurt before we would likely have been saved citizens, not just experts, can resend the parcel which requires personal or place our trust in another had more countries listened to aspire to. financial details. One way to deal with this person? There are right As is advised upon receiving similar emails, them earlier. This sort of point has uncertainty is to get better at answers to questions like this: people are asked to contact the company And it’s not that experts have sometimes been made by people predicting what will actually but the only way to find those directly, to not click on the link or provide any nothing to say about pandemic who want to open things up go wrong. But another is to answers is through doing personal details, and to simply delete the email. risks. It’s from public health faster. But its logic can just as experts, immunologists, and easily lead to more caution err somewhat on the side of the hard, necessary work of epidemiologists that we learn rather than less. caution. Back in January, the becoming wise. The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | Family & Lifestyle ||33
» Continued from Page 31
Bairbre Cahill
hy is the food to connect with each other, better during feeling better for the quick a lockdown?” chat. There is the friendly word W my son asked. for people we pass when out Unsure what sort of a back- walking, the sense of being in handed compliment this was this together, the frequent ben- I simply replied, “It is not that edictions of the good weather. the food is better, it is just that We have been reminded it’s the highlight of the day where true value lies when now!” And it is certainly true we see the work of those on that food has taken on a new the front line, the volunteers, significance. My shopping bills the community organisations. have definitely taken on a new There is a real sense that we significance with our empty have been reminded who we nest full again and the fridge are. Our ultimate value lies in our humanity. Arab Emirates and the USA! It’s mad, but emptying faster than I can fill it. Meals put a shape and structure on the day. A special dish, a family favourite, a new This statement, which could be forcing under penalty, greater levels It is important that we avoid such recipe – such small things replicated with some ease, highlights of equity into agricultural markets zero-sum outcomes being replicated matter. We have remembered how the problems confronting farm- like those that exist in Ireland. now at both national and EU level. the importance of sitting down ers and many other food producers It also takes the ethical burden The objective should not be to together and have recog- are not ‘merely’ economical. away from the ordinary consumer, pit one group of ‘poor farmers’ nised how blessed we are that we can put good food They are also profoundly ethical. who may have limited resources against another. It should be about on the table. In fact, I would argue that there and who will naturally go for a equalising hugely disproportionate is a dimension to this problem that good ‘bargain.’ imbalances in purchasing and trad- What else do we find can be usefully explored through an Instead it places the weight of ourselves remembering in ing power. these strange times? The engagement with the theological responsibility back onto the likes of I mentioned at the start of this concept of the ‘structures of sin.’ joy of birdsong - so often we the ‘buyer’ i.e. the supermarkets and piece about how a sense of interde- food processing giants which are have been too busy rushing pendence has been reawakened by often de facto monopolies. from here to there to even The Nooth’s Finance Minister Conor Murphy Our hard-nosed the harrowing cultural experience of Of course, there are elements to notice. Now the garden and individualism❛❛ is being Covid-19. In the midst of this there is this debate that are contentious. the small wood beyond seem the sadness and heartbreak As a matter of interest, the One of the most enduring ways to reverberate with the songs current financial challenges they are facing. destabilised through a of realising how many people relationship between the Church, in which we can embed this sense of a multitude of birds. The have died. While we try not to reawakening of a sense of or at least, the bishops, and Irish is by creating, not structures of sin, excitement of seeing new be overwhelmed by statistics farming bodies has not always been but ‘structures of solidarity’ as the shoots break through seems interdependence” and projections it is vital that that great. Compendium of the Social Doctrine to carry a particular signifi- One understanding of this con- of The Church puts it. cance this year. Perhaps it is we remember the human cept from a Catholic social teaching At present the Irish farmer can that sense of hope and new tragedy of every life lost, the perspective points to institutional- see very little in terms of such life, the promise of raspber- families and friends in mourn- l ised modes of behaviour that create meaningful structures being present ries on canes, strawberries ing, the grief complicated by or enable oppression and injustice. on the ground. and blackcurrants, lettuce with social distancing. Our greatest the Children’s Hospice; act of solidarity and respect to l In the sense in which it is being that wonderful smell of earthy these families is to do every- l used here, it is about the wielding Communities, goodness, potatoes dug from of corporate force or power toward the earth of our own garden. thing in our power to slow and l ❛❛ stop this virus. Such solidarity economic ends that are in opposi- families, and politicians l New growth confirms the tion to social solidarity and the have all stepped up health and vitality of nature, is at the heart of relationship, common good. its unstoppable force. of community, of what it is to It should not require a detailed to applaud frontline We remember with an be a Christian. theological examination in order to healthcare workers” aching heart, the gift of friend- And it is that solidarity see how domination of the commer- ship. We may have a hundred which reminds us that this is ❛❛ not just about our community cially-weak farmer by commercially- The Competition and Consumer friends or more on Facebook or even our country. Think of strong organisations is inherently Protection Commission (CCPC) is – and it is good to connect a country like Somalia with opposed to a common sense notion supposed to be one such structure with them – but nothing beats of the common good. sitting down over a cup of only fifteen ICU beds for the that farmers can rely on, but there whole population. Think of The value of combatting this kind is widespread suspicion toward it coffee to talk. It is the being present to each other, the over 70 million displaced of power imbalance has also been rec- within the agricultural community. ognised by the bureaucratic behemoth energy that is created just by people in refugee camps This problem will become even that is the European Commission being together, the love that around the world who are at more acute in May 2021 because in the shape of the European Union Back in 2006 the then President is felt. These days remind us increased risk of Covid19. prompted to fill out a contact form. the CCPC are the ones who will be Directive on Unfair Trading Practices in of the Irish Farmers’ Association that we are, above all, called Think of people at significant tasked with enforcing the Unfair the agricultural and food supply chain. went so far as to say that chari- into relationship. That is the risk in the Direct Provision The EU even went so far as to give ties such as Trócaire had “suc- Trading Directive. essence of our humanity just settings and homeless shel- an Aristotelian flavour to the direc- ceeded in destroying the Irish This will have to be addressed as it is the essence of God ters within our own country. tive when it centrally incorporated sugar industry” in their campaign in the post-coronavirus world if who is Trinity. It is in and This pandemic reminds this quote from the Rhetoric into one that “sharply reduced EU support anything resembling a more ethi- through relationship that we us that we are one body, of its explanatory documents: “Fair- prices that rendered sugar refine- cal and dare I say, a more Catholic become more fully ourselves. one humanity. Discomfort ment in Ireland unviable.” approach, to the primary stewards In these strange days there at inequality can and should financial details. ness is justice that goes beyond the written law.” He went on to say that the ben- of the food producing environment is a conversation with the motivate us to action and to The directive, which is due to eficiaries of the reforms were not is to become a reality. butcher about the state of the that genuine solidarity which is come into effect in May 2021, is by poor farmers in developing coun- David Mullins is a writer and com- country – him behind a per- at the heart of relationship, of no means perfect. tries but “the sugar barons of Brazil mentator on bioethics who did his spex screen, me with my mask community and of what it is to But at the very least it is a starting and Australia, and multinationals postgraduate work on Catholic bioeth- on, separated and yet needing be a Christian. point in terms of introducing, or rather like Tate & Lyle”. ics at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. 34 | Family & Lifestyle || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 Emma Edgeworth: inspired by sisters in Zambia
of their physical development explains Emma. “My work was very much in partnership with the sisters, the Personal Profile Presentation Sisters have been running that organisation for many years and I really learned more from them than I’m sure they learned from me but it was really interesting place to be able to merge our skills for the best interests of the people who attend Cheshire home.” The sisters over ❛❛the years would Róise McGagh have fought hard to n 2017 Emma Edgeworth took a career break. She left her home establish good quality county of Kildare and headed for education within IMongu, the capital of the Western Provence in Zambia. Cheshire Homes” Emma was already working with She says the standard were children and families in the Dublin area beyond what she expected in a when she saw the development role developing country in terms of the with Viatores Christi advertised on a child protection and education. professional website. She interviewed “A lot of the women I work for the position in January and then set with might not even have off in May for Africa. attended school or might not She was based in a facility for children be able to read or write, but we with physical and intellectual disabilities were able to devise the kinds under the Cheshire Home Society of of programmes and trainings Zambia. It is run by presentation sisters, and different aids to ensure that with Sr Cathy and Sr Stella from everybody could participate.” Ireland leading the team. their development and nurses an generate income to make it become Emma, in her year there worked Emma says she was grateful for “I would look at it nearly as doctors on site. independent.” hand in hand with the staff in the the warm welcome she received at an early intervention residential Doctors fly in on a small plane As well as this the project has homes and also with the children. the home and in the locality, that service, the children got to go to three times a year to carry out generous donors in Ireland and “A lot of my role was around it enhanced her work. school there which is very unusual elective surgeries on the children, Britain, and a another funding training and development in the “There are no hierarchy or because children in Zambia are fit prostheses and carry out general project that sells bricks to locals. area of early childhood education, power issues, everybody was there often excluded from education appointments. The children’s “She’s an amazing woman Sr child development, child protection for a mutual understanding that when they have a disability. aftercare is facilitated in the home Cathy, and all the sisters. They’re and children’s rights - so it was the needs of the children need to Whether it’s finance or actual as well in their own home. just a force of nature really and all quite a broad base.” be met in the best way possible, so functioning; if they can’t walk, “A lot of children would have their work is driven by I suppose Emma helped redesign their it was that again which made my they can’t go through the deep had snake bites and many of the their faith. mother and baby programme experience a lot easier as well.” sand to get to school,” says Emma. children had cerebral palsy.” “Nano Nagle would have along with the sister in charge She had always wanted to “The sisters over the years Emma says the sisters were been their founder and it’s a of education, “That’s really early return since she spent three would have fought hard to establish inspiring to be around, that they really fantastic order, the sisters intervention and mums would months in Nigeria during her good quality education within held their standard high and were themselves I suppose they are travel from all over the Western undergraduate degree but only if Cheshire Homes, they would also very innovative. dedicated to reaching out to Province where Mongu is in Zambia. it was in a useful capacity. Emma access physiotherapy daily.” “Sr Cathy Crawford she has people on the margins and They would come to the home was so inspired by her trip that The children have access to developed initiatives in the local providing a compassionate human with young babies and children she is now secretary for VC. “It’s their usual carer, be that a family area. There was a lodge where rights based service to them. It’s and the staff would work to so amazing to see people dedicate or home village member as well as people could stay with a restaurant, a fantastic order made up of such target the children at an early age their whole lives towards helping school, an extensive physiotherapy and the profit made there was wonderful women so bright and which eventually leads to better others and it’s really inspiring to programme, activities to stimulate put back into the home, it was to driven and creative.” outcomes, especially in terms be honest”. An IOU for a post-virus dinner is an ideal treat My wife’s birthday is coming up in the next Lots of restaurants (that are not traditionally take- and blowing out the candles You could also ask a few weeks. I really want to do something away) are doing home delivery, so why not bring few of her girlfriends to record and send you some special for her but am stuck for what to do the restaurant to her on her birthday. Make sure you happy birthday video messages that you can make as it’s during the coronavirus restrictions. dress the table with candles and your nice cutlery a compilation of. If you’re not techy you can use and china! Spend some time honouring all a service such as tribute to help you put the What advice do you have for celebrating a the positives from the last year of her life, clips together. special occasion during the lockdown? thinking of things you are thankful for If your wife is a fan of a particular and happy memories. It would be great actor or celebrity, the website CAMEO t’s hard to believe that this is something that to get the kids involved in this bit too. allows you to search for specific people started talking about when Mother’s Day If you want to get lots of her friends actors, sports stars and musicians fell just as restrictions began. From birthdays together, apps like Zoom, House-party who can do a personalised birthday I to baptisms there are so many important and messenger rooms are a great message for her. For whatever gift you celebrations that have been put off or delayed. Of way of getting lots of people together are planning on buying make sure to course this is really difficult, yet the funny thing is online. Lots of apps allow you to play orderThe it wellIrish in Catholic, advance asJuly most 25, providers 2019 Wendy the advice I will give you much of it would be the fun games too. If you think she might fancy delivery times are slower than usual. same whether we were in lock-down or not. The something a bit more low key, after your dinner Why not also make plans for when the Grace most important thing is showing your wife you why not organise a spa at home evening, you can get restrictions are easing - you can print off an IOU for love her and making her feel appreciated, and of the bubble bath and candles ready. You could order a dinner or other activity to do, please God before course celebrating this past year of her life with you online a nice face mask, scented candles and bath the summer is over. and your family. The best way to do this is not by salts to really help her relax. If you took even some of this advice, I am pretty spending lots of money, it’s about spending time an Be sure to involve other family members by sure that this birthday would turn out to be one effort, putting thought into the card you write, the setting up a group video call, It might be nice to of her best yet! And remember, one thing that no cake you might make with the kids and the time you present the birthday cake during this call and mother will ever be disappointed with is a lie-on give her to herself on the day to rest and relax. everyone can enjoy the obligatory happy birthday and a quiet breakfast in bed! The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | Reviews ||35
TVRadio Brendan O’Regan Personal Profile Keeping the Faith despite commercial pressure ’ve never been that much God to his people” and found of a lover of Barbara Stre- Faith “a tremendous help” in PICK OF THE WEEK the current crisis. isand’s music or acting MESSIAH He also harked back to but I have been a long- EWTN, Saturday, May 16, 7pm I Jewish heritage, referencing time fan of Leonard Cohen New documentary series. In this episode, the story of the psalms and David’s cries and have fond memories of Pentecost. seeing him perform in Dub- of anxiety and frustration. lin’s 3 Arena. John McCarthy remembered MASS What connects them his own situation as a hos- RTÉ1, Sunday, May 17, 11am apart from music is their tage in Lebanon and though Featuring a special ❛❛ he said he wasn’t then “some- acknowledgement of frontline Jewish heritage and this was explored with Michael Comyn one of great Faith” regarded healthcare workers, with Fr himself as lucky to have had a by historian Yanky Fachler on Damian O’Reilly, Chaplain in St Bible as he found certain pas- The Leap of Faith (RTÉ Radio Vincent’s University Hospital, sages uplifting. Pastor Woods Dublin. 1) on Friday. Both were proud agreed and instanced psalm of this heritage – Fachler 23 – we heard a striking musi- SONGS OF PRAISE pointed out whimsically that BBC1, Sunday, May 17, 1.15pm cal version of it from Jessi Streisand changed neither Aled Jones [pictured] explores why, in Colter (wife of the late coun- name nor nose to get ahead try singer Waylon Jennings). times of trouble, Christian hymns can lift in the entertainment indus- our hearts and soothe our souls. Includes a meeting with I was pleasantly surprised to try though she was advised learn that she had released a Catholic hymn writer Bernadette Farrell. to do both! whole album of the psalms Leonard Cohen didn’t set to music. Jewish heritage figured, this ous (presumably negative) change his name either and Like Miriam Camerini, time in the story of Eli Apt, a relationships with fathers. right to the end his Jewish Hindu novelist Amish Trip- 90-year-old Jewish man who A young woman had gone heritage was important to athi found himself stranded escaped from Nazi Germany from banking to Buddhism him. For his last album before away from home, this time as a child on the Kindertrans- after a traumatic incident his death he got the cantor in London. He was conscious port. Now he was celebrat- when, like John McCarthy, and choir from the synagogue ing his blessings by doing a RTÉ Radio 1’s The Leap of Faith revealed that the Jewish of the ups and downs of life she was held hostage. Finally in Montreal where he had parachute jump for a Jewish heritage of Leonard Cohen was important to him. and told of how, after being there was a story about his own bar mitzvah to sing charity. an atheist for a while, to the encouraging young Asian on the title track You Want The show didn’t avoid treal also figured in a new to learn new things and look displeasure of his parents, he children and their families It Darker with its haunting controversy as one item was series on BBC World Service, to internal resources. She had come back to his religious to attend their local football refrain “I’m ready Lord”. a celebration of women’s also on Friday. Former Leba- said times of crisis could lead faith when he was writing his matches without fearing rac- non hostage and journalist to two reactions – either to first novel. ordination in the Anglican ist abuse. Allusions John McCarthy presented close up or to open up to new Church, including related pro- It was strange, even nos- Of course, Cohen’s influences Reflections on Faith in a life and certainly she favoured New series tests, scenes of a female Vicar and related allusions ranged Global Crisis and one of those the latter. Another new series started encouraging people to pray talgic, to see the crowded far and wide from Judaism he interviewed was Miriam Christian pastor Jessie on BBC1 last Sunday. The to God as ‘she’ and a fashion football stadium in pre-coro- to Buddhism to Christianity Camerini, a trainee rabbi from Woods and his wife Jessica first episode of Sunday Sto- show highlighting stylish navirus days. – for example, he co-wrote Italy who has been stranded had parishes both in Arizona ries featured several per- garb for female clerics. i [email protected], the beautiful Song of Berna- in Canada during lockdown. and across the border in Mex- sonal stories to illustrate the We saw a young man, a @boreganmedia dette with Jennifer Warnes She said it was “not a ico and, like so many, they theme of courage. They were reformed criminal, doing a and duetted with her on the happy experience” to be cut were learning to do streaming previously broadcast items, theology degree and welcom- intriguing Joan of Arc. off from the rituals of her services online. They regarded gathered as an uplift in the ing the idea of God as Father Jewish heritage in Mon- Faith, but it was also a time the local church as “a gift of present circumstances. Again – helping to eradicate previ-
Music Pat O’Kelly The prolific Stanford earns his place in RTÉ’s digital world Lots of restaurants (that are not traditionally take- and blowing out the candles You could also ask a I am grateful for a recent email tially produced in a German The Wexford staging on Octo- “singing her principle aria, studied initially at the Royal away) are doing home delivery, so why not bring few of her girlfriends to record and send you some from Dr Una Hunt telling me translation at Hanover’s ber 28, 2019 was the first in There’s a bower of roses, with Irish Academy of Music before the restaurant to her on her birthday. Make sure you happy birthday video messages that you can make that Charles Villiers Stanford’s Hoftheater on February 6, its original English. great nuance and depth.” entering Queen’s College, dress the table with candles and your nice cutlery a compilation of. If you’re not techy you can use opera The Veiled Prophet [of 1881. Reviewing it, The Musi- That performance was John Molloy and Gavan Cambridge in 1870. He moved and china! Spend some time honouring all a service such as tribute to help you put the Khurassan] is now available to cal Times reported that Stan- critically well received with Ring were honourably to London’s Trinity College the positives from the last year of her life, clips together. view on the RTÉ Player. ford “has come before the Opera News referring to Stan- favoured with the former’s three years later and under- thinking of things you are thankful for If your wife is a fan of a particular The recording was made world in a new light as the ford’s “sense of structure and “true bass voice produced and happy memories. It would be great actor or celebrity, the website CAMEO took further study in Leipzig t’s hard to believe that this is something that at last year’s Wexford Fes- composer of grand opera, a his ear for orchestration being with seeming effortlessness” and Berlin. to get the kids involved in this bit too. allows you to search for specific tival when David Brophy work of greater importance very strong”. people started talking about when Mother’s Day and the latter giving “equal He was appointed pro- If you want to get lots of her friends actors, sports stars and musicians conducted its single perfor- than has hitherto appeared The cast was also highly fell just as restrictions began. From birthdays pleasure”. fessor of composition at the together, apps like Zoom, House-party who can do a personalised birthday mance. from his pen”. praised with Operawire men- Conductor David Brophy to baptisms there are so many important newly founded Royal College and messenger rooms are a great message for her. For whatever gift you Excepting Polish baritone Interestingly, Stanford tioning Simon Mechlieski’s was singled out for “ener- celebrations that have been put off or delayed. Of of Music in London in 1883 way of getting lots of people together are planning on buying make sure to Simon Mechlieski as the based the opera on Thomas “accenting and colouring the getically driving the drama course this is really difficult, yet the funny thing is and held the chair of music online. Lots of apps allow you to play order it well in advance as most providers prophet, the cast was princi- Moore’s famous poetical Ori- vocal line skilfully to bring forward and successfully the advice I will give you much of it would be the delivery times are slower than usual. fun games too. If you think she might fancy pally Irish. The producer was ental romance, Lalla Rookh, out the power and charisma contrasting the large scale at Cambridge from 1887. His same whether we were in lock-down or not. The something a bit more low key, after your dinner Why not also make plans for when the the ubiquitous Una Hunt. with its name taken from of the prophet Mokanna”. choral [Wexford and TU Dub- pupils included Vaughan most important thing is showing your wife you why not organise a spa at home evening, you can get restrictions are easing - you can print off an IOU for She has undertaken the heroine of the story, the There were plaudits, too, lin Conservatoire choruses] Williams, Gustav Holst and love her and making her feel appreciated, and of the bubble bath and candles ready. You could order a dinner or other activity to do, please God before invaluable research into for- daughter of the 17th-Century for Sinéad Campbell Wal- and orchestral pieces with John Ireland. Quite a prolific course celebrating this past year of her life with you online a nice face mask, scented candles and bath the summer is over. Charles Villiers Stanford. gotten Irish composers, not Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. lace’s “truly excellent” and the small-scale chamber- composer, Stanford made a and your family. The best way to do this is not by salts to really help her relax. If you took even some of this advice, I am pretty least Limerick-born George Hunt has double doctorates Strangely, The Veiled “emotionally expressive per- music-like qualities of other very significant contribution spending lots of money, it’s about spending time an Be sure to involve other family members by sure that this birthday would turn out to be one Osborne (1806-1893). Her CD in music with her PhD from Prophet, set in Persia, was formance” as priestess Zelica. sections”. to the music of the Anglican effort, putting thought into the card you write, the setting up a group video call, It might be nice to of her best yet! And remember, one thing that no of his piano music is available Maynooth and DMus from not seen at Covent Garden The reviewer found Mairéad Charles Villiers Stanford Church. He is buried beside cake you might make with the kids and the time you present the birthday cake during this call and mother will ever be disappointed with is a lie-on on the RTÉ Lyric FM label. Queen’s in Belfast. until 1893 when it was sung Buicke “no less impressive” (1852-1924) was born in the revered Henry Purcell in give her to herself on the day to rest and relax. everyone can enjoy the obligatory happy birthday and a quiet breakfast in bed! Performer and academic, Una Stanford’s opera was ini- in Italian as Il profeta velato. as slave-girl Fatima and for Dublin’s Herbert Street. He Westminster Abbey. 36 | Reviews || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020
BookReviews Peter Costello
The Pope’s empathy Two views of the plague – for ‘the City and the World’ in a time of from Dublin and S global pandemic
Strong in the Face of Tribulation: The Church From Rome in Communion, A Sure how they can attain the expurga- Support in Time of Trial, tion of their sins while the con- compiled and edited fessionals are closed. These pages by the Dicastery for alone are of great value. Communication of the The third part records the Holy See words on the present predica- (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, ment of humanity since the end gratis, by download of February. These texts are not from the website of the in any way finalised, but will be publishing house, in pdf undated and revised at time goes format; currently available in on, so the book ought to be revis- English, Italian, Spanish and ited later on. French) It is above all a record of the Peter Costello most moving ceremony in St Peter’s which engaged the world, he scene on Friday, with the Pope, his own frailties March 27 in St Peter’s of age undisguised, seeming in a Square when the Pope way to carry on his shoulders the Tgave the blessing to troubles, the real troubles, of the the city of Rome and the world world. at large, was in an eerily empty One would not like to see the space, where normally on great need again for such a thing. But Church occasions the space is many will like to have this record packed with worshipers and to look back and evidence as the pilgrims, was one of the most deep empathy for the afflicted of strangely moving presentations Pope Francis. on television in recent decades. Echo Helpful thoughts and advice in a time of plague and f Countless millions were pre- sent in spirit in that silent, rain- ‘An Extraordinary Prayer in the Coping with From Dublin practical advice on what like this, we cannot let the washed space. Time of Pandemic’ was a sombre Coronavirus: How to to do if we think we might problems of today blind The rituals, prayers and homi- echo of an announcement by Ital- Stay Calm and Protect and unconcerned. have the virus. us to the possibilities of lies reflect the Pope reaching out ian officials minutes earlier that your Mental Health. A I don’t think that there The author suggests tomorrow. Small actions to the world in this terrible time day that the coronavirus death Psychological Toolkit are too many who feel like that we spend no more hold the key. In that spirit, for many countries and countless toll in the country had surged by Dr Brendan Kelly that now. Reality has set in. than 15 minutes twice a if you have been reading families and individuals. past 9,000 in total. (Irish Academic Press, Dr Brendan Kelly is day, once in the morning this book on a computer, What it is today in the US, €3.99 pb; Kindle price, Professor of Psychiatry at and once in the evening, tablet or smartphone, He is a true pastor, reaching €0.99) out to sustain and fortify the now the worst-affected country Trinity College Dublin and consuming news on the please wipe down your afflicted in a time of woe. in the world, is unclear as the Anthony Redmond Consultant Psychiatrist subject from reliable device and wash your victims seem not all to have been at Tallaght University sources like the WHO. hands with care. Simple The US is filled assessed or counted properly. I am sure I speak for Hospital. He has produced actions save lives.” That country is filled with a lot of people when I a timely and wonderful One is struck I was about 20 years old with❛❛ mourning, but its mourning, but its people have not say that I feel as if I am book offering us advice ❛❛ when I read The Plague yet realised the true scale of the living through a strange, on how to stay calm by the sheer [La Peste] by Albert Camus people have not yet nation’s loss over recent months. bizarre nightmare when and maintain a sense of goodness of people” and I recall the profound realised the true scale It is set now at over 73,000 I contemplate what has proportion and rationality impression it made on me. deaths, but will go higher. happened over the past at this troubling time. He We are also advised to Camus’ powerful novel of the nation’s loss over A unit of the White House staff few months with the writes with compassion, have a healthy diet, good appeared in 1947 and it predicts many more Americans arrival of the coronavirus wisdom, concern and sleep, exercise and to find was set in the Algerian city recent months” falling ill, 3,000 a day dying, by in our world. It has shaken a sense of reason and an interesting activity that of Oran. Everyone is wrapped in his June 1. all my certainties and proportion. absorbs us. He writes: “The Camus described the sense of charity, and warmed by Total deaths at the end, when- everything I took for He tells us to stay urgency of the current disbelief and indifference the blessing his imparts in the ever it comes, may be well over granted in my life. informed about Covid- pandemic underlines of the people there when name of Jesus Christ. Many will 200,000. Very few people alive 19, but not to become these needs first they heard about the be grateful to have this record, Imparting his traditional today have ever known completely obsessed with to focus plague. He goes for much that is in it will come to blessing ‘to the City and the anything quite like it and, it. He asks us not to fall on reality, on to describe in remind and reward them by re- World’, Pope Francis embraced in many cases, we are into unhelpful thinking focus on detail the terrible reading in years to come. the world in its pain. As Vicar gripped by fear and anxiety habits. He warns us not compassion consequences that This is a substantial enough of Christ he demonstrated that and total confusion about to fill in knowledge gaps and focus followed and the book, running to over 180 pages. the Saviour’s role was to suffer, the future. Of course, with speculation or on each different reactions It is in three parts. It provides a and not to live to reign in earthly when this all started some random musings on social other.” of different people. record of the prayers and ceremo- power. Love in all its aspects rep- months ago, I met people media. God knows, there He The plague finally nies for separate needs. The sec- resents the true values of Jesus who told me not to be are numerous conspiracy continues: ends and hope and ond part explains how people, at and Christians today. worried, that it was no theories and myths about “Above all, peace are restored. a time when churches are closed, For many, indeed for those worse than the common and some of them quite we must The main can express and feel a sense of millions mentioned above, any- cold or possibly the flu. hair-raising. keep going. character in the communion with God and others, thing else is a negation of Faith. They seemed quite blasé This book offers us At a time book, Dr Bernard The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020 | Reviews ||37
Readers should note that The Irish Catholic circulates throughout the island of Ireland and the book prices listed are the retail price recommended by the Irish or British publishers, in either euros or sterling, as a general indication of what purchasers may expect to pay. The saintly suffering he plague – of Flannery O’Connor om Dublin and St Peter’s
Pope Francis: alone and fragile. houghts and advice in a time of plague and fear Rieux, says: “There is more Britain for a coronavirus serious health issues cannot to admire in man than to vaccine. be ignored, but I fear that despise.” I think of those Researchers from the this is happening at the words when I see the truly University of Oxford moment. Those who are ill extraordinary courage, administered the doses to from other health conditions Flannery O’Connor. unselfishness and self- volunteers. The Imperial cannot be ignored. The Abbess of Andalusia: Flannery With her novels, short stories and sacrifice of those amazing College London is hoping to Another thing that strikes essays, Flannery became one of the most people on the frontline have a vaccine by the end of me as ridiculous is the fact O’Connor’s Spiritual Journey by Lorraine V. Murray distinguished writers of her time. She won helping others, nurses, the year. that people can come from (St Benedict Press, Charlotte NC; Kindle- prestigious awards and prizes. doctors, care workers in One is constantly struck Northern Ireland here on edition, £7.46 through Amazon UK) Her writing was impregnated by Catholic nursing homes, ambulance by the sheer goodness of a day trip or go to their doctrine, such as that on sin and damnation staff and many more. people. This terrible time holiday home and there are J. Anthony Gaughan and on mercy and redemption. Hence, she God bless them. No words has made us seriously reflect no restrictions on this, but ❛❛ Many people are finding the restrictions was named by the literati the doyen of the ❛❛ can adequately praise their on life and examine our we in the Republic may only caused by Covid-19 somewhat tiresome. In Catholic novel. heroism and dedication. values. It will give us a new walk a maximum of five these circumstances it would be difficult to The world will never forget appreciation of life and our kilometres from our home. recommend a more appropriate read that them. I think of all those loved ones. Utterly crazy! this biography of Flannery O’Connor. The Her extant letters indicate kind and caring people who jjjjjjjj I would highly distinguished American writer coped with that❛❛ she read widely...and acted are raising money to help My wonderful sister, Mary, recommend Dr Kelly’s and turned to her advantage a lockdown few the care workers and to buy who has underlying health helpful book which helps others will ever experience. as a sage spiritual adviser to medical equipment for them. issues, has kept me company us to deal with panic and In 1950, at the age of 25, Flannery first many of those with whom she A 99-year-old British during the isolation, and anxiety. He says: “This book became aware of the symptoms of lupus, an World War II veteran, my good friend, Luca, has is dedicated to all who are incurable disease which wreaks havoc on the corresponded” Captain Tom Moore, walked brought me groceries every affected by coronavirus body’s immune system, resulting in damage 100 laps of his 25m garden week. and all who care for them. to the joints, skin and organs. Not long But this appropriately entitled biography with the help of a walking When this worrying time Royalties from the sale of afterwards she needed crutches to walk. shows that she was much more than a well- frame and he raised €31m is over, there will be awful this book will be donated to She left Connecticut, where she had begun known author. Her extant letters indicate for health workers. grief and deep sadness for medical charities assisting a writing career, and returned home to live that she read widely – ranging from the An eight-year-old boy those who have died and with the global response to with her widowed mother. Home was a works of St Thomas Aquinas to the journals from Co. Galway, Dylan we shall celebrate their lives coronavirus.” small two-story house with a 500-acre farm, of St Thérèse of Lisieux – and acted as a Moran, took part in a 42km and have a chance to try to We desperately need to named ‘Andalusia’, near Milledgeville in sage spiritual adviser to many of those with cycle marathon while staying console their loved ones. avoid despair and a sense of Georgia. Here she spent a well-nigh monastic whom she corresponded. within his two kilometre This isn’t something we can nihilism and helplessness. existence. Flannery died on August 3, 1964 though permitted radius to raise simply bounce back from. It is important to keep hope She began each day by attending Mass, not before exhibiting during the final months money for healthcare staff. A I also think that it is and positivity alive. With then spent two hours at her desk and in the of her illness an edifying appreciation of the number of very brave people vitally important that God’s help we shall smile afternoon corresponding with a wide circle redemptive value of infirmity, pain and death have agreed to be injected existing medical problems and experience joy, freedom of friends. itself. as part of human trials in should be dealt with. Other and peace again. 38 | Classifieds || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020
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Crossword Junior Gordius 323332 Crossword Gordius 446455 Please pray for the beatification of 1234567
Little Nellie 89 of Holy God 10 11 12
“May God enrich with every blessing all those 13 14 who recommend frequent Communion to little boys and girls proposing Nellie as their model” 15 16 17 – Pope St Pius X, June 4, 1912 18
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When you remember It’s easy to get started, and we’ll help you every step of the way. Trócaire in your Call Grace Kelly on 01 629 3333, email [email protected] Will, you bring hope or write to me at Trócaire, to people living in Maynooth, Co Kildare. Last week’s Hard 331 the world’s One day, parents and their children will tell the story poorest places of how your legacy of love changed their lives. Thank you for considering a gift to Trócaire in your Will. 40 | Comment || The Irish Catholic, May 14, 2020
Notebook Fr Conor McDonough Keep calm and Let the Spirit adorn our souls with patience keep smiling! One way to work on our virtue “PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE, get closed? How long more will public underlined. The greatest example is to meditate on role models. it if you can, seldom in a woman, Masses be suspended? How long is of course Christ’s patient During these days, many people never in a man.” One of my more will we have to limit our endurance of the Cross for the sake have been thinking back to the earliest memories is hearing my socialising and our movements? of our salvation. Second World War, for example. grandmother recite this proverb. In the last week I’ve noticed many As his followers, the early Those years saw millions of I’m not sure what impatience on people who had been dealing with Christians knew they too were people quietly and calmly my part warranted this correction, this new situation in a sensible called to patience. St Paul, for enduring the absence of their and I’m not sure it had much effect and peaceable way suddenly example, reminds the Corinthians loved ones, as well as dietary either! giving in to irritation and venting. that true love is patient, he tells limitations and a loss of freedom What does patience mean, and These reactions are entirely the Thessalonians to be “patient to travel. is it really a virtue? Traditionally understandable, but we should with everyone”, and to the For many, the song that has it refers to the ability, built up remember that patience is persecuted Roman Christians he helped connect them with that by practice, to endure with one of the virtues that should advises “patience in tribulation”. brave generation is Vera Lynn’s unavoidable suffering as you characterise a Christian, and mark The Christians in Colossae We’ll Meet Again: “We’ll meet wait for something good. It us out from the impatient world. should wear the virtue of patience again/don’t know where/don’t means refusing to focus on your like “clothing”, said Paul. He know when [...]/Keep smiling sufferings, and instead keeping History reminded the Galatians that through/Just like you always your heart set on the good thing The history of our spiritual patience is a fruit of the Holy bread, and smiling through the do/’till the blue skies drive the you’re waiting for, whether it’s an ancestors, the people of Israel, Spirit, and he called the Church wait. An impatient person will dark clouds far away”. apple pie or the end of a prison is full of periods when patience in Ephesus to “bear with one start complaining, not shortening It’s a beautiful monument to sentence (or, in a case of truly was a key virtue. Just think of the another” patiently. the queue, of course, but taking the patience of the World War heroic patience, Mayo winning the Exile, when, for some five decades, We Christians are suffering, everyone else with her into a II generation, whose virtue is Sam Maguire). the Jews had to live in Babylon, along with everyone else, and our spiral of misery. worth emulating in our time. far from their beloved city of suffering is multiplied by our exile Patience isn’t, of course, a Keep smiling through... Futile matter of being totally passive or Jerusalem and its temple. At the from the sacraments and common If we fail to cultivate patience apathetic. If there’s something beginning of the Exile, when some worship. But we shouldn’t waste we find that we give in quickly reasonable we can do to end our self-proclaimed prophets were our time with futile complaints, in 2 0 to complaining, which is usually suffering, then we should do it. provoking false hopes of a speedy conversation or on social media. entirely futile. Think of a group We’re not masochists. But when return, the prophet Jeremiah This time of exile is an of people waiting in line in a nothing can be done, the virtue of wrote a letter to the exiles opportunity for us to wait quietly bakery. Simply standing there patience is what we need. encouraging them instead to wait and to let the Spirit adorn our is tiresome, it involves a certain At this stage of the coronavirus quietly, to accept the plans of God, souls with the beautiful virtue of suffering. A patient person will pandemic, the limits of our and to flourish even in exile. patience as we fix our hearts on deal with the situation by setting patience are being tested. How In the New Testament too the the good things our good God has her heart on the goodness of the long more will our churches be virtue of patience is constantly in store for us.
HELP TRAIN A YOUNG MAN FOR THE MISSIONARY MISSIONARIES PRIESTHOOD NEED YOUR MASS YOUR EASTERTIDE GIFT TO OUR RISEN SAVIOUR OFFERINGS Your Mass offerings help to Each year THE LITTLE WAY ASSOCIATION receives numerous requests from Religious Orders in mission provide the missionary lands for help to train their seminarians. priest’s maintenance and assist him to extend the The Little Way It costs approximately €100 a month Kingdom of God upon earth. Association (€1,200 a year) to feed, clothe and educate We like to send a a student for the priesthood missionary a minimum of €6 or more for each Mass. Crossed POs and cheques should be sent and made payable to: The great majority of young men who come forward to offer their lives to God, and His people, come from THE LITTLE WAY ASSOCIATION poor families. Their parents do not have the means to WELLS NEEDED Sacred Heart House, 119 Cedars Rd, Clapham Common, London SW4 0PR support them financially. The cost of educating and (Registered Charity No. 235703) Tel 0044 20 76 22 0466 maintaining seminarians is often a heavy burden on Missionaries constantly www.littlewayassociation.com the Religious Orders. It costs approximately €100 a appeal to The Little Way for I enclose €...... to be allocated to: month (€1,200 a year) to feed, clothe and educate a funds to sink wells in order to To donate online go to provide clean water, the lack €...... TRAINING FORTHE PRIESTHOOD tinyurl.com/lwadonations student for the priesthood. We appeal wholeheartedly, €...... NEEDS OF MISSIONARIES this Easter/Pentecost, to all readers to help train and of which causes much illness €...... MASS OFFERINGS support a candidate for the priesthood. and many medical needs. On (Please state number ______) DONATIONS FOR THE average, women in Africa and €...... WELLS AND CLEAN WATER MISSIONS ARE SENT WITHOUT DEDUCTION FOR ANY Asia walk around three hours €...... LITTLE WAY ADMIN EXPENSES Any donation you can send will be most EXPENSES. gratefully received, and will be sent every day to fetch water, Please tick if you would like an acknowledgement often in scorching heat. without deduction, to help to train a Name (Rev. Mr. Mrs. Miss) (Block letters please) young man for the priesthood. Can you help provide a well? Address EVERY EURO YOU SEND WILL BE VERY Your kind gift will be forwarded GRATEFULLY RECEIVED AND FORWARDED intact and gratefully received. IC/05/14 WITHOUT DEDUCTION.