tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62011259984516365832024-02-17T08:48:35.198+00:00Tired of all the Bad NewsFr. Bryan Shortall ofm.capuchinBryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-49544617347050524822024-01-07T12:30:00.001+00:002024-01-07T12:30:41.361+00:00Christ be our Light<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">I wrote books trying to find positivity out there; “Tired of
all the Bad News” and Sending Positive Vibes.” I hope I live in the real world
enough to realise that of course life is not all sunshine and happiness. For
many, life can be a nightmare day and night and their only consolation is the
help of good people. Let us not forget that there are good people in our
families and our communities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Taking into consideration the positives which we have got to
believe in, there is a lot of work to do and right now, the world is enduring
more and more bad news, and we see it on our phones and tablets minute by
minute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We live our lives now via the various social media platforms
hypnotised by scrolling and bouncing from one social media platform to the other.
The content, live and in colour, is how we spent our day or night, holiday
destinations, travel, what we’ve had for breakfast, or lunch, or brunch, or
dinner, or what kind of coffee, or spice box, or alcoholic beverage. Our
families and circles of friends make memories via the pages of social media,
and we don’t have to wait for the photo to develop in the chemist or for the
wedding album to arrive in the post or mail anymore. Today, photos of the happy
couple, married in Clare or Donegal, can be seen in Sydney in seconds. In fact,
you don’t have to even go to the wedding or dress-up, the ceremony can be live
streamed. And does anyone wear their ‘Sunday best’ anymore? Sunday is just
another day for work, and commerce, and business now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Is it just me or is there an increase in anger and
aggression? Social media can also be a place where there is a deficit of
kindness. St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1Cor 13:6) gives us a
timely reminder that “love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, but
delights in the truth…” At a time where some people like to highlight kindness
and “Be Kind” they need to learn that receiving kindness also means giving it. Social
media is dripping with people rejoicing in seeing other people’s mistakes and
the more public the better. “Tabloid Journalism” was wall-to-wall from the 60’s
to the 90’s and the quest for the money shot came to a head when Diana,
Princess of Wales, was killed in the tunnel in Paris in 1997 following a high-speed
chase involving moped-riding paparazzi looking for another photo. If it was
wall to wall then, it is viral today on our phones, and tablets thanks to power
of Wi-Fi and 5G. Many love to see people fall on their backsides so-to-speak
all over the pages of our social media and the more well-known the better. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As priests - some of us have been accused of 'guaranteeing heaven' to all
who have died. Funeral Masses can be more and more celebratory, and we seem to
play down the sincere prayer for God to have mercy on the soul of the one who
has died. We say, “forever in our hearts” and “we will remember” and as the
time passes perhaps, we visit the graveside of our loved one less-and-less. As
I heard a priest say not too long ago, eventually we all die, what happens
then? Who will remember our loved ones then unless its someone who doesn’t die
– Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With the preaching of mercy and forgiveness, some priests
have been accused of losing sight of the tension in human nature that sin
brings and the need of reconciliation with God. People need to say they are sorry,
and from our earliest years we are taught the difference between right and
wrong, and we are taught not to be bold. We are called to be confident in God’s
forgiveness because (a) Jesus constantly reminded us of it in the gospel but
also (b) because an encounter with Jesus pushes us to change our lives for the
better. Below is a reminder of the mercy of Jesus and his willingness to reach
out to the marginalised. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Matthew 18:22 – Forgive your brother not seven times but seventy-seven
times. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 8:1-11 the woman caught in adultery. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke 19:1-10 The story of Zacchaeus <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">John 4 the Samaritan Woman at the Well <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Luke 23:39-43 The repentant thief on the cross<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The fight between good and evil is real from the everyday
choices we make between putting ‘me’ first instead of putting others first. The
happiest people are those who put others first in their lives. Archbishop
Fulton Sheen said, “Virtue preserves youthfulness better than all the pomades
of Elizabeth Arden.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">There is more sinister evil out there which we all see today,
and it represents selfishness and destruction on a grand scale. This is the
work of Satan, the devil and he loves to see war and ultra-violence which
results in mass and indiscriminate killing, especially the innocent ones. Pope
Francis wrote on X (formerly Twitter) “Let us continue to pray for people who
suffer because of war; the martyred Ukrainian people, the Palestinian and
Israeli peoples, the Sudanese people, the martyred Rohingya, and many others…”
In these and other places where innocent people suffer because of a corrupt
regime, or because one side wants to oppress the other with any means at their
disposal and no matter what the cost, this is the work of the devil.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The devil loves to see us fail and flounder and he rejoices
when we panic. He feeds off all our fears and phobias and continues to tell us
that we’re no good, that we are useless and that we are ugly on the inside and
on the outside. He is a liar and the “father of lies” and a murderer and
thrives in chaos and wishes to keep us apart rather than together. The devil
pulls the strings of governments who wish to stand on the necks of the poor and
roll into other sovereign countries for their own corrupt ends. The devil wants
to take us away from Jesus Christ the Lord of all life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Only recently, Pope Francis, during the final general
audience of the year on Dec 27<sup>th</sup>, 2023, said; “One must never
dialogue, brothers, and sisters, with the devil. Never! You should never argue.
Jesus never dialogued with the devil; He cast him out…” “Be careful, the devil
is a seducer. Never dialogue with him, because he is smarter than all of us and
he will make us pay for it. When temptation comes, never dialogue. Close the
door, close the window, close your heart…” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let us tune into Christ in this new year. Let us give prime
time to ways to draw close to Jesus who was born into the human story in
Bethlehem which bears massive scars today because of war and violence. Let us
turn again to Jesus Christ, the only One to divide time from BC to AD and can
help us build bridges of unity and peace. Let us see what we have in common. Let
us be kind. Let us lift each other up and put each other first. Let us dry the
tears of all who weep. Let us invite Christ, the light of the world to bring
light to the darkness of war and hopelessness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-15956503486700313092023-06-14T12:56:00.004+01:002023-06-14T12:56:58.567+01:00Why do the wicked prosper and we who are kind, suffer? <p><span style="text-align: justify;">I receive many messages and
prayer requests through social media asking for intercession for special
intentions. They are all heartfelt and sincere and many are urgent. Some people
are suffering huge challenges in their lives, and they worry about loved ones,
and local, national, and international crises.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Do you ever feel like you are at
the end of your tether and that you wish that the difficulties and challenges would
stop? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I met two people recently who
came to me for blessings, and they are praying that the onslaught of
difficulties, complications, and painful challenges will end. For them it seemed
to be going on and on. Just when we heal there’s a set-back and it takes a
monumental effort to begin again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A woman asked me on a social media message “Is
it selfish for me needing a break, I’m worn out with a difficult family
situation.” The simple answer is no, it is not selfish at all, and it may well
be exactly what she needs. Another, in tears with challenges in work who sees
others being rewarded for bad behaviour while she feels she is punished and
ridiculed for her adherence to best practice and honesty. “When will this ever
end?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Read the Book of Job in the Old Testament
and see how it seems Job, a faithful servant of God, suffering terribly, has
reached his limit and calls out to God in his suffering, exasperation, and exhaustion.
He asks; “why do the wicked often go unpunished?” Why who do bad people prosper
and those who are righteous suffer? It is a question for the ages. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>‘Why do the wicked live on,
reach old age, and grow mighty in power? Their children are established in their
presence, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from
fear, and no rod of God is upon them. Their bulls breed without fail, and their
cow claves and never miscarries…’<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">(Job 21: 7-10)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But things change for the better. Gold is tested in fire. The pruned plant bears the best fruit.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We’ve got to trust that things
are about to change, and that God will make all things new for us. Jesus
suffered misunderstanding, abuse, lies, and violence, and he was mocked, scourged,
and crucified. He understands the heartfelt need for justice. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Trust me, your luck will change.
Night is darkest just before the dawn. ‘Don’t give up, one minute before the
miracle happens.’ Believe. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-91307627728085935372023-06-04T15:21:00.003+01:002023-06-04T15:23:43.877+01:00Encounter with a holy spirit<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I met an extraordinary woman the other day. I received a
phone call asking me about a blessing with the Padre Pio Glove. “Would you be
able to come to my home, I am unable to come to you?” I said that would be
fine, and since she lived in Dublin it was very convenient.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I called to her house the other evening in an area I know
fairly well, and I parked the car around the corner from the house. She came to
the door, and I was met with a cheerful smile and a real ceád míle fáilte. We
went into the back room, the kitchen and she sat, and we chatted. I was struck
by her welcome and by the fact that she was really delighted and grateful I
called. It was very evident that here was someone who had a hope and a real joy
deep down. As we chatted, she mentioned that while she wasn’t native to Dublin,
she had lived and worked here for a few years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">She told me that she had been battling cancer and was now
receiving palliative care at home. She said “They tell me that the tumors have metastasized,
and they are unable to do anymore. They tell me I have about two to three weeks
left.” She said this without the least bit of fear or sadness. At the same time,
she added that she hopes that she might get longer and is not for throwing in
the towel. She told me she has a great faith in God, in prayer, and in St. Pio.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As we talked, she asked me when my birthday was, and I said
October 17<sup>th</sup> and she mentioned that I was a Libra. It turns out that
we were around the same age, but she was a few months younger than me and that
we would have similar knowledge of the times, the music, and the culture of our
generation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was moved to hear her story
and how positive she is despite the grim outcome. She is not one bit afraid and
indeed accepts the fact that these may be her last months on this earth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I told her of a conversation I had with a friar some years ago
about the signs of the grace of a happy death. He said we do not get the grace
of a happy death until we are dying. I believe she is experiencing this grace
in abundance, and it certainly showed to me the other evening. And this grace is
to be shared and it spills over to all who encounter her, it is for her but it
also benefits others. The grace of a happy death for someone can strengthen our
faith and the faith of all who know them and love them. I bet she strengthens
all who are assisting her in the hospice home care team. I told her how much I
appreciated the time I spent in her company and that this encounter would
fortify me and my own faith. I told her that I would ask people to pray for her
and with a smile and with the light from her bright eyes, she said thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">On this feast of the Most Blessed Trinity, I give thanks for
this meeting with a sister who may soon stand before God, yet I pray she will
get some more time and I pray that her hope and joy will invite many more
people to faith. God is family, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are all
invited to enter into this love. We pray for this sister and for her lively
faith and thank God that she shares it with all of us, even through the pain
and struggle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-81008191380052356942023-01-30T11:12:00.002+00:002023-01-30T11:13:35.415+00:00The Padre Pio Mitten. What happens when it doesn't work out? <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">There is
no doubt about it but the level of devotion to the relics of St. Pio is very
high. Relics are a way to tangibly connect with the saint which helps us to
focus in on the fact that they were real, they lived a human life, and they are
accessible. From the sacred to the secular, many people are interested in being
proximate to someone famous or holy through a relic or a something they owned.
I remember some years ago on the Late Late Show, they brought one of Elvis
Presley’s Rhinestone Jump suits into the studio in a type of glass tank. The
presenter was only allowed to touch it provided he donned two red velvet gloves,
and it was so precious that it didn’t stay long as the studio lights were
deemed too strong for it to be exposed under them but the interest among the
audience was huge.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">Padre Pio
was someone who drew millions over the years because he had a direct line to
God. It is well known that he possessed exceptional gifts like the ability to
be in two places at once, the power to read souls, the ability to be able to
see things before they happened, and he saw the supernatural and regularly met
with the Guardian Angels. However, he couldn’t just turn this off and on.
Sometimes he could see nothing as unless it was revealed to him, it wasn’t
going to happen. But it was the stigmata, the bleeding wounds of Christ
crucified on his hands, feet, and side that intrigued people the most. He
disliked this ‘gift’ as it was these wounds that made him an object of
curiosity and they had people crowding around him day after day. To protect the
bleeding, he wore bandages and fingerless brown mittens on each hand. The
friars changed the mittens each day and Padre Pio was given a fresh pair each morning
and they kept the many worn ones as relics which we have today. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">Of all
the relics of Padre Pio, the mitten is the one that attracts people the most.
For others, especially those who dislike this kind of devotion, it completely
puts them off and they see it as a kind of madness perhaps. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">Over the
years, I have heard of many instances where people have received favours,
healings, and consolation from praying with or a blessing via the Padre Pio
mitten. I am busy each day answering emails, messages on social media, text messages,
and phone calls asking for me to bring the mitten to hospitals or the homes of
someone sick or in difficulty. There is tremendous faith in the prayers of
Padre Pio. Brother Laurence Speight who died in 1998 and who promoted the cause
of Padre Pio used to get fulsome thanks
for his ministry with the mitten of Padre Pio but he would always say; “It’s
not me, it’s their faith.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">But what
happens if it doesn’t work out? I am also aware that for some the healing
wasn’t to be. There are no guarantees unfortunately and Padre Pio always said
that sometimes there may be no healing or solution on this earth. He would
always call people to pray. “Pray, pray, pray.” We are continually called to
faith. It is faith that opens the door to healing and it strengthens us. And of
course Padre Pio is only the conduit if you like. Jesus is the healer, and it
is to Him that Padre Pio always points. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span> </p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-87873151425475680702022-11-14T17:36:00.003+00:002022-11-14T17:36:45.527+00:00Nana and Padre Pio. Remembrance of her and my grandparents during the month of the souls. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Padre Pio of Pietrelcina died early in the morning of September
23</span><sup>rd</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, 1968, and while he was well known and loved by many thousands across
the world, his fame would grow and devotion to him would increase and multiply in
the years after his death. Even while he was alive, people would make the
journey from all parts of Italy to meet him, receive his blessing, and even
book tickets for the sacrament of penance from him. When it was more difficult for
people to make these trips, there were those who travelled across continents in
the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s to come to his Mass in the early hours. Many Irish
have met him would have made the long journey to San Giovanni Rotondo to see
him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While he was alive, and while he didn’t like his image being portrayed,
there were photographs of him being circulated and it was well known that pieces
of his Capuchin habit were being torn and kept as relics. He used to wear the skullcap,
but he had to give it up as they were being stolen even from his head by
over-zealous people. His brown fingerless mittens, used to cover the plasters
over the stigmata were kept as relics after
they were worn once and changed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My mother and father were married in December 1968, and I
came along in October 1969. One afternoon in the Spring of 1969, my mother was
in work in Abbey St in Dublin city centre, an elderly man came to the office with
pictures of this Padre Pio and asking for 2/6d (two and six) in the old money.
My mother hadn’t got it at the time, but he gave her the picture anyway and she
felt badly not to be able to pay the man who she felt sorry for to leave the
office with little money for his work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I was a little boy, my Nana, my mother’s mother, used to
show me her old black-and-white picture of Padre Pio and I remember she would
exclaim that he was a “very holy priest” She had the old traditional image of
the Sacred Heart installed in the sitting room with the little red lamp which
she used to light each day faithfully. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a young lad out playing, on Monday, I would be Superman,
on Tuesday, I would be Batman, on Wednesday, I would be Adam Ant, and on
Thursday, I would dress up as a priest. This make-believe world, long before the
internet and smartphones, kept us kids occupied in school, after school, and at
the weekends. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a teenager I was more into Breakdancing, graffiti art, discos, and I had a couple of girlfriends. We sported Adidas Rom, and baggy jeans which
broke my mother’s heart trying to afford for us. In my mind I was thinking
about priesthood, and I knew some of the priests in our parish who asked me did
I ever think of being a priest? Sunday Mass was the limit of my religious
practice then although I remember I used to pray a lot more as a younger boy.
The seeds of a vocation get sown a long time back in the past. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In 1985 just after my Inter Cert, a brown-habited Capuchin
visited my school and spoke of St. Francis of Assisi and the order he founded.
Then he mentioned Padre Pio. I began to remember my Nana’s fondness for him and
that old black-and-while photo she had in the house in O’Curry Road. He invited
us to a “vocations workshop” which I went along to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The vocations day was in Church St Friary, a church we would
have passed by going to the other granny’s house in Glasnevin on Sundays. I met
a lot of younger friars, full of fun and energy and I must say I was made very
welcome and one of them said he knew I had a vocation to the Capuchin Order
because I asked for a second helping of ice cream at dinner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Time passed and I joined the order and a few years later, I
found myself dressed in the Capuchin habit and linking my Nana’s arm as we
walked up to Dufferin Avenue close to where she lived and where the Irish Office
for Padre Pio was located. We venerated
the mitten of Padre Pio, and she was blessed by it which was an incredible
experience for her since she had such a devotion to him. Over the years as a
Capuchin student friar, I was involved in the organizing of the Padre Pio days
of prayer in Church St with the late Frs. Senan, Angelus, and Barnabas, heroes
of mine in the order, and Eileen Maguire, the Director of the Irish Office for
Padre Pio until 2018. I was in Rome for
the Beatification of Padre Pio in 1999, and for the Canonization of Padre Pio
in 2002. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nana died on February 1<sup>st</sup>, 1991, and I was ordained
priest on June 8<sup>th</sup>, 1997, and today I find myself as the Director of
the Padre Pio Apostolate for the Capuchin Order in Ireland and I imagine that
my Nana had something to do with all this because of her love for Padre Pio. My
mother wonders too that all those years ago when she hadn’t got that ‘two and
six’ to give the old man selling the pictures of Padre Pio, perhaps she gave
much more, to her cost to God and Padre Pio.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV6dEBI7rkvL6Cz8YWP9Kk28fpamQUgwV_PJzIR2Wv7gC7QlJD2JWB0QMkO_X4N_JaYWQD-dTaNlvO6hdNkTTvYs8sLa5Rc2jOYhQanF0zby2DA3PXZruwxRMYTX7dxw6w-p_BcLFaf0m36XkFvhwBdoXZs7Cx5E3CRVXvXaFOs5bYd4Lv664STev/s1080/Screenshot_20221114-162312_Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV6dEBI7rkvL6Cz8YWP9Kk28fpamQUgwV_PJzIR2Wv7gC7QlJD2JWB0QMkO_X4N_JaYWQD-dTaNlvO6hdNkTTvYs8sLa5Rc2jOYhQanF0zby2DA3PXZruwxRMYTX7dxw6w-p_BcLFaf0m36XkFvhwBdoXZs7Cx5E3CRVXvXaFOs5bYd4Lv664STev/s320/Screenshot_20221114-162312_Facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span> </p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-4397954360143129632022-10-03T09:26:00.002+01:002022-10-03T09:26:30.953+01:00XXV<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Most people were sad when they heard the news of the death of
Queen Elizabeth recently. It was one of those “Where were you when you heard?”
moments. The Queen celebrated her silver jubilee in 1977 at a different time in
Anglo-Irish relations. At any rate, she went on to have a golden, diamond, and
platinum jubilee since then. 25, 50, 60, and 70, has come along in our
lifetimes and while 1977 is only 45 years ago, most of us remember it
especially as it was the year of Saturday Night Fever, and Star Wars, and
ABBA’s hugely successful tour of Australia.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s been 25 years since I stood here in this church and
Bishop Jim Moriarity, now passed on, ordained me priest in the presence of many
of you. The theme of his homily was “A priest for the year 2000, a priest for
the new Millennium. The Millennium, the year 2000, we wondered then, didn’t we,
what that might mean as we watched them place the “Time in the Slime.” That was
the clock ticking down to the year 2000, but even the millennium clock couldn’t
survive the waters of the river Liffey! We were worried too about the
millennium bug, and would the computers crash and what would happen to the
planes flying in the skies when the clock struck twelve across the world on Dec
31<sup>st</sup>, 1999, into Jan 1<sup>st</sup>, 2000? A lot of water has flowed
under O’Connell bridge since then. We have had the Euro, 9/11, President Barack
Obama, Queen Elizabeth laying a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance. A pope
resigning, a Latin-American pope who chose a name like no-other in 2000 years. We had Roy
Keane come home from Saipan, and now we wonder will Oasis reform? When I was ordained
priest, Fianna Fail were elected to Government and Leo Varadakar was doing his
Leaving Cert. Who knew that one day that Fianna Fail would be in Government with Fine Gael?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But let us go way back to the ancient ones who walked this
holy ground in the 5<sup>th</sup> century. One of them was a monk called Kevin
who spent his early life and learning and who was ordained to the priesthood
here in this area. Long before Dunnes Stores, or the Community Centre, or the
Cuckoo’s Nest, or the Summer Project, or the Cycle Rally, St. Kevin, captivated
by his love for God and his desire for solitude, left here to cross the
mountains to settle in the monastery of Glendalough.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I could be wrong, but I don’t believe there was another monk
or priest who left this area till I did in September 1987. My going away
followed some summers of breakdancing, and discos, and dates, and some of you
are here, and off I went to the Capuchins and their Franciscan habit and Padre
Pio who had me spellbound, and I really had no idea why at 18 years of age.
Perhaps if I had waited for a few years and not have gone so young, many of you
may not be here, and maybe something else would be happening here today. But I did
join, and for a while it was very tough, and awful leaving my family, and tough
leaving Kilnamanagh, and especially all of you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, the boy from Kilnamanagh grows up to be a priest for the
21<sup>st</sup> century and in the intervening years, I have been a school
chaplain for ten years, a hospital chaplain for three years, and a parish
priest for twelve years but all the while a brother in community in our Cork and
Dublin Capuchin houses. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It all started for the Franciscans, nearly eight centuries
after St. Kevin, when St. Francis of Assisi knelt before a cross in a little
ruined church in down in the valley below the town of Assisi and he was
inspired in his prayers to “Go and repair my church which as you can see is
falling completely into ruin.” He thought of placing blocks and stones on the
broken walls of the church he was kneeling in but soon after his followers, the
first Franciscans came, he learned that it was a different rebuilding programme
God wanted him for; to build up the church using living stones, people. Today,
there are Franciscan brothers and sisters all over the world and the work is as
vital today as it was in Francis’ time, so much so, that our Pope has taken the name
Francis. Our lives revolve around the call to be lesser brothers and sisters to
everyone in fraternity, and prayer to all – especially those most in need, the
poor, the homeless, the refugee, and our mother Earth, our common home – the
environment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The call to serve for me, like the other friars and sisters
and all in ministry, comes from Jesus. He has set a fire in our hearts and
while there are struggles in all our lives, the joy that comes from following
Jesus Christ can radiate so that other see it come through and becomes the
building blocks of a vocation. Vocations are home grown and come in normal ways
and while our world may not understand this, I would argue that priesthood and
religious life prayerfully well lived is crucial for society in the 21<sup>st</sup>
century. I couldn’t do this if I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ
which fuels all that I do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And like everyone, I have my moments, and I have been
supported by you all and you are so important to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have shared happy days and sad days with you
along the way. I have officiated at weddings in your families, I have baptized
your children, and even grandchildren now! I have offered the funeral Mass for
some of your loved ones. In all this and more, I have been the privileged one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I touched on, it hasn’t been easy. A lot has happened in
the church in those intervening years and there has been huge suffering and for
most that suffering is a daily cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Moving is something that we friars and clergy must do every
few years and both we and our people face upheaval when we have to go to new
places. You have a new PP; Fr. Frank arrive here in the summer for example. I have recently
changed from parish ministry after twelve years to a new ministry with Padre
Pio Prayer Groups, and Vocations Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Following the Lockdown and on the back of the years in parish pastoral
ministry and involvement in some diocesan projects, I have been quite tired.
But when the move came, this change hit me pretty hard. Why I am saying this is
for you all to hear that I thank God for each one of you and the friars are
consoled by the friends that God gives us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
friars are called by God to follow Jesus Christ in the way of Francis of Assisi
in the Church of today. He doesn’t leave us alone; he gives us great support.
Yes, there are challenges and sometimes the light is dim, and I wonder where
God is. But in comes people like you – all of you. And Jesus says through all
of you, “I’ve got your back.” “I love you.” “I will not leave you alone.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, mile búiochas…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To friends older and newer, thank you for your love. Even if
I might not see some of you a lot, I know you are there, and I value your
friendship and I ask you to keep in touch and let us meet now and again. For my
part, you are always in my prayers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To the friars, I said this in 2013 when I was 25 years in the
order, I don’t know how you put up with me, I really don’t. I made Perpetual
Profession of Vows in 1994 and that day I said I would be a friar for life. I
hope I won’t let you down. (That’s another reason for celebrating today, the
next milestone for me won’t be till 2038!) I am sorry for being a pain sometimes
and causing you hassle along the way. And I’m sorry for being impatient with
you as well, and sometimes being a big baby. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To the Poor Clare Sisters. I thank you for your prayerful
support from day one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To my family of origin; Dad, Mam, Kevin, Gráinne, David,
Aoife, Lorna, and Clodagh. And now, Tracey, Sam, Louise, Jane, Helen, Peter,
Orlagh, and Ross. To the Aunties Deirdre, Maureen, and Uncle Paddy, and the
cousins, everyone knows what you mean to me. I would wither away if I hadn’t
you, I would die. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-81159639493075256162022-09-04T13:37:00.000+01:002022-09-04T13:37:04.365+01:00Blessed John Paul I<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTkKwB4DJdtfvUId7Fw-08INrhbRFg0S07vyLJfweCruObGycUisydjX4cEjWNGXHUDctBcRTpJ1NBy1BXeXeGAhw_r3yRp7DEb9CydQxl29QzmoJMifyohnT3KFdWMnV4Njwdyk4opwPhEFFsw5_qZeYkTynL0_wMXFW8fc9wixoBmkb_5A-4gyUk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTkKwB4DJdtfvUId7Fw-08INrhbRFg0S07vyLJfweCruObGycUisydjX4cEjWNGXHUDctBcRTpJ1NBy1BXeXeGAhw_r3yRp7DEb9CydQxl29QzmoJMifyohnT3KFdWMnV4Njwdyk4opwPhEFFsw5_qZeYkTynL0_wMXFW8fc9wixoBmkb_5A-4gyUk" width="160" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have some memories of the ‘Year of Three Popes’ It was 1978
and I was in third class primary school in C.B.S. James’s Street. The faith was
practiced more then, churches were fuller, the world was bigger in that there
was no internet, and mobile phone technology. Flying overseas was a something occasional for
most and done via a travel agent in offices in the city, not like today where we
take commuter planes and with the click of a mouse, we can book a holiday. There was no such thing as getting a 'selfie' with the Pope or Tweeting the Pope back then. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The death of Pope Paul VI made the news on our radios and
televisions. There weren’t embedded journalists and 24-hour news channels with
guests taking us through what would be happening in the rooms of the dying pope,
so we had to wait for the hourly bulletins and the main evening news. Pope Paul
died on 6<sup>th</sup> of August 1978 and at his side were his assistants and
on his bedside locker was a Polish alarm clock he kept since he was in the Vatican
Diplomatic service. The late British journalist and author Peter Hebblethwaite said
in his book on Paul VI when the pope was pronounced dead, “The Polish alarm
clock went off…” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, before all that, the cardinals gathered in Rome to mourn
the passing of Paul, now Saint Paul VI, and then to elect a successor. The
conclave took place a little after the funeral of Pope Paul and on 26<sup>th</sup>
of August, the cardinals elected Cardinal Albino Luciani, from the Veneto
region of northern Italy, and Archbishop (or Patriarch) of Venice. He was
apparently horrified to be elected Pope. Publicly, he became known as the ‘Smiling
Pope.’ He had been known for his writings, especially a book known as ‘Illustrissimi’,
a collection of letters to famous people published in the early 1970’s. Some of
these ‘illustrious ones’ were people like Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Pinocchio,
G.K. Chesterton, King David, Jesus, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There were some surprises associated with the election of Albino
Luciani. For the first time, a newly elected Pope took two names: John Paul.
This was in respect of his two immediate predecessors, Pope John XXIII (1958-1963)
and Pope Paul VI (1963-1978) He also dispensed with the formal papal coronation,
instead of being crowned pope, there was now just a simple Mass and ceremony of
installation. His pontificate was among the shortest in papal history for just
33 days later, the pope died on 28<sup>th</sup> of September 1978. Again, the
cardinals had to make their way to Rome for a papal funeral and the election of
a new pope. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I mentioned that I was eight years old when all this happened
and significantly for me, my mother learned that the new pope, Albino Luciani’s
birthday was the 17<sup>th</sup> of October, so I shared a birthday with the
new Pope. I remember her suggesting I write to him to tell him and while I was
curious and interested in doing this, I set about finding out how it could be
done. I don’t remember how far I got in writing to the Pope because as we all
know, John Paul I died so soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As Hebblethwaite reminded us about that Polish alarm clock,
after the funeral of John Paul I the cardinals met in conclave again and Cardinal
Karol Wojtyla, the Archbishop of Krakow was elected on the 16<sup>th</sup> of October
1978 and took the name John Paul II - and the rest is history. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today, in Rome, Pope Francis declared Pope John Paul I ‘the Smiling
Pope’ Blessed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Saints Paul VI and John Paul II, pray for us!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blessed John Paul I, pray for us!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-72332065687834565822022-06-08T11:50:00.005+01:002022-06-08T12:17:52.292+01:00Silver Jubilee<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAFObXeJcbE80B9Qk7nY7AXZiySX1kLvBpOvr6xNajhQvd11BzCfxky3AxdteSeRxuvgkXWShqEejriRxK-ylz4PxRA_c4DRPE2r9qOZYxk8Ur0mfH63De9cApVuRaEVOokYM4HSjpQdnXTmARxfeMAxcEepm0ywl4PLdtKl-y_sWLCeZSeWDmyri/s2497/20220608_115458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="2497" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAFObXeJcbE80B9Qk7nY7AXZiySX1kLvBpOvr6xNajhQvd11BzCfxky3AxdteSeRxuvgkXWShqEejriRxK-ylz4PxRA_c4DRPE2r9qOZYxk8Ur0mfH63De9cApVuRaEVOokYM4HSjpQdnXTmARxfeMAxcEepm0ywl4PLdtKl-y_sWLCeZSeWDmyri/s320/20220608_115458.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br />Thanks
to social media we have no excuse when it comes to remembering birthdays,
anniversaries, occasions, and other celebrations in the lives of friends and family.
We are reminded about these celebrations almost daily on our timelines and if
you are like me, it is a godsend.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Each
year around this time of year I see posts and photos on social media of some ordinations
to the priesthood and anniversaries of ordination. While in the west, the
numbers of priestly ordinations are down, in other parts of the world thankfully
there are more and more ordinations. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and
the religious life and to the Capuchin Franciscans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On
this day 25 years ago, I was ordained to the priesthood in my home parish
church of Saint Kevin’s, Kilnamanagh, I was 27 years old and had been in
training and formation for the previous 10 years. Kilnamanagh is where Saint Kevin
was educated in the monastery there before he crossed over the Dublin mountains
and descended into Glendalough where he established his famous monastery and
centre of learning in the 7<sup>th</sup> century.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">June
8<sup>th</sup>, 1997 was a wonderful day and a day I had dreamed of from day
one in the Capuchins in 1987. There were times along the way that I wondered if
the day would ever come. I felt that the odds were somewhat against me when I
joined because I was the youngest of the other five lads that joined with me. I
thank God for the family I’ve come from and the community I grew up as part of
and while none of us really understood what I was going to do and in fairness
some felt it wasn’t a great idea, everyone was so kind to me and to the family.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Unless
you are someone like me or know me well, you will not really hear much of men
and women going into religious life today. The most famous Catholics are famous
but not to everyone except perhaps for Pope Francis. Even in 1987 when Pope, now
Saint John Paul II was in the Vatican, it was very unusual for someone to “Go
away to be a priest” Looking back, again I say there wasn’t much understanding,
and there were some who said “A waste of a life” however, there was and still
is tremendous, good will. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
have learned so much on the journey in ministries such as school chaplain, hospital
chaplain, and parish priest. I have baptized many babies and a few adults,
given children in the parish schools their First Holy Communion and
administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. I have been honoured to officiate
at many wedding ceremonies of childhood friends and past pupils. I’m at the
stage now where friends I grew up with, went to discos with, and went to school
with are now grandparents. Recently, I gave First Communion to a grand child of
a girl I grew up with. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While
there have been happy times, there have also been sad times and even scary times.
As parish priest I’ve been called to the scenes of accidents of one kind or
another. You are there with other professionals, Gardaí, Ambulance, etc. offering
whatever assistance you can. However, there it is as a priest commending the
soul of the one who has died in whatever difficult circumstance to the mercy of
God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In hospital ministry I have said prayers
for the dying and been called to the emergency department during critical and life-threatening
incidents. I was called to the bedside of a child who was involved in a quad
bike accident and watched the heartbreak of the mother holding him as he died. There
was huge bravery and selflessness when the family gave their child’s organs
that others may have life. I sat for hours all through the night when an elderly
woman kept vigil over her deceased husband who was taken to the hospital from a
cruise ship in the port. The situation was all the sadder as she was far from home
and her family were all hours away and making contact was proving quite
difficult. In these stories and more I can say hand on heart I have stood on
holy ground. Being a priest and being invited to pray for a family in their happy
or profoundly sad moments is like standing on holy ground. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As
Sr. Briege McKenna once said to me, to do all this, one must put “petrol in the
tank” All who are in ministry or in the caring professions and who encounter
critical incidents from time to time need to charge up the batteries. We cannot
give what we haven’t got. Everyone needs to reach out and ask for a little
help. I’m no different in that I have structures, pastoral supervision, and spiritual
direction to guide me as I go along. I need to pray and to be faithful to my
daily Mass, and my prayers, especially the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Rosary.
While I do this, this is also how I pray for others. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
is the secret, the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours and a relationship with
Our Lady which is critical in the life of the priest. This fuels the fire and fans
the flame and it is more than good works and charitable acts. We need
to use another kind of vision, an inner vision, an insight, more than eyesight
which fails over time, so we can see in the dark. Faith is the way we do this,
and faith is passed on from one generation to the next. I simply couldn’t do
this if it weren’t for the faith of my parents, grandparents, and those around
me who love me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We
are fuelled by the holy Word of God in the scriptures and in the gospel, it is
a living and life-giving word which nourishes and strengthens for this life and
for the eternal life. At Mass the bread and wine are changed by the priest into
the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. If they remained just bread and wine, they
stay human and is only useful to satisfy an earthly hunger and that would be
all. But they <i>are</i> changed, they cease to be bread and wine at Mass. They
become the body of Jesus and therefore we have the real presence of Jesus
Christ among us. As the Tantum Ergo says, “Sight is blind before God’s glory,
faith alone may see his face.” At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and blessed
it and broke it and said “This is my body, do this in memory of me. The He took
a cup of wine and he said, “This is my blood, the blood of the new covenant, do
this in memory of me.” We see the presence of Jesus Christ with the eyes of
faith. This is how we priests do what we do, this is the powerhouse, here is how
we minister and bring Christ to others and especially those most in need. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
am grateful to God for these past 25 years – a silver jubilee. I remember those
who have died since then and I keep them in my prayers. For my family, brother
friars, the Poor Clare nuns, and for friends, may God reward you all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
would like to finish this piece with the words of St. Francis of Assisi from
the ‘Letter to the Entire Order, in it St. Francis addresses the friars who
are priests and reminds them of their high calling. Eight hundred years later,
aside from the kind of language that was used at the time, these are still wise
words and images for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> "</o:p></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">See
your" </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">dignity, "friar" (cf 1 Cor 1:26) priests, and be holy, because
He himself is Holy (cf Lv 19:2). And just as beyond all others on account of
this ministry the Lord God has honoured you, so even you are to love, revere,
and honour Him beyond all others. Great miseries and miserable infirmity, when
you hold Him so near and you care for anything else in the whole world. <b>Let the whole of mankind tremble with fear,
let the whole world begin to tremble, and let heaven exult, when there is upon
the Altar in the hand of the priest "Christ,
the Son of the living God" (Jn 11:27)! O admirable height and stupendous
esteem! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity, which the Lord of the
universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself; that for our salvation
hides himself under the little form of bread! See, friars, the humility of God
and "pour out your hearts before
Him" (Ps 61:9); humble even yourselves, so that you may be exalted
by Him (cf 1 Pt 5:6; Jm 4:10). Therefore, hold back nothing of yourselves for
yourselves, so that He may receive you totally, because He gives Himself
totally to you.</b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-66314107190636775712022-04-17T10:54:00.002+01:002022-04-17T11:00:20.132+01:00"We are always expected in heaven."<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">From time to time, Jesus spoke to the disciples about his
death, and they didn’t like to hear it. They also couldn’t understand it. What
is he on about? This talk seemed to happen on the back of great pastoral
successes that he and the disciples had when they went about Judea and Galilee
preaching and proclaiming the word. They witnessed Jesus heal the sick, give
sight to the blind, command the crippled to walk, even raise the dead. They saw
the abuse he got from the established church leadership when he ate with tax
collectors and sinners and even forgave them. For example, when they dragged
the woman caught committing adultery before him and mortified her publicly,
they really were not that interested in her sin. They were more interested in
putting him on the spot. All eyes were on Jesus a lot of the time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">There was huge momentum building in their lives and Jerusalem
and the Passover seemed to be the focal point. When they reached Jerusalem, Jesus
entered in triumph riding on a donkey with people crying<i>; “Hosanna,
blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!”</i> They are spreading
their cloaks before him as well as palm branches and greenery. By the end of
the week, things came to a crashing halt, there was a plot to arrest Jesus and
no one in his company felt safe because one of his apostles, one on the inside
betrayed him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">They all seemed to scatter after Jesus was arrested in the
Garden of Gethsemane. They saw him being led off to be brought before the
Sanhedrin in the early hours of the Friday morning. From there he was tried
before Pontus Pilate, the Roman Governor, Tiberius Caesar’s man in Judea. There
were two prisoners in custody, Barabbas, a well-known troublemaker to the
Romans, someone they would happily do away with, and Jesus. According to a custom, in honour
of the Passover they could call for the pardoning and release of a prisoner.
Much to the anger of the Romans, and despite Jesus being scourged within an
inch of his life, the Sanhedrin called for the release of Barabbas. Pilate had
no choice but to go with the will of the mob calling for the crucifixion of
Jesus.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In the middle east, two thousand years ago, in the hierarchy
of punishments meted out to criminals, crucifixion was the most barbaric,
grotesque, and frightening of all the punishments. The criminal died slowly in
excruciating pain gasping for breath and bleeding profusely. Crucifixion was
also a public act of disgrace to ultimately shame the criminal. They were
nailed to crosses which they had carried and there they died sometimes over days
and the bodies were often left there as a Roman warning; ‘Do not cross us –
this is what will happen to you.’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">When Jesus died, his apostles and his other followers
disappeared in fear and hid themselves away. They tried to get something,
anything by way of information. Their friend, their teacher, their Rabbi was
put to death and while they remember that he had prophesied this, they didn’t
understand, it didn’t click. They were heart broken. They locked themselves
away and they didn’t know what to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">When the Passover was over, early on Sunday morning, women
from their group went with oils and spices to the tomb where the body of Jesus
had been placed. They wanted to properly anoint his badly damaged body and wrap
it up in a clean shroud. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wondered
who would help them roll away the great stone which was placed at the entrance
to the tomb. When they arrived, they met two men in dazzling clothes who said; <i>“Why
do you look among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here, he has risen.
Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee: that the Son of Man had
to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again
on the third day?”</i> They remembered his words. This was stunning news. As
the day went on, they learned that other disciples had had encounters with
Jesus who reminded them of why this had to happen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">As the Risen Jesus emerges from the death and darkness of the
tomb, his followers need to do this too. And the challenge is to leave the tomb
behind them and emerge into the light of the resurrection. Their encounter with
the Risen Lord fortifies their faith and gives them the necessary push to further
witness publicly to the faith. By doing this, they therefore leave the darkness
of their locked rooms and fearlessly come out and stand boldly into the Easter
light. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">As a society, as a church, we have spent three days in the
tomb with Jesus. We too have been hidden and locked into the darkness in a
sense. These three years, the end of 2019, the whole of 2020, and the whole of
2021 and till now, has been like the three days in the tomb with the stone
rolled in place. We have endured restrictions, quarantine, lockdown, and
sickness. We learned words and terminologies like; asymptomatic, close
contacts, contact tracing, community transmission, flatten the curve, hand
washing, herd immunity, incubation, lockdown, masks, pandemic, PPE, quarantine,
self-isolating, social distancing, super spreader, surge, testing,
vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please God it is time to
emerge from this. We see the numbers going down. We give thanks for all who
were at our service during the pandemic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Then Russia invaded Ukraine and the madness of Putin’s war is
destroying this country live on our televisions and on our social media. There
is so much darkness and doom. Ukraine has already suffered enough God knows in
her history, not least in 1986 when the infamous accident happened at the Chernobyl
Nuclear Power Plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daily we learn of
more attacks on Ukraine by an aggressive bully but God willing soon the tanks
will leave for good, and the process of rebuilding can start. On Good Friday,
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Pope Francis’ envoy in Ukraine knelt in prayer at a
mass grave close to Kyiv. He said, “So many dead, as well as a mass grave of at
least 80 people buried without a name or a surname…tears fail to fall and words
do not come, yet thank God, that there is faith. We are in Holy Week – today is
Good Friday when we can unite ourselves to the person of Jesus Christ and go up
with him to the cross. Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Christ will come
soon.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We must not stay in the darkness of an empty tomb. We must
run out into the daylight of the resurrection, and we start now. As St. John
Paul II said; “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.” Let us
journey together to the Kingdom where the Risen Lord Jesus Christ lives. Let us
befriend our ultimate destiny more and more, life with God in heaven. To quote
two young saints; Derry girl, Sr. Clare Crockett (who died in Ecuador on April 16th, 2016) saying good-bye to a friend she said; <i>“Until heaven…”</i> And
Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first Millennial saint, (who died in 2006) said; <i>“Our
goal must be the infinite and not the finite. Infinity is our homeland. We are
always expected in heaven.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Christ is Risen! Alleluia!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-38399363992102258682022-03-27T16:01:00.001+01:002022-03-27T16:01:15.533+01:00There are no borders from space<p><span style="text-align: justify;">The International Space Station
flies across and orbits the planet around fifteen times per day at speeds of 27
thousand kilometres per hour or 17 thousand miles per hour. It was launched in
1998 and it is up there in low-earth orbit conducting scientific research with
a multinational crew of cosmonauts and astronauts. Among other things, it will
help to provide testing spacecraft systems and equipment for future missions to
the Moon and Mars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On clear nights it is possible to
see the space station as it crosses the night sky looking like a bright star.
Amateur and professional photographers and astronomers have pictured it as it
makes its way across countries and continents. The photographs are stunning,
and some pictures show in some detail the football-stadium sized space station
high up in our skies. I have the ISS app on my phone, and it alerts me to the
exact position of the space station in real time and it also shows via a camera
mounted outside the earth below as it passes above. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">From the beginning of the space
programme, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, Astronauts Alan Shephard, and John Glenn and
many other men and women have seen the earth far below as they orbited the
planet. Those who travelled further out like the Apollo Astronauts saw the earth
further away as they went to the Moon. As she reached the edge of our family of
planets, Voyager, launched in 1977 turned her camera back towards earth after
40 plus years flying, and our sun was a tiny light way off in the distance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In 2014, German Astronaut
Alexander Gerst, one of the crew in the ISS, was flying over the region of
Israel and the Gaza Strip and he saw the rocket attacks 400 kilometres below.
He reflected; “We don’t see any borders from space. We just see a unique planet
with a thin, fragile atmosphere, suspended in a vast hostile darkness. From up
here it is crystal clear that on earth we are one humanity, we eventually share
the same fate.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When Canadian Astronaut Chris
Hadfield was in command of the ISS during Expedition 35 in 2013, although he
and the crew had very important work to do during their mission, including an
emergency spacewalk, he treated us to breath taking photos taken from the
cupola of the ISS. His pictures and those of the other astronauts clearly show
us our beautiful, colourful, and fragile world. From the aurora borealis and
the poles, to the oceans and rivers, to the eye of the hurricanes in August,
the world is seen in all its sacred beauty. Thanks to the crew of the ISS,
together with the space agencies, we see sunsets and sunrises, and towns and
city lights at night. Our world is so pretty from the north to south and from
east to west. And it is so tiny compared with other planets, stars, and
galaxies in the heavens. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We need to take care of our
planet. Over the years we have been warned time and again that we must protect
the planet, and we are at a critical juncture now. Down here, we fight for land
and territory and the result is the poor and the weak are far and away the
losers. The terrible war where Russia has invaded Ukraine is affecting us all
but most especially the ordinary Ukrainian women, men, and children who have been bombed,
killed, injured, and displaced. Daily we see the results of massive violence
and how it destroys lives and communities and homes. If this goes on there will
eventually be no winners because we could lose everything. There will be
nothing left.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We human beings form ourselves
into families and communities, but we are called to share and respect what each
one has. High up in space there are no borders. At the end of his Angelus
address from St. Peter’s Square today, Pope Francis warns us that if war
continues and destruction is allowed to rage, we will not have a world to live
in. He says; “Before the danger of self-destruction, may humanity understand
that the moment has come to abolish war, to erase it from human history before
it erases human history.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">All of those killed in this war
and other wars and conflicts were some mother’s daughter or son. Who knows,
they could have been the scientist to bring about a cure for cancer. Each child
has the potential to reach for the stars and how many children has this been
stolen from by the evils of war?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Let us pray for a renewed respect
for each other as citizens of the planet and strive to see what we have in common
rather than what divides us. We have nowhere else to go right now until we
stand before God at the end of our lives. Let us pray for peace. <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-42028195635126819452021-12-25T10:38:00.002+00:002021-12-25T10:38:30.828+00:00Christmas 1981<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">I remember Christmas 1981. We lived in Rialto, and I was in
sixth class in James’s Street CBS. Myself and my brother, Kevin, like a lot of
kids, didn’t particularly like going to school and we walked up the old Grand
canal extension which served the Guinness Barges. The smell of the hops and
barley was pungent in the still foggy air of those dark winter mornings. School
children were like shadows emerging from the mist wearing Snorkel Jackets and sporting
Man Utd and Liverpool school bags over one shoulder. Corporal punishment was
phased out in 1981 and banned by Minister of Education John Boland in 1982. Charlie
Haughey’s Fianna Fail were in Government for half the year and Fine Gael and
Garret Fitzgerald won the General Election in the summer of ’81. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">In January
1982 a biblical amount of snow fell on Ireland which closed the schools for
over a week. Irish life struggled in the snow but we kids were ecstatic. We slid
down the hills on plastic sacks and makeshift sleds and threw basins of water
over the pathway over night for an ice slide in the morning. Its gas now when I
think of it, I worked in schools for 10 years after ordination, and my brother
is a School Principal. Who would’ve thought?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">On Christmas eve, 1981, Santa brought Kevin a Salter Science
set, a Rubick’s Cube and surprises. I was into music and had a turntable and
Santa brought me ‘Prince Charming’ by Adam and the Ants and ‘The Visitors’
Abba’s last studio album until ‘The Voyage’ this year. Our Mother and Father
were younger then than we are now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Parents were mighty people that time. We think of the past
from the prism of today. Its like we had a smart phone in our hands forever.
There was only one telephone in the house and that was on the hall table on the
bottom of the stairs. The television was very manual, and you had to get up off
the couch to change the nine stations. And at the end of the day, the
television closed for the night to the strain of the national anthem. Mam had
to save up as both myself and my sister Grainne were making Confirmation and
Communion in 1982. There were three younger ones, David, and Aoife and Lorna
who were very young. Clodagh didn’t come along till 1985. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Christmas was magical all the same. While we anticipated the
visit of Santa, we went to see him in Crumlin Shopping Centre, but Switzer’s
was <i>the</i> place to go. I think we still have the ‘I’ve seen Santa at Switzer’s’
badge. On Christmas eve, Santa was in great form, and we provided the TK Red
Lemonade and biscuits for himself and a carrot for Rudolph. I’m sure I heard
the clatter of hooves on the roofs of Uppercross Road in the still of the
night. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We went to Mass on Christmas mornings mostly as midnight Mass
was a bit too late for the younger ones. We were all immaculate in our
Christmas gear and early in the afternoon it was off to Nana’s and Granny Greta’s
for our other pressies. We had our dinner later in the afternoon. To think all
six of us were piled into the Mini Traveller, carry cot and all, and off to
Nana’s in Donore Ave and then on to Granny Greta’s in Glasnevin. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a 12-year-old, I didn’t really understand what was going on from a religious point of view. In the church, we visited the crib, and we sang
the Christmas carols and hymns. We children adored baby Jesus, his mother Mary,
and Joseph. I even played the part of a shepherd in a Nativity play when I was
7. I didn’t fully get the importance of how God became a child and came into
the human story but with that childlike innocence we believed. We were moved
that for Mary and Joseph, there was no room at the Inn and so they were
relegated to a farm stable for animals out of the way and in the
background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now see how important it
is to give time and a chance to those who are marginalised. Pope Francis
highlights the plight of migrants and the challenge to welcome them today. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I remember Christmas to be a lovely, kind, generous and holy
time. By watching the sacrifices our parents made, their patience, and the
example our grandparents gave, it actually brings the Christmas story to life
every day of the year. One of the miracles of Christmas is how we learn
generosity and kindness from the people who made us what we are. And this is a
powerful story of hope which crosses generations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Things have changed and we have grown up and my siblings have
children of their own. Technology has exploded and the slower world of 1981 has
become much faster and much smaller. In 1987 when I joined the order, one of
the friars used to wrap Monday’s copy of the Irish Independent and send it out
airmail to the Irish Friars in New Zealand so they could read all the news from
home and especially the GAA results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today, with WhatsApp we can speak to our loved ones in real time on the
other side of the world. The Astronauts on the ISS, the size of Croke Park, can
communicate with us across all time zones as they orbit the earth at 28
thousand Kilometers per hour.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And now, because the world has become smaller, and
intercontinental travel is so easy, disease can move from continent to
continent quickly too. Covid 19 has demonstrated this powerfully in the last
two years. This microscopic virus, they say which is one five hundredth the
size of a full stop has wreaked havoc on our society. God willing, 2022 will
see better times for us all. May our scientists, immunologists, virologists,
medics, nursing staff, and care staff be safe and successful this coming new
year.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a child, I didn’t understand how God came down from
heaven, and with love came into the human story as a little baby and was born
in time. I didn’t understand how Mary and Joseph must have felt. But I
believed. I adored baby Jesus in the crib with my brothers and sisters and all
my friends. Some don’t go to the church that much anymore and that is sad. I
guess it is what it is. But unless one is made of stone, you can’t fail to be
moved by the beautiful innocence of a little baby as she or he looks up
helplessly at you. Almighty God did that for us. He came down from heaven and
was born in poverty as a tiny baby, Jesus. And he welcomes each one of you to
the threshold of the crib. And I still don’t fully understand. But I believe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-44198800888453703702021-09-23T12:36:00.002+01:002021-09-23T12:51:51.076+01:00Padre Pio and Our Lady<p>Padre Pio had a great love of and devotion to Our Lady, especially of Our Lady of Graces which the Friary of San Giovanni Rotondo is dedicated to. He spent long hours in conversation with her and her Divine Son, Jesus. To him, Mary was the best way to approach Jesus and there is no better prayer than the Rosary to connect with her and the mysteries that comes from the life of Christ. You may have heard some of the stories of Padre Pio and his devotion to the Rosary which he called his ‘weapon’. </p><p>Padre Pio always wore the Rosary around his arm at night. A few days before his death, as he was getting into bed, he said to the friars who was in his room, “Give me my weapon!” And the friar, surprised and curious, asked him: “Where is the weapon? We cannot see anything!” Padre Pio replied, “It is in my habit, which you have just hung up!” After having gone through the pockets of his religious habit, the friars said to him: “Padre, there is no weapon in your habit! . . . we can only find your rosary beads there!” Padre Pio immediately said, “And is this not a weapon? . . . the true weapon?!” Padre Pio instructed: “Recite the Rosary and recite it always and as much as you can.” To Padre Onorato Marcucci, grabbing the Rosary that he had just placed on the nightstand he said: “With this, one wins the battles.” He prayed many rosaries each day and people, including friars, were amazed at the number of rosaries he recited. In February 1954, at 9:00 p.m., speaking to Father Carmelo he said: “I still have 2 rosaries to pray today. I said only 34 so far. Then I will go to bed.”</p><p>Padre Pio is a saint for our time. He was photographed, he was recorded in film and in voice. I have lived with Capuchin friars who met him personally and recalled to me conversations they had with him. One Friar, Fr. Peter Dempsey, now gone home to God, told me that during WWII when the friars studying in Rome couldn’t travel home, they would be sent to San Giovanni Rotondo or some other Italian friaries. There Fr. Peter, who was a post graduate theology student, would sit beside Padre Pio and he said Padre told him speaking in Italian that he often prayed for the Irish Church and for the great missionary endeavour of the Irish who travelled to distant lands to spread the gospel. </p><p>When we think of saints, naturally we remember the saints our parents introduced us to like Saint Anthony, Saint Therese the little flower, or Saint Francis of Assisi, St. Rita of Cascia etc. Let’s not forget the Saints of Ireland too, and Irish Diocese. Many of these lived centuries ago and perhaps its hard to identify with them today. But remember, Saint John Paul II reminds that we are all called to sanctity. It is the vocation of all of us to aspire to holiness. Pope Emeritus Benedict once said we are not made for comfort, we are made for greatness! Sanctity! But we can identify with saints who lived closer to our time and as we see how they lived, perhaps we can see ourselves that we can do it, we can imitate Christ in our time, in our families, and in our communities. Sanctity is the art of the possible. </p><p>Padre Pio suffered most of his life. He endured misunderstanding for a time while the Holy See investigated the spiritual phenomena associated with his life, yet he remained obedient to the church and the Holy Father throughout. He also suffered because he was famous in a sense. Many people wanted to see him, and to go to confession to him. Often to the point of exhaustion would he have a word of challenge or of encouragement for someone or a prayer for an intention. Again, always with Mary’s rosary between his fingers. </p><p>He bore the stigmata, the bleeding wounds of our Lord on his hands, feet, and on his side for 50 years. The friars and his doctors dressed them daily with a bandage and covered them with a fingerless mitten. The pain was bad enough, and horrific especially on Fridays. But the experience was excruciating and humiliating all the time because he was an object of curiosity. He said himself “I only want to be a poor friar who prays.” </p><p>Padre Pio often suffered from bad health and once about 10 years before he died, he was very ill, and it coincided with the visit of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to some diocese in Italy. It wasn’t scheduled to visit San Giovanni at all, instead Our Lady was scheduled to stop in the large city of Foggia. While the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo is within the Foggia diocese, it is a good distance from Foggia. Padre Pio was severely ill with pleurisy, unable to even celebrate Mass from May 5 let alone go to Foggia. The statue of Our Lady was to arrive at the beginning of August and Padre Pio remained bedridden. Somehow the scheduled got changed. The statue would not go to Foggia now but go to San Giovanni Rotondo instead. Joy filled the air as people gathered by the friary. With the help of a loudspeaker, Padre Pio was able to prepare them for their ‘mother’s’ arrival on August 6. That morning, Padre Pio struggled to get down to the church. He managed to get before the statue of our Lady — “but had to sit down because he was exhausted — and he gave her a gold rosary,” observed Bishop Carta. “The statue was lowered before his face, and he was able to kiss her. It was a most affectionate gesture.”</p><p>That same afternoon. Between two and three o’clock, Our Lady of Fatima was again in the helicopter ready to travel to the next stop. Taking off from the Casa for the Relief of the Suffering the helicopter circled three times around the monastery before flying away to its next stop. Afterwards, the pilot could never explain why that circling happened. Bishop Carta described how “From a window Padre Pio watched the helicopter fly away with eyes filled with tears. To our Lady in flight Padre Pio lamented with a confidence that was all his own: ‘My Lady, my mother, you came to Italy, and I got sick, now you are going away, and you leave me still ill.’” But as the helicopter was circling, he felt a shudder, a jolt, through his body. The bishop repeated what Padre Pio would say for the rest of his life: “In that very instant I felt a sort of shudder in my bones which cured me immediately.”</p><p>As I said, Padre Pio had a filial devotion to Our Blessed Lady. He was always communicating with her. The main reason is that she it is who brings us to her son Jesus. Mary always points to Jesus. This has always been Mary’s mission; she turns to us, and she says, as she said in few words at the wedding at Cana; “Do whatever he tells you.” </p><p>Our Blessed Lady came here to Knock in 1879, eight years before Padre Pio was born, to bring hope to a suffering people. She came with St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist. On the Altar was the Lamb, the Eucharistic Lord who gave himself totally for us. On that wet August evening, as she appeared to give hope, she also reminded us that her Divine Son, Jesus comes to us bearing the message of eternal life. That night, Mary appeared in silence. She never said a word but as Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who was here in 2018, and after that elevated Knock Shrine to an International Sanctuary of Special Eucharistic and Marian Devotion said; “…in her apparition at Knock, the virgin says nothing. Yet her silence is a language; indeed, it is the most expressive language we have. The message that comes from Knock is that of the great value of silence for our faith.” </p><p>Padre Pio is with us today. He has been praying to the Blessed Virgin for us during the pandemic. He knows suffering and he helped to build the Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza. He reminds us today that he continues to pray for us to Our Lady of Knock for all our needs. But he asks us to listen to Mary because in silence she points to Jesus, her Divine Son. Because he alone has the message of eternal life. Amen. </p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-41512943028236453342021-09-07T14:20:00.005+01:002021-09-07T20:41:13.351+01:00The Legion of Mary 1921 - 2021<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">My family have a history with the Legion of Mary. Both my
parents were members of the Legion in the 1950’s and 60’s before they married.
My mother’s sisters were Legionaries too as well as many of my father’s
cousins. One of the cousins, Brendan Shortall was a Legion of Mary Envoy to
East Africa and his picture hangs in the Legion of Mary Headquarters, De
Montfort House on Morning Star Avenue in Dublin’s North Inner City.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">As a boy, I joined the Legion of Mary in the Parish where we
lived in 1980 and ’81. We were part of a Junior Praesidium attached to
Benedicta House on the South Circular Road. We met on Tuesday evenings and part
of the routine was all Legionaries would be allocated Legion work, an
apostolate where we would do some works of charity or service to the church. The
older members maybe would visit homes, or work supporting poorer people etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were others who we heard would undertake
a protracted trip on what was called PPC (Peregrenatio Pro Christo) where a
group of Legion of Mary members would go to a parish for example in the U.K.
and promote the Legion at the invitation of the parish priest. I remember we
younger members stood at the ‘Book Barrow’ selling Catholic Truth Society
literature. Others would be involved in distributing religious goods like
Rosary Beads, Medals, and holy pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">There were on occasion, Legion events like reunions and social
evenings where Legionaries would meet from other places. It would always begin
with the Rosary and conclude with the Legion prayers. Prayer was and is the
bedrock of all of the meetings and social occasions, big and small. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I believe this is what Frank Duff and the other members of
the very early association had in their hearts when they met for the first time
on this day in 1921. The first meeting of the ‘Association of Our Lady of
Mercy’ took place 100 years ago in Myra House on St. Francis Street in Dublin’s
south inner city. The first work proposed by the group was to make a visitation
of the hospital for the poor known as the Dublin Union. There were around four
thousand residents. The Nuns were supportive to the members in their making
this visitation for charitable purposes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Frank Duff had a devotion to St. Louis-Marie De Montfort
(1673- 1716) who was a priest and preacher who in his time impressed Pope
Clement XI. He was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII. He had a great devotion
to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Rosary. On of his most notable works was
his book on Our Lady called ‘True Devotion to Mary.’ The Legion of Mary
handbook, well known to all Legionaries and used at each meeting is influenced
by the writings of De Montfort. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From its humble beginnings, this Association of our Lady of
Mercy developed to become the Legion of Mary and like a pebble being dropped
into a pool, the ripples spread from Francis Street in Dublin to its base off
North Brunswick Street, all around Ireland, and across the world. For me, the
Legion emphasises the vocation of the laity by virtue of their baptism. From
Day one, September 7<sup>th</sup>, 1921, Frank Duff and the men and women of
the fledgling Legion took the initiative to work for the spread of the gospel,
under the banner of Mary, from their own lived lives, in their families, among
their fellow worker and neighbours. Zealous Legionaries, lay women and men,
journeyed to far-flung places to witness to the mission of the Legion working
on the ground with others to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. The Legion
is like an army – an army of gospel people, equipped with zeal for the message
of Jesus Christ under the protection of Mary. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Legion of Mary members chosen as envoys like Tullamore
native, Alphonsus Lambe went to South America. It is hoped that Alfie will be
beatified one day. Well known envoy, Venerable Edel Quinn who hailed from
Kanturk, Co. Cork, and went as Envoy to Nairobi. Edel died out there as a
relatively young woman out there is someone else who the Legion hopes will be
raised to the altars of the Church. Frank
Duff’s cause for Beatification is also open. There are many heroic Legionaries,
lay men and women across the world, who did great work where they were at, and
who many would honour as models of zeal and charity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, I have spoken to many people who
remember Tom Doyle, a Legionary who worked with the homeless men of the Morning
Star Hostel. Tom was a great example of kindness, charity, and patience with
all who stayed in the hostel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I learned about these men and women when I was in the Legion
and these people are the ones the many members across the world look up to.
Sanctity should be the art of the possible and when we look at the lives of lay
women and men who from their own families and homes spend themselves to live
the gospel of Jesus by their example, it is a labour of love. It is a mission
that is worth highlighting in the 21<sup>st</sup> century. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">May the Legion of Mary continue to be missionaries of the
gospel of Jesus Christ under the mantle of Mary in our country and our world for
the next 100 years and beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Who is she that comes forth as the morning rising, fair as
the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-71023106861605773732021-07-25T10:37:00.003+01:002021-07-25T10:37:40.071+01:00"Down to Nana's." - When we visited our Nana and Grandad. World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2021<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Pope Francis has named this Sunday, World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. In the liturgy we thank God for our parents and grandparents and their love and faith which they generously passed on to us. Since the Pandemic began, Grandparents and Great-Grandparents have suffered greatly not being able to see and hold their grandchildren. Pope Francis reminds us of how much he loved his grandparents and sets all grandparents and elderly persons up as examples of faith and living links to the past to strengthen us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">I clearly remember the day my mother sent
myself and my brother Kevin on the bus for the first time on our own. We must
have been nearly nine and nearly eleven years old. We got the 19A Bus from the
County Bar in Rialto village to the Stadium (the National Boxing Stadium on the
South Circular Road). It was a short trip as the Bus went on into town as we
called it and out over to the north side. I remember it must have been the
summer time as we weren’t in school. We generally went down to our Nana's on
Tuesday's and Saturday afternoons.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">This
was more or less a routine all my life and the older of us siblings will
remember this well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mam coached us as to what to say as we boarded
the bus, a CIE black-and-white Atlantean type bus. “Two halves to the Stadium
please.” “He will let you out beside the Spar”, she said. The memories are
coming back as I write. The hiss of the doors as we got on. The black and grey
fleck floor-covering. The blue rope bell that went along the ceiling and the
button bell on the wall with the instruction to ‘push once’ “Ná ghabh thar an
líne ban go stada an bus.” was the warning to all passengers waiting to get
off. In those days there were bus conductors with a silver ticket machine which
printed the chit on blue ink in Irish and English. The smell of the ticket
paper was the same smell as the paper that wrapped up the fish and chips. They
also had a leather satchel with the money in it to give back the change. If
downstairs was full you would hear the conductor announce “Seats on the top.” There
was no smoking downstairs on the bus, but people were allowed to smoke upstairs
on the bus. The thick stench of smoke found its way onto everyone’s clothes. On
a wet day, the smell of cigarettes on the upper deck seemed to be even more
toxic and even sticky. In the 21<sup>st</sup> century it is almost impossible
to imagine that people were allowed to smoke on busses, trains and even in
aircraft once upon a time. Perhaps in the future it will be hard to imagine
that one-time people even smoked. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Myself and my brother Kevin travelled the five
stops or so, up to Dolphin’s Barn and along the South Circular Road by the old
Player Wills cigarette factory and up to the Stadium. We got off the bus at the
Spar and walked down Greenville Terrace and around onto Dufferin Avenue and on
to Petrie Avenue and to O’Curry Road. Mam followed along later and Dad would
meet us there after work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We arrived at no 33 and blew into my poor Nana’s
house. Herself and our grandfather, we called him Grandpop or ‘Grompop’, were
sitting by the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fire would be
lit off the embers of last night’s fire. He would be smoking his pipe filled with
Condor tobacco and she smoked John Player Red. He would be waiting on the
Evening Press newspaper to be delivered into the letter box where he would
glance at the headlines but quickly get stuck into crossword. He had a
well-thumbed copy of the Collins Gem Dictionary in the famous press to his left
hand. Their cat, Cola, would be looking for her ears to be scratched while
purring loudly. Grampop would be called for his dinner and he would sit up from
his arm chair and sit at the table. Lamb Chops and peas and buttery mashed
potatoes. Tinned pears or peaches and custard or ice-cream for dessert. When I
was very small, Nana’s Bachelor bother, Tommy lived in the house. He was known
as Uncle Me-Me. He had a nick-name for myself and Kevin. I was 'Johnny Banger' and Kevin was ‘Two Ton’ He died not long after my sister Gráinne was born. He
sat over on his own armchair and read the paper and often compare notes with my
grandpop. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nana had a picture of the Sacred Heart over on
the wall as many homes did in the past. The family would be consecrated to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and signed by the priest. Nana would burn a little lamp
under the picture and I’m sure she remembered all of us in prayer each day. It
is probably fair to say that nearly all grandchildren love their grandparents.
Someone said that God couldn’t be everywhere so that’s why he created
grandmothers. The Catholic Grandparent’s Association holds up Saints Joachim
and Anne, the parents of Our Lady as patrons and also Louis and Zélie Martin,
the recently canonized parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. I am confident that
my four grandparents are in heaven and the main reason I believe this is that
they passed on the faith, no questions asked, to our parents. Also, Pope
Francis had a great love for his grandparents and often holds up grannies and
granddads as models of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nana’s master piece was her stew. I
acknowledge that Irish grannies will be remembered for generations for the
ability to make something out of nothing and therefore feed the neighborhood
and for the flavour of their stews and coddle. Our mam will readily agree that
she could never quite get the hang of the unique flavour of her mother’s stew
and coddle. I can still taste every bit of it and it is almost sacramental to
me. There was goodness, and love, and generosity in it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nana was a natural grandmother with stories
and tales of her own childhood and she grew up in tough times where there was
very little money and those in authority really were in authority, state and
church. It was hard to be a young person and a young married couple in the
1930’s and 40’s. We look from the prism of today and all that we have in our
lives in terms of progress and technology. But in our Nana’s day and even in
our Mother’s Day, life was often hard. Nana’s sister, Auntie Chrissie, had an
old friend, who was a member of the Church of Ireland who died, and Chrissie
attended the funeral service even though it was forbidden at the time for a
Catholic to enter a Protestant Church. That rule seems so crazy today yet
Chrissie was afraid to tell the priest she went to the funeral. Thank God those
days are gone. When I read of old Dublin and old Ireland, I know we learned
about much of it from school but thank God we also learned about it while
sitting on her knee. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our Dad would pull up outside around 6.00 p.m.
in his red Mini Traveller, or his Renault 12. He had a special type of knock
which is hard to describe in writing. It was that classic tune ending;
“Shave-and-a-haircut. Bay Rum.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the
Ronnie Drew version; “How-is-your-auld’-wan? -game-ball. He would come in, pipe
in his mouth, and have a fill (a smoke) with grampop and soon we’d be piled
into the car, no seatbelts, because there were no seatbelts, and back home
again. When we lived in Kilnamanagh, near Tallaght, we’d stop at the shops for
smokes for my mother on the way. And this was the routine as we grew up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nana died in February 1991. She was still
relatively young at 74 years old. While she hadn’t been well, we never really
wanted to believe she would die. She worried about death and like many God-fearing
people of her generation, some priests filled their people with more scruples
than mercy. I mean, week- in and week-out, she and Grampop went to Mass and even
met Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta on the street in the Parish where she
lived. She baptized her children, my mother and my aunts, and brought them up
to believe in God. They did the same for us. All her life Nana and Grampop,
Granny Gretta and Grandad, practiced their faith and yet many of their generation
lived with some fear that God was not a god of mercy and forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She introduced me to Saint Padre Pio who she
loved, and we walked years later up to the Irish Office for Padre Pio which was
on Dufferin Avenue till 2018. Nana often said to me when she died and she met
Jesus she would grab on to his tunic hold on tight to him so he couldn’t let
her go (to hell?) I feel angry when I reflect on this. Where did she get this from? I would be angry with any theology or homily which frightened her like that. I am critical of any attitude that would lay that burden on a person who, in great difficulty and with a hard life, kept
the faith through thick, and thin, and even did so often with a sense of humour. I'm convinced I'll meet my grandparents again. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Those ordinary parents and grandparents, were a heroic
generation who built our nation because they were, to paraphrase Pope Francis, the heart of the family and provide a link to the past. Their strength and faith fortify us in our lives today. Their love runs through our veins. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-14213474788890979802021-04-25T10:06:00.001+01:002021-04-25T10:06:06.648+01:00It's not natural, it's supernatural.<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some people don’t get why a
person will consider religious life or priesthood as a way of life. I believe
this is true for several reasons but perhaps the main one is because of the
profession of the vow of celibacy. As human beings you see, most people are
meant to find a life partner. Relationships are what make the world go around.
So unlike what Tom Jones says; it IS unusual. One of our late Capuchins; Fr.
Godfrey Mannion once said; “It’s not natural but it’s supernatural.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So we religious always try to keep
one eye on the next world while we go about our daily lives. This is also true
of many others who are not monks, nuns or priests, but we religious have
promised to daily or even more regularly check in with Jesus Christ in prayer. So we look to the next world because after
all, we believe that we’re going to be there an awful lot longer than we are
here on planet earth. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So why did I choose to be a Capuchin?
Or as so many people have asked me; what made me become a Capuchin? Well, it
took a long time percolating as a young person Breakdancing, Dee-Jaying on our
Kilnamanagh Summer Project Radio, and going out with two or three girls.
And then joining in 1987 and being professed in 1994 and continuing until my
ordination in 1997. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Between the years I studied, was
involved in pastoral ministry, laughed, cried, fell in love, felt lonely, and
got scared, wondered, and struggled. But deep down too, it felt right, it fit. Just
like you, my life can be a day-to-day rollercoaster. But unlike you maybe, few
people understand the choice of religious life and that can be hard. Don’t get
me wrong, people are very kind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">People sometimes ask; why stay in an
organization that some have little time for today and perhaps people are angry with (especially in Ireland for example?) To tell the truth, sometimes in our
world it isn’t easy to be identified publicly as a priest or a religious. When
was the last time you saw a priest in a collar or a nun in a habit on
the streets? (outside of Rome)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few years ago, I was crossing
Stephen’s Green in my habit one evening to go to Loreto College to speak at a
fundraiser on behalf of Br. Kevin and the Capuchin Day Centre. I couldn’t
get parking near that side of the Green so I parked a bit of a walk away. In
the middle of the Green I walked right into a load of teenagers. Suddenly they
were calling to their mates to come and see this real monk. I was surrounded
and mobile phones were out. Could they have a picture? I stood in with some of
the group for the picture – I imagine I was all over Snapchat or Instagram in
the days after.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I stay in religious life because I’ve
no choice. I can’t leave – I don’t want to. That’s what a vocation does when it’s
internalised, in other words when I try to understand it on the inside. It’s a
love relationship with Jesus Christ that’s fuelled by prayer. And I need your
help too and I’m glad when you say you’ll pray for me and you often do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">So here we are on Vocations Sunday,
this year in the teeth of a Global Pandemic, when we can’t meet up or invite
you to ‘come and see’ I still invite you who are considering what do with their
lives to consider what it might be like to be a member of a religious order or
a priest. It’s all about serving – maybe you can handle it.</span> </p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-77742057747237786062021-04-04T15:41:00.003+01:002021-04-04T15:41:36.994+01:00Easter 2021<p><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who
has been crucified. He is not here; he has been raised. Look, there is the
place where they laid him.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Mark’s Gospel, as in each of the Gospel accounts of the
Resurrection, there is an invitation to all of us to enter the story. There is an
invitation to see the empty tomb and to believe that Jesus Christ is Risen.
This invitation is first issued by a young man dressed in white robes to Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome in tonight’s Gospel who are
sent to tell the Disciples and Peter this great news. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This invitation is fundamentally a call to faith, and it
begins to change things profoundly. It changes the way the disciples see Jesus
and it calls them to go out and preach this good news fearlessly. They have no
more business harping back to the past and trying to resuscitate the way things
were before. It is a new time now and things will never be the same again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are witnesses to this great news too. We can see that the
stone has been rolled back and inside the darkness of the empty tomb there is
no sign of the body. Therefore, believing Christians have no business in the
darkness of the tomb. Like the women who fled from the tomb when they learned
that Jesus was gone on ahead of them, we must hurry too, there is not a moment
to lose. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a new beginning. The
disciples fortified by the Holy Spirit, enthusiastically go about the world
preaching this great news that Jesus is alive. As the Gospel is preached, it
reaches the ears and hearts of many. Our own people received this good news in
their lives, in their turn, and they passed it on to us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There are always risks in embracing something new, but Jesus
had challenged the disciples to believe. And the two on the road to Emmaus were
reminded of the new mission belonging to those who follow Christ. The Church
before the passion and death of Christ is completely different to the Church
following the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The world has been in the throes of Covid-19 for over 12
months. In this once-in-a-century pandemic, we have painfully witnessed people
suffer, become severely ill, and even die. Europe is enduring a fourth wave and
here in Ireland, NPHET are working hard to make sure we are safe. Last year, we
were confined to celebrating the Easter liturgies behind closed doors and online
and on social media because of the Lockdown restrictions. We had no idea that
we would be in severe restrictions again this Lent and Easter. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The immediate aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus meant
that the disciples fled and hid themselves away. Locked in the upper room with
the windows and doors bolted they feared the same fate as Jesus. On the morning
of the third day as the women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus,
they found that the stone had been rolled back and seeing a vision of angels
they were told that Jesus was not there. They were reminded that Jesus has said
this. They were called to action and to go and tell the Disciples that Jesus
was going on ahead of them. The two walking on the road to Emmaus also encountered
the risen Jesus but they were prevented from recognizing him until he opened
the scriptures for them and broke the bread at table. Then their eyes were opened,
and their faith was rewarded so much that it spurred them on to action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In our time in a sense, Covid 19 is confining us to stay
apart and away from people in those ‘upper rooms.’ There is darkness and fear
around and not being able to gather and meet in church is hard for people of faith. We understand the
dangers of groups of people being indoors together, especially given these dangerous
variants of the disease. But still to gather safely in church and to pray at a
social distance and wearing masks is a source of strength and consolation to so
many people. Going to the church in solidarity with our neighbor is also a
powerful way of minding our mental health at a time of great stress and fear
for all. Again, we pray that we will be permitted to safely worship together
soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this darkness, the risen Jesus
comes to look for us and while right now, we are unable to fully emerge from
the locked rooms of our fears, the light of the risen Lord is coming. We hold
out a hope that the time will soon be right thanks to our compliance with the public
health guidelines and with the further roll out of the vaccines. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have heard that the church before Covid and the church that
will emerge, around the world, and particularly here in Ireland will be different.
We are challenged to imagine new ways of listening to and inviting women and
men to take part in church by virtue of our baptism calling. Like the early
church after the resurrection, many disciples did not feel comfortable with the
newness. Returning to the safety of the old and familiar was preferable. But
the Holy Spirit was powerfully at work urging the disciples to preach the Good
News. I believe this is happening again today and while this may be scary, it
is also exciting and to be part of what will emerge with God’s help. This is what the
Risen Jesus is calling us to going forward. Let us be part of the endeavor –
it’s the work of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything
that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, yes to the end
of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-33755832653369930062021-02-21T18:22:00.006+00:002021-02-21T18:27:51.730+00:00The time has come<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OtICRbYOk0eMykM0V732XchB3xSt4JQ4QzXzue7dCkkg28bDuBOtzbYaR39C_4VsMkHfdCWSMGf0FnIM5vKtmCURsPHQITevejOYBuEoXxkZ3b6VEbmcYj2G9R_RLk5RVZMQlv3ZRQI/s2048/20210221_182537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1727" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OtICRbYOk0eMykM0V732XchB3xSt4JQ4QzXzue7dCkkg28bDuBOtzbYaR39C_4VsMkHfdCWSMGf0FnIM5vKtmCURsPHQITevejOYBuEoXxkZ3b6VEbmcYj2G9R_RLk5RVZMQlv3ZRQI/s320/20210221_182537.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br />Jesus understands suffering.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus gets how people suffer. He gets it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We can confidently place our fears at his feet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus knows the heartache we feel being separated from loved ones
because of the virus. He understands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He feels the pain of all who miss someone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus is conscious of the exhaustion of our healthcare
workers, nursing, and medical staff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus holds all of us who are afraid and comforts all who are
worn-out with it all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus will stay with us for the duration of any further
lockdown. He is with us every step of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We know this because Jesus was led into the desert -to a
place of danger, extremes, and foreboding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus understands what we are going through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All through his public ministry the most wretched found a listening
ear, a non-judgmental heart, and healing and forgiveness of sins. And those
who were written off by the established church leadership of the time were
called by name; “Come follow me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">He himself stood at the frontier of suffering and crossed the
border right into pain, shame, and rejection. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When we walk, as we are, through this Covid ‘valley of death’
we have Jesus walk with us, and like the poem ‘Footprints’ carrying us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Jesus is telling us, despite social distancing, we still have
each other. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And there is hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">We are moving through it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Daylight is coming. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The time has come. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-3433173881902279412021-02-15T15:20:00.000+00:002021-02-15T15:20:11.838+00:00<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">People have been asking about Ash Wednesday. We do not have a
supply of ashes this year as the church suppliers have not had much business
since the churches have been closed to congregations for much of last year. Ashes
are made by burning the palm from the previous Palm Sunday. We still have that
supply of palm as we were closed to congregations last year. Our Paschal Candle
from 2020 still has a lot of wax in it when it would normally be burned down by
now. Because of Level 5 restrictions we are unable to have people come and
queue for blessed ashes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We went into Lockdown last March during Lent and the churches
closed all through the remainder of Lent, into Easter and over Eastertime. We
celebrated Holy Week, the Paschal Triduum, lit the Paschal Candle, and celebrated
Easter time with empty churches. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A journalist was ringing around different clergy asking about
our online ministry and what of the future? I told her our Facebook Mass each
day since last March has been very well supported and our Rosary at 8.00 p.m.
each night, also on the Priorswood Parish Facebook page is a spectacular
success. We are blessed to have upwards of 220 different accounts on with an
average of 2 thousand plus views. She asked me about Easter, and I said it may
be that we will not have the congregations back unless its safe. As Archbishop
Farrell has said, “Everything we do must always be in accord with NPHET
guidelines.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Christmas was difficult for parishes with Covid 19
volunteers, social distancing, and sanitizing before and after Masses. We were
constantly on guard in case the guidelines on numbers would be breached. And
yet by and large all our Churches were safe places. I hope we never have a Christmas
like it again – it was completely stressful. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This year, Lent begins in two days’ time with Ash Wednesday.
Wearing ashes traditionally reminds me and others that we are going to do
something special for Lent. We will try to be more charitable, or less selfish,
or be more moderate and sober, perhaps giving up alcohol or tobacco. Self-denial
is a powerful way to get into the spirit of Lent. On Ash Wednesday and on Good
Friday we are called to fast and abstain. To fast from food, eating one meal
and two collations (small portions of food) and to abstain from meat and
alcohol. However, we need to be sensible also too. If one does not have good
health, and is on medication, or one is older, there is no obligation to fast. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In a way we have been living a kind of Lent with the pandemic
since last March. All of us have struggled with the restrictions or have feared
contracting Covid. Too many have been sick, and sadly, many have died. Our
medical front line heroes have really suffered. Just look at the huge numbers
that have been hospitalised. Businesses and jobs have suffered greatly. We pray for the continued success for the roll out
of the vaccines and please God we pray for a safe return to the time when we
can meet and hold our loved ones again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We will bless any ashes you may have during our Mass on
Facebook live on the Priorswood Parish page. Taking our lead from St. Mel’s
Cathedral Parish, Longford, we invite you to use some cold ash from the
fireplace or some soil from the garden which we will bless remotely. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span> </p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-76127610468790088412021-01-25T14:20:00.000+00:002021-01-25T14:20:37.630+00:00You can't sunbathe in a hurricane<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was advised last year not to look at too much news but
rather to ration the news to one bulletin per day. This is good advice, but I acknowledge
that I’m finding it difficult for three reasons. First, it is automatic. Taking
up the phone is now a force of habit and is done without thinking. Second, the response
to this pandemic demands we stay apart from people. Looking at the phone is a
way of finding out is anyone out there. Third, I am taking up the phone to see
the news in the hope that there are hints of a good news story in the midst of
the misery. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course we are not alone and without a doubt there is
solidarity in that we are all in this together. Social media has afforded us
the mechanism to reach out in a myriad of ways not least in making us smile and
laugh. However, sometimes we can’t help feeling alone in the eye of the storm and
the construction of a word or a sentence on a WhatsApp group can take a few
attempts. Sometimes it’s better to say nothing or hope they will say are you
okay? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Prayer is a challenge too. The unbeliever would say despite all
the prayers in 2020, millions still got sick and died of Covid 19. The believer
would say that God hears our prayers and through medical science, nursing and
medical staff, care staff, and front-line staff, the Holy Spirit is working in
the world. And for people who regularly turn to prayer for themselves and for
others and are finding it a challenge, the saying ‘You can’t sunbathe in a
hurricane’ makes sense. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Since all this began, I’ve sat quietly with the Lord. I don’t
mind admitting I’ve felt it is a one-way street, that I am getting no answers
to my prayers for an end to this thing. I know that believers in their millions
have been asking God for the same thing. Many of them have had terrible times in
that they have lost loved ones and have become sick themselves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in our corner of the world, we’ve prayed
the Mass on Facebook each day and the Rosary each evening. We have been joined
by an increasing international number of our Rosary family. This has been a
wonderful blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Prayer does work and miracles do happen. I am contacted daily
through three different Facebook feeds for prayers for intentions. People reach
out in desperation and many are at their wits end. Naturally, there might be no
answer in this world and sometimes the answer to prayers will not work out the
way we wish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet many more get back in
touch with gratitude for prayers answered too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find myself being joyful when someone thanks
me for prayers that were answered, and I get discouraged when there is no
earthly answer. Sometimes the discouragement is compounded depending on what
kind of form I am in. Covid 19 has sometimes succeeded in frightening me and
this has a bearing on whether I am happy or sad. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even though I’m faithful to the Government guidelines, the
fear is that I will wake up with Covid. I develop symptoms regularly in my
head. And if I do not feel them, it must be because I am asymptomatic. If I do
not get Covid, surely someone I love will and worse still, it will be my fault
for not staying at home like NPHET says we should. Hands up who else feels like
that? Fear and isolation can do this to us on the inside. So, we hope and pray
for an end to this and its coming. While prayer is tough now and putting
language on how we feel is difficult, I refuse to give up on hope. Still, there
is not a lot left in the tank.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-57396424759692104022021-01-15T12:28:00.000+00:002021-01-15T12:28:14.813+00:00Catholic Grandparents Association. January Faith Café 2021<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">My Faith Story is completely caught up my relationship with
my grandparents, especially my maternal grandparents, and in particular my
mother’s mother, who we called Nana. She was born weeks before Padraig Piaras
and the other leaders of the Easter Rising entered the GPO in 1916.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nana, (died 1991) Grandpop (died 1994) Granny Greta, (died 1992)
and Grandad (died 1977) grew up in the infancy of the state during the 1920’s,
and 30’s and it was a different Ireland to the place we have now, and a
different church to the church we have now. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They coped with a lot of hardship, but there was a real sense
of meitheal and solidarity between families and neighbours when our
grandparents were growing up and starting their families. A huge amount of what
they did revolved around the local parish and the church. Devotions,
sodalities, the Legion of Mary, now in its centenary year this year. By and
large they were a generous and kind people who did not shut the door on others.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The second half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century saw monumental
change, and especially in Ireland. In 1962, RTE began broadcasting on
television, and despite Dev’s fears, Gay Byrne began the Late Late Show, now in
its 59<sup>th</sup> season. Pope John XXIII called his Council and my
grandparents, your parents, got used to going to Mass in the vernacular for
example. They had to contend with decimalisation instead of pounds, shillings,
and pence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The clergy were blessed and lucky to have a great cohort of
supportive laity though some perhaps didn’t appreciate this and took it for
granted. Sadly, there were clergy and religious who didn’t live as men and
women of the gospel and to this day there is a blight on the story of religion
in Ireland. While this is not a conversation for tonight, we know the report of
the Commission into the Mother and Baby Homes will prove terribly painful for
many people, indeed especially for those directly affected. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Faith, prayer, church, Mass was all very much part of the
language of my life growing up going between my home and my grandparent’s
houses. We were not brainwashed but the church was part of my story and my
formation to some extent. Thanks to Vat II and the social teaching of Pope Paul
and Pope John Paul II in particular, and the response of Archbishop Ryan in
Dublin for example, the church was expanding and building churches and schools
with the help of the people via SHARE.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If the Council didn’t shake the church up over time, the
earthquake happened when Paul VI died. Paul had an alarm clock which kept good
time from the time he got it in Poland when he was a papal diplomat in the 1940’s.
Author Peter Hebblethwaite wrote that when Paul died, the Polish alarm clock suddenly
went off. Cardinal Albino Luciani who had been elected pope to succeed Paul in
August 1978 died suddenly. The Archbishop of Krakow, 58-year-old Cardinal Karol
Wojtyla was elected Pope on October 16<sup>th</sup>, 1978. The papacy which had
been emerging from behind the walls of the Vatican since Pope John, and Pope
Paul, burst out from St. Peter’s Square. In the first year of the pontificate,
John Paul II travelled to Mexico, Poland, Ireland, and the United States of
America. Everybody was talking about John Paul II<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As the time went on, perhaps it became more difficult –
especially as you saw how flagrantly some clergy did not live up to their
gospel calling – which would be expected of men of God. Yet, my grandparents
and parents, the domestic church, laid a foundation from the kitchen table
which helped people like me to see the bigger picture. And that bigger picture
is that the church is belongs to Christ. And it is made up of ‘God’s holy and faithful
people’' in the words of Pope Francis. Yet, Jesus never said it was going to be
easy, but he promised to be with his church; c.f. Matt 28 (“I am with you
always…”) and John 16:33 (“Simon, Satan has got his wish to sift you all like
wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, and when you have recovered, you must
strengthen your brothers. In the world you will have troubles, but have
courage, I have conquered the world.”) We need to be reminded of this and
through this, of the people who have kept the faith despite the huge challenges
and the scandals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our grandparents made us what we are. It may sound like a cliché,
but we stand on the shoulders of giants. Not just from a faith point of view
but because they are the engine room of the family, the heartbeat of the home
where the faith was transmitted. We felt safe when they were around. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pope Benedict XVI says that ‘grandparents are a source of
enrichment for families, for the church, and for society’ in his beautiful 2008
prayer. Pope Francis says Grandparents are ‘the living memory of the family.’ He
often refers to grandmothers and grandfathers especially as he remembers his
own grandparents. Never was the vocation of grandparents more necessary than
today, you are a powerful image of God in our world and in the heart of the
family for 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You are a source of strength for the young people when they
are struggling because you have life’s experience. You have the wisdom of years
and perhaps are more qualified to encourage the kids today. Indeed, during the
height of the gangland violence in Dublin city in the last few years, which we
pray for an end to soon, Archbishop Martin walked with many grandparents of the
north inner-city community and he appealed to those engaged in violence to ‘listen
to their grandmothers. ‘<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Covid 19 is crucifying our society and is cocooning our
grandparents in these days. Seeing pictures on television and on our social
media of nana’s and granddads meeting their grandchildren and great
grandchildren from inside the living room windows is hard to watch. God grant
that soon; our grandparents can hold us again and we can all hold each other
with no fear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We need to focus on the positives. The Vaccines are being
rolled out and each day while we hear the grim news of more infections, we are
hearing too of the vaccinations. So, the end is in sight and the Cavalry is on
the hills. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lord bless the healing hands of our nursing, medical, and
surgical staff. Bless the immunologists, virologists, and scientists who have
developed these vaccines. God speed the effort to make us all well. May God
bless our grandparents through Louis and Zelie Martin and Joachim and Anne.
Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-23607193311252562162021-01-09T22:13:00.000+00:002021-01-09T22:13:01.305+00:00Baptism - A time of new beginnings...<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">We remember these times, and the past year, 2020, more for
what we missed and lost than for what we could do, or where we could go, and
who we could be with. We will recall it as a time when we had to stay apart
from others, and to have no close contact with people. We learned a new language
too, like support bubbles, social distancing, mRNA, and other abbreviations. And
when shops, businesses, and banks, would be wary of customers coming in wearing
face coverings, today you may not be admitted unless you sport a facemask.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the church, we will remember 2020 as the year when we had
to close churches and stop people from coming to Mass. We resorted, successfully
in the main, to an online presence and certainly here in Priorswood, our
weekday Mass and evening Rosary on Facebook live and on the webcam on Sundays
has been not only a powerful time of solidarity but a lifeline for all concerned.
We have lost but we have gained too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">While we can’t say Mass with the people right now, and only hold
funeral Masses with 10 people, and while we can’t book in or celebrate
Baptisms, we can gather with people from all over the world on our social media
timeline. God closes one door, but he opens another. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today, we see Jesus coming to John for Baptism. The Baptist
is the one who prepares the way for Jesus. For those following John and accepting
baptism it was a chance for them to begin again with a new confidence. When
Jesus descended into the waters of the Jordan and ascended, the heavens were
torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descended on him and the voice said; “You
are my Son, the Beloved, my favour rests on you.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the ceremonies that has suffered in the parish because
of Covid is the baptism ceremony. Indeed, this was the parish where I celebrated
my first baptism as a deacon back in 1996, and I still remember her name. We
have been unable to book in any baptisms and there are many who are waiting for
the baptism of their baby to take place. I know how painful this can be, and Fathers
Bill and Terence would understand this. Declan, who was ordained to the
permanent Diaconate in August, also understands because as a deacon, he is one
of the ordinary ministers of baptism. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">One of the cornerstones of the ministry of a parish is to
welcome a new member of our church among us and we here would acknowledge the
importance and the significance of this, both infant baptism and adult baptism.
Baptism is the gateway to the other sacraments of the church and the same Holy
Spirit that descended like a dove on Jesus, comes down upon the child or adult
who is baptised. Holiness hits us when we are baptised and this is for our life
on earth, and for the eternal life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I was baptised in late October 1969 in the Church of the Holy
Child, Whitehall, the parish where my parents were living in when they got
married. My mother recalls that Fr. Tom Stack who baptised me during the
ceremony said, “Baptism is a time of new beginnings…” I reconnected with Tom
Stack years later and he brought my baptism candle up in the offertory
procession at my first Mass after ordination in June 1997. Just last month,
Msgr. Tom Stack died after 60 years of priesthood. A member of the Radharc team
of priests, Tom made pioneering programmes from the 1960’s to the 1990’s from a
religious, cultural, and social point of view. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful to God to be here in Priorswood
during these scary and challenging times. I am thankful for my Capuchin brothers
and my blood family. I believe Covid 19 is a crucifixion but if it has anything
going for it, perhaps it has reminded us how much we miss those we love. And I
am full of gratitude for Msgr. Tom Stack and my baptism where it all began for me
as it is for all Christians. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-38195259419271493392020-05-29T19:40:00.001+01:002020-05-29T19:40:58.578+01:00Set your hearts on the higher gifts<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uEBR-ATiUMI" width="480"></iframe>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-86293209990174820642020-05-02T18:52:00.001+01:002020-05-02T18:52:21.640+01:00John the Baptist - Making Noise<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tYc_BCoaFRA" width="480"></iframe>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-78879220713636994112020-04-13T19:52:00.000+01:002020-04-13T19:52:13.384+01:00A place where no virus can touch us...
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like most people on the planet, I never imagined what would
befall our world in December 2019, and the early months of 2020. News of a respiratory
illness, a variation of coronavirus, was quickly spreading among people in Wuhan,
China. Further news came through of the authorities in Wuhan mass-cleaning and
disinfecting the city and closing off ground zero. Soon after, the area was on
lock down and movement was restricted. Within weeks people were getting sick in
northern Italy around the ski resorts. The Italian government began to close
down the major cities of the northern provinces, but this still didn’t stem the
level of the outbreak. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The World Health Organisation were monitoring the developing
situation and as the outbreak started to cross borders, national health
authorities were advising Governments that this illness was serious and immediate
action needed to be taken. The problem had worsened in Italy and it was
spreading quickly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The WHO named this new coronavirus, Covid-19. The virus that
causes it is SARS-CoV-2. It is a highly contagious illness that affects the lungs;
and whose symptoms include high temperature, fever, and a dry cough. It was a
type of coronavirus that had not been seen before in the population. For most
of the population, people would suffer flu-like symptoms and could over it quite
well with over the counter medications, fluids, and rest. Young people might
even be asymptomatic and might not even know they have it. However, for people
with underlying illness and for older people, this illness could be very serious
with hospitalization and intensive care treatment. Unfortunately, some people will
die as a result of this illness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Ireland, the outgoing Government in the interregnum following
the February General Election, formed a task force to quickly study the spread
of this disease which was now becoming a global pandemic. The annual six
nations rugby tournament was underway and the minister for health on the advice
of the chief medical officer and his team advised the cancelling of the game
between Ireland and Italy due to be played in early March. This was a big decision
in that huge revenue was expected in the arrival of many thousands of Azzuri
fans. As the problem of Covid 19 continued to grow, the Italian government closed
more-or-less the whole of northern Italy. Soon, the whole of Italy was on lockdown. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here in Ireland, it was decided to cancel the St. Patrick’s
Day celebrations and people were asked to stay away from the cities. As the
spread of the virus continued, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, himself a medical
doctor, visiting Washington DC for the traditional St. Patrick’s Day greeting
with the U.S. President, made a big announcement. He said that the Government was
to close all schools, colleges, and childcare facilities, until March 29<sup>th</sup>,
where it will be reviewed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the St.
Patrick’s Day weekend, footage emerged of revellers in close contact in pubs
and bars in Dublin city centre. It caused widespread annoyance especially as
people were asked to ‘social distance’ themselves from each other as the virus
spreads by close human contact. Some pubs took the initiative to close first
but the government decided to order all the pubs and bars closed on the St.
Patrick’s weekend. Thousands of punters travelled to the U.K. for the
Cheltenham festival and the pictures were shared all over the media and social
media of stands full of people which also provoked a lot of anger.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From the word go, when the risk of this virus spreading into
Ireland was very likely, we were advised to wash our hands very regularly,
cough or sneeze into our elbows or into a tissue and dispose of it, and to
avoid touching our face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were asked
not to shake hands or embrace people. The prevailing advice was to keep at
least 2 metres apart from each other and to maintain a physical distance from one
another. Going shopping has been an experience during this time as shoppers are
required to stand apart on markings clearly displayed on shop floors and walls.
Staggered numbers of people are only allowed into the supermarkets and screens
have been erected between the staff at checkouts and desks. Many people are wearing
facemasks and latex gloves while out and about and remaining a physical
distance from the next person. The advice is to presume that other people are
carriers of CV-19. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the last two weeks (late March) the Government announced a
further set of measures which saw everyone being advised to stay at home with
the exception of those who were ‘essential workers’ Gardaí are on checkpoint
duty at many points all over the city to make sure that only essential workers
are going to and from their place of work and no one is just out for a drive. People
are allowed to take daily exercise so long as it remains within two kilometres
from our homes and we can go out for essential shopping outlined in Government
guidelines. All citizens over 70 years of age and all those with underlying
illnesses must not go outside their homes and must remain ‘cocooned.’ Again,
this is because it is too risky for any of these citizens to be infected with
the coronavirus. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With the very high rate of contagion and thus the massive strain
on our health service, larger numbers are falling sick and needing hospitalisation.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) the Department of Health, and the Government
put out the call, Ireland’s Call, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in
early March for ‘all hands on deck’ such was the projections for this illness.
They invited all Irish medical professionals to come back from abroad to work
in the Irish health service. The call was responded to generously. The hope is
to ‘Flatten the Curve’ by controlling the level of contagion by insisting all
people remain at home and apart from one another. We are all being encouraged
to “Stay together, by staying apart.” By trying to control the amount of people
getting infected by Covid 19 and requiring hospitalization or intensive care
treatment, our health care services don’t therefore become overwhelmed. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Today, at the time of writing (Easter Weekend) at a press
conference the Taoiseach, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Minister for
Health, and the Minister for Education announced a further period of three
weeks where we must all stay at home, to stay in lock down. The Dept of
Education and the state examinations commission have put back the Leaving
Certificate Exams until the autumn and hope to allow the students to sit these
exams by the end of August. The central applications office and colleges and third
level institutes are put on alert to make provision for this when they accept
graduates for college places. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">From early March, anyone who had been exposed to a person
tested positive for coronavirus, was advised to go into self-isolation for a
period of two weeks. In effect, they were to avoid any contact with other members
of the household and to keep to their own space, their own room and their own
bathroom. If they became symptomatic, the advice was to call the GP and await a
call back for an appointment at a time when no one else would be in the
surgery. Alternatively, staff would come to your home dressed in full hazmat
suits reminding one of astronauts preparing to enter the launch pad for
countdown. They would take a sample from the back of the throat and the nasal
cavity. Some days later the results would show that a person was either
negative or positive. As has been said, given how contagious this Covid 19 is, a
positive result meant continuing strict self-isolation and channels of
communication set up with the GP. Fluids and over the counter medication and plenty
of rest will make the difference if a person already has good health, However,
older people, those with underlying health problems, and for example respiratory
issues could be in serious trouble.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am writing these thoughts and I stop to think after every
few sentences. Obviously, when writing, I’m checking a spelling or looking at
the construction of a sentence. I also look over a few lines to see if what I’ve
written makes sense. Before it comes out from inside me, it tends to make
sense, and it tends to be a good idea. When its down on the screen, sometimes it’s
a different matter and what before would be torn up and binned, is nowadays
deleted. However, I am looking at what I’m writing and I’m also remembering recent
conversations I’ve had, while observing a physical distance with people. Most
of the world is in the same situation. Nations, cities, societies, communities,
neighbourhoods, and families are all asked to stay indoors to handicap this
novel corona virus. Is it a dream we will wake up from? Who would have ever
thought that something like this would happen in our lifetime and bring the
world to a standstill? And yet, it is not a dream, the nightmare is very real and
surreal that I’m writing these lines. All sorts of people are using their
social media to urge us to stay at home and stay indoors. A-List Actors are
taking to Twitter to rally people to adhere to the guidelines. Some are using
their social media platforms to report that they’ve been tested and found Covid
19 positive. Then, they are checking in to update us as to their progress. The
British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has had a rough ride with Covid 19,
including hospitalization and even a stay in intensive care. Thankfully, he has
been discharged and is on the mend in the country residence of the PM at Chequers.
Closer to home, some prominent radio and TV personalities have contracted Covid
19 and were publicly off the air and self-isolated for a period. Taoiseach, Leo
Varadkar re-registered with the medical council as a doctor and has decided to
give some time each week to the medical response to CV-19. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Covid 19 it is a cheeky little blighter who we hadn’t met
before winter 2019. A tiny thing, a fraction the size of a full stop (.) at the
end of a page, it can pack a punch and it has spread itself with lightning
speed across all five continents. Covid 19 has infected more than a million,
made many thousands very sick, and many people have died. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of our isolation, we have communicated
with each other on various social media platforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up to this, some had become worried at the
level of use we have made of our smart phones, tablets, and screens, and their effect
on our psychological wellbeing. Yet for now, our virtual presence has been a
life saver and a source of sanity for us. We are not encouraged to go and visit
our families, and so occasions like St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Easter,
all passed with no gatherings except on WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, and Facebook
Live etc. Perhaps hardest of all to see and experience, watching older parents of
adult children greet their relatives from the hall door while the grand
children speak to them from the garden gate or outside the living room window.
It’s like were in a dream – or a nightmare. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As church, early on, we were curtailed in having groups
gathered for Mass and religious services. Again, we were required to observe
physical distancing from each other and have no close contact in the church.
Initially, we were restricted to not more than 100 people in the church. As the
virus escalated around Europe, and especially in Italy, Spain, and France,
seeing their experience, we knew this this was coming here. Communities, provinces,
and whole regions closed. People were told to stay at home and only allowed to go
out for groceries and medicines. Soon, entire countries shut down. Our church
has been closed since the second week of March and in a sense, we have spent
the weeks of Lent confined and the last few weeks in a kind of lockdown. Pope
Francis was seen walking alone through deserted streets of Rome to call to some
churches, including the Church of San Marcello, to venerate a cross which was
paraded in Rome during the Black Plague of 1552. He asked that this same cross be
brought to the Vatican for an extraordinary ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing on March 27<sup>th</sup>
before an empty and wet St. Peter’s Square. Here the Holy Father prayed that
this storm would pass with Jesus in the boat with us. “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like the
disciples, we will experience that with him on board there will be no shipwreck.
Because this is God’s strength: turning to the good everything that happens to
us, even the bad things. He brings serenity into our storms, because with God
life never dies.</span>” ( Pope Francis – Extraordinary moment of prayer. St.
Peter’s Square. 27<sup>th</sup> of March 2020)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many of us have celebrated Mass online via webcam and on
social media. We have heavily used our online outreach in a very successful way.
I believe that many people have been consoled and strengthened in their fear,
confusion, and isolation. Here, in Priorswood Parish, we have had an average of
200 people logging on to our daily Mass on Facebook live. It has been a powerful
illustration for me of our solidarity and support together via a small smartphone
camera leaning on a shelf aimed towards the little altar in our empty day
chapel. Here, thanks to our smartphones and tablets, no virus can hurt us
because while we are physically apart as we are told to be and rightly so, we
are all together. We all have a powerful need to connect and to not feel alone.
But in this time, we really need to reach out to see who is out there, and we
need to do the same and be connected so as to not feel so isolated. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the past, before 24-hour news channels, we would wake up
to bad news or we would have the television on and there would be a newsflash. The
editorial dept in newspapers would hold the front page and wait until very late
into the evening based on the headline they would want to carry. The natural
disasters, the wars, and the famine seemed to be happening far away. We
certainly had sympathy for communities perpetually stricken by poverty. Over
the years there would be appeals for aid for huge populations in developing
countries on the brink of starvation. NGO’s and aid agencies here and in other
western countries were on the ground trying to bring relief to the suffering
despite huge difficulties. When we were growing up, during Lent each year, all schoolchildren
got our Trocaire box to put money into to support the Irish Bishops aid agency. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As teens in the 1980’s, my generation will remember BBC
journalist <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michael Buerk’s reporting of
the Ethiopian Famine and the harrowing television pictures coming through in October
1984. We were all were shocked and horrified by the sheer size of the disaster
that was unfolding. This time it was coming into our living rooms during each
news bulletin. Boomtown Rats front man Bob Geldof, and Ultravox lead singer Midge
Ure outraged by what they saw, met up and wrote a song. They imagined how most
of us would be celebrating Christmas in the west. They called their song ‘Do
they know it’s Christmas? The song powerfully asked the question, do the starving
millions know its Christmastime at all? Quickly, they set about rallying many
recording artists in the U.K. to come on board and share the vocals and the instrumental
arrangements. Pretty much all of rock and pop royalty came on board. In late November
1984, the song was recorded and filmed and was released under the name Band Aid
made it number one in the music charts for Christmas. It inspired many
recording artists across the world to do the same for famine relief in Africa.
Notably, Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie, and producer Quincey Jones wrote “We
are the World” and many recording artists in the United States and Canada came
together under the umbrella of USA for Africa. This too went to number one. In
the summer of 1985, Bob Geldof still reeling from seeing the suffering of millions
in Ethiopia began to arrange a huge concert for famine relief. On July 13<sup>th</sup>,
Live Aid, the ‘Global Jukebox’, would be a concert featuring the biggest music
artists in the world, all performing for free. It was broadcast via satellite with
the first gig in Wembley Stadium, London, from 12.00 noon to 6.00 p.m. and then
from J.F.K. Stadium in Philadelphia kicking off when the London broadcast was
over. Millions of pounds and dollars was pledged by ordinary people all over
the world. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We all remember where we were on 11<sup>th</sup> of September
2001 when the United States was attacked on its own soil in New York, Washington,
and Pennsylvania. Thousands of people lost their lives almost before our eyes as
news corporations blanket reported the horror live on our television screens.
It was just before smartphone technology and yet we all received SMS text messages
from family and friends to turn on our televisions to see the eerie footage of
the iconic twin towers of the World Trade Centre burning and collapsing
following two aircraft crashing into them. As the years passed, terrorist
attacks, wars, large scale violence, and dictatorships being ended would be
seen live on 24-hour news channels as reported by embedded journalists wearing
flack jackets and helmets. In the 1990’s when Iraq was still insisting it was
prevailing against the allied attack, the bombs were exploding and raining down
on Baghdad live on our television screens. We have since seen the dramatic still-photos
released of the moments surrounding the capture Saddam Hussein, and Osama Bin
Laden. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Our world has become smaller and the ability to travel easily
from one place to another has meant that thousands cross frontiers every day
and travel into different countries. Travel has been revolutionised by the low
fares and no-frills airlines which has dispensed with in-flight cooked meals, compulsory
overnight stays in cities, and larger airports, all to save money. What we have
now is cheaper and even free flights (if you book very early) to smaller
airports on the outskirts of cities, and even some forty or fifty kilometres
from the city you want to fly in to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The easier it is to travel, the more people want to fly all
around the world and therefore the bugs and viruses will come along for the trip.
In the space of two months, Covid 19 crossed continents with relative ease and
by the time the host arrived at the destination, he or she had infected much more
people than if it was influenza and as we now know, the fall-out was and is
huge. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are seeing some easing of the lockdown restrictions in
Spain these days (Easter Week) and other countries are continuing to enforce
lockdowns, there is a danger that a second wave of coronavirus could come about
if countries become complacent. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In Ireland, nationally, our movements are restricted until
May 5<sup>th</sup> and the Government will monitor the coronavirus based on the
guidance of the Chief Medical Officer. I imagine there will be a staged and
staggered easing of the restrictions as the summer goes on. This is very difficult
for people as businesses have closed, jobs have been lost, and in a short space
of time, a recession has taken a stranglehold of our economy and indeed the world
economy. There’s no way the Government would tolerate this kind of economic
recklessness where overnight pretty much everything has closed, and people are staying
at home and applying for emergency social welfare unless we are in real danger.
And we know thousands have got sick and many have become critically ill and
sadly, a large number have died. Again, I stop and look at the words I’ve
written and I’m shocked and yet we’ve been in this situation for several weeks. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have gorged ourselves on more and more news of Covid 19 and
then got tired of it. Broken hearted people on our timelines have implored us
to stay at home as they have reported a loved one’s sickness and even death
from Covid 19 and now they are unable to go to them to say their good-bye’s. I
have said prayers in crematoria for small groups of family members laying to
rest a loved one because they are all not permitted to go due to the
restrictions on group gatherings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But we will get through this. We are getting through this. We
are making the most of it and encouraging each other as we go along. We have
seen it in other countries. People standing on balconies and singing to each
other during lockdown. Police singing and dancing for people in neighbourhoods.
I’ve seen posts on social media, people doing videos for their friends, and
celebrities recording videos and singing from their own homes.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We see children singing to their nana and grandad from the
bottom of the garden. I’ve watched friend’s dad’s drive their kids in convoy
past a friend’s garden to wish them a happy birthday because they can’t get together
and have a party. We’ve downloaded Zoom and Tik Tok to contact family members so
we can all see each other in real time and at the one time. We have seen Aer
Lingus flying their Airbus A330 aircraft from Dublin to Beijing and back laden
with medical cargo and pilots offering to fly the jets for free in response to
a great national effort. We have lit candles and also applauded front line
staff on our streets.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There has been community bingo games in flats complexes in
Dublin city. On Twitter, the Minister for Health promised a small boy that the
tooth fairy will be able to visit him, despite the restrictions, to leave him
money for the tooth that fell out. He also promised that the Easter Bunny had
Garda clearance to deliver Easter eggs to kids all over the country. An
anonymous donor left €500.00 in a shop in Baile An Fheirtéraigh, west Kerry to
buy every child an Easter egg. I’m sure there are similar examples of kindness
across the country and the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This too will pass. We will all be together again soon. In
the meantime, we must do what we’re told and trust the medical and expert advice
and they will guide us through this period. As we have been doing all along, we
salute and respect our nursing, medical, and care staff putting their health
and their lives on the line. We are grateful for our front-line workers who
will keep the machinery moving while we are asked to stay at home. Our
Emergency workers, Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Gardaí, and others are people we
owe a debt to as even in normal times, they work when we are off. I am consoled
that the best minds in the world, medical, scientific, and research
professionals and students, are working day and night to find an answer to Covid
19 and to find a vaccine and they will. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We have journeyed together through Lent in the darkness of
this pandemic and we have arrived at Easter time. I recall the encounter of the
two disciples on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus comes up and walks with them
although they don’t recognise him. Eventually, their eyes were opened when he recalls
to them why the Christ should suffer. They finally realise who he is at table
in Emmaus. As it hits them, they can’t contain their joy and even though they
said they were tired, they find a new energy and they hurry back to Jerusalem
to share their good news. The disciples there also have encountered Jesus themselves.
“Then they told their story of what had happened and how they had recognised
Jesus at the breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:35)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Good news can’t be contained, it needs to be spread, and it has
to lift us. We pray that with the help of the risen Jesus, we pray that this
will pass, and that we will continue to find ways to connect with each other
from our isolation until we can soon be together again.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6201125998451636583.post-30708678645784158882020-04-08T13:09:00.001+01:002020-04-08T13:09:48.604+01:00A prayer for healing through the intercession of St. Padre Pio for all a...<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DEaMtqMxyXg" width="480"></iframe>Bryan Shortallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15716300646584328574noreply@blogger.com0