Forgiveness

Forgiveness To look forward, to want life, means we have to be willing to look backwards and become more conscious of all those who have hurt us, all that is broken in us and that has brought us inner deaths, hurts that we may have hidden and stifled. It means that we acknowledge the story of our origins, of our own lives, see and accept our brokenness and the times we also have hurt others. When we have accepted who we are and what we need in order to grow in compassion and peacemaking, we can move forward to give life. To forgive is a gift of God that permits us to let go of our past hurts. Jean Vanier, Finding Peace, page 47-48

Memories of a Young Irishman

Prayer by Leonard Cheshire

Prayer by Leonard Cheshire

As to your specific question, the total time to allot, each day divides itself into various forms of prayer. First is the more formal liturgical prayer, that is to say Mass and the Divine Office. I make it a habit to go to Mass each day, but if this is not possible, then I use my own Missal and read through the Mass privately. Intercessory prayer I regard as very important and I like to try and “visit” in imagination each of our Homes and the different projects and individuals with whom I am concerned. I do not linger on any one of them, still less enter into a dialogue, so to speak. My intention is to place myself consciously in the presence of God and then invite each Home or person in turn to sit quietly before Him. I find that this makes me feel much closer to those I am remembering, deepens my affection or love for them and actually gives me strength. The prayer of quiet is something apart and distinct from all the others. I set aside a period in the morning and a period in the evening, where possible three quarters of an hour each. Finally, there are devotions such as the Rosary or the Stations of the Cross.

Obviously, one should attempt to be praying in a different kind of way throughout the day, raising one’s mind briefly to God and little rules such as saying the briefest of prayers each time the telephone rings, or one enters a room and so on, can help form the habit. Scripture seems to call us to watch as well as to pray and seems to imply a difference between them. Watchfulness I look upon as being alert and open both for the promptings of the Holy Spirit and for the needs of one’s neighbour.

(Taken from “Child of My Love” by Sue Ryder)

There is a cause for the Canonisation of both Sue Ryder and Leonard Cheshire.

 Re:  Leonard Cheshire, anyone interested in the cause or wanting a prayer card should contact Fr James Fyfe, 69 queen's Rd, Wisbech, PE13 2PH. Details of answered prayers should be sent to: Leonard Cheshire Cause, c/o The White House, 21 Upgate, Poringland, Norfolk, NR14 7SH

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater or the state of Irish Catholicism

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater or the state of Irish Catholicism

One of the things that made me feel at home when we moved to Ireland, was the local Catholic Church and the fact that many more people shared the same faith than the general English population. Fr Sean Coyle, a friend and Columban Missionary who served for many years in the Philippines mentions that a Filipino lady felt at home one Christmas in Ireland. Read more here. Surely that is one of the wonderful things about Catholicism.

We recently published my dad’s little memoir and we can read throughout the stories the depth of faith throughout the life of his and many older Catholics. Interestingly, it was the fact that my dad was the tenth living child in his family that inspired me to my own large family of ten. I also became attracted to the depth of faith and many pious practices such as the rosary and novenas etc. In terms of passing on to the next generation, I’m not so sure I have been successful, since I hear that my mother thought one of my daughters was saying a novena for her, but it was in fact, that she was doing “Davina”.

I digress. Back to Ireland.

Andrew and I noticed that many of the Masses were well attended, even on a weekday. There still seems to be a love for the Church by many. It is fair to say though that there is a palpable hurt amongst many of the population. There were many people in institutions that suffered terrible abuse.  The Church undeniably held and wielded too much power. Many who should have been Christ like were anything but and it is no surprise that some people have walked far away from any contact with the Church.

We are at an interesting time in the Catholic Church “politically” in that we have a Pope emeritus and a Pope. There was a lot of excitement in traditional quarters during Pope Benedict’s pontificate, when many got a bit carried away. I put myself in that category, in the sense of believing that a return to things such as the “old Mass” or EF as it is referred to by some today, would save the faith. Then along came Pope Francis who appears to have turned this on its head.

How does this have any relevance for Ireland? It seems clear that the dogmas of the Church will never change, nor its view on marriage, abortion etc.  It would be a shame today though for people to see the Catholic Church as a rule book, the breaking of which will land you in hell. This attitude in the past was unsuccessful and rather than promoting a love for the Church filled many with fear and loathing.

Ireland may now be “mission territory”. In the same way that she sent many good people around the world spreading the Gospel, maybe those who heard and responded to the Good news will return, bringing a humbler, purified, gentler faith to Ireland.

Ireland has become dechristianised to a large extent, leaving room for the growth of other faiths and none. Islam is the fastest growing presently.

It is a terrible shame if the enormous good done by many of the clergy and the nuns in many cases is unrecognised.

One thing for sure is that the days of “forcing” religion are long gone. It is usually the case that a person has a “spiritual experience” or becomes evangelised by a personal encounter. Often we meet “Jesus” for the first time through encounter with a person.

If the Church is declining or decaying then it’s because we as a people are. If we are not vibrant, joyful and holy but rather depressed, bitter, whining, groaning for an old, authoritarian, judgemental church, then no wonder our children have walked right out the door.

Copyright @ Jackie Parkes

Fifty Something

It all seemed to happen so quickly. The arrival to 50 that is! Today we are very fortunate though, that God willing, we might have our health and opportunities are still many. At this stage of life some of us may be working full or part-time – either having stayed working whilst raising our families or going back to work, as our children reach adulthood.

Retirement is a strange phenomenon these days, with people going in and out of it as the age continues to be raised. In the UK , I will qualify for a state pension in 12 years time. Hopefully, I might be around to use it! Gone are the days when women got a state pension at age 60 and men at 65.

This year my plan is to write a book. My dad has just had his published at age 80.

What are your plans for 2018?

Gypsy Blood

Gypsy Blood

I often wonder if I have any gypsy blood in me. However, after a lot of geneaology work I can’t say I found any as yet. I wonder though if there’s a bit of the traveller in many Irish people.  Apparently, 1 in 6 Irish people now live abroad and about 6 million people in the UK have an Irish born parent. How is that for a few facts?

I love moving house. Well you see my husband and family do the work and I come up with the idea. Like the time I decided we should move to Ireland. That’s a story which I will get back to later. One of the reasons for moving back to the UK was to see my adorable grandchildren. That’s what I’m doing today.

Child of My Love - I'm reading again. So inspiring!

This is a record of the life and achievements of Baroness Ryder of Warsaw, better known as Sue Ryder. During the war, she served with the highly secret Special Operations Executive, created by Winston Churchill to co-ordinate Resistance activities in German-occupied Europe, attached to the Polish sections of SOE. What she witnessed from that time to the end of the war - especially the selfless, cheerful courage of men embarking on the most hazardous of operations - left her determined to relieve the suffering of a devastated continent. In 1953, she formed the Sue Ryder Foundation, which has grown steadily in size and in the scope of the help it offers to people in need. She intended that it should be "a living memorial to the victims who suffer and die as a result of persecution."