Tomorrow is the great feast of St. Patrick, and oh, how the Irish will celebrate! Especially Irish Americans, who tend to be louder than their brothers in sisters still on the Emerald Isle. As you drive through downtown areas across the country, you will hear a lot of noise coming out of local bars, but I must say, in defense of my heritage, not all of that volume is coming from Irish mouths. Look inside, and you will see Slavs, Germans, Italians, and a dozen other ethnic groups holding firmly to tall glasses of green beer. We ALL celebrate St. Patrick’s day!
Why do we do that in this country? We don’t have a comparable national celebration for those other ethnic traditions. I have a view but can’t prove it, that when the Irish came to this country in the mid 19th century, not only were they desperately poor, but they were holding on to agonizing memories of 700 bad years. Things were tough. Things were difficult, and so many times, things seemed hopeless. But, then they would remember their patron saint, this man who transformed Ireland and brought confidence, hope, and faith to the people. That hope has survived, but frequently that confidence has been sorely challenged, and that is the situation in Ireland today. More on that next week.
Hail, glorious St. Patrick!
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Can you visualize 5th Century Ireland? It was a land that was cold and almost constantly covered by fog. A large percentage of the territory was composed of bogs, which means the land was soft, sloppy, and difficult for walking. All in all, from 1400 years away, it seems to me to have been a very dreary place! Then…
Into the life and story of the Emerald Isle appears a man that while shrouded in mystery, nevertheless had an extraordinary impact on Ireland, future generations of Ireland, and all across the planet. St. Patrick had this influence not because of political or military leadership, but because he was a man of amazing faith, centering that faith on Jesus Christ in a manner that was so impressive that the people of Ireland were formed in that same faith and would remain steadfast in it until today.
The people of Ireland turned from the paganism that had marked their lives from time immemorial and committed themselves to the continued presence of Jesus, which vivifies the Catholic Church. Patrick may have been the most influential missionary since St. Paul. I believe that that is true, but yet we still know very little about him.
Onward through the bog!
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Many people are willing to admit that they tend to be somewhat hypersensitive. Since that is such a common failing, it’s no great shame. I do, however, tend to get somewhat irritated in Mid-March, when so many people remark negatively about the joyful influence present in much of American society on the 17th- ST. PATRICK’S DAY.
There are more people of English decent in this country than Irish. The same can be said of Germans. However, we don’t make a big deal of the feast days of St. Augustan and St. Boniface. To me, that’s so natural, there is no reason to become concerned.
Whether it be exaggerated or not, the Irish have a reputation for being joyful and optimistic- while loving life, they are nevertheless, not fearful of death. The Celts of that northern outpost civilization have had 8 centuries of oppression and poverty. While things did improve for the last 40 years, sadly, Ireland is in deep recession again.
Nevertheless, that natural optimisim, that boundless hope, gives them the strength to move forward with confidence.
Will you be at a St. Patrick’s Day party tomorrrow?
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A few weeks ago, I began to introduce some very thoughtful remarks by a parish priest in Ireland who had been ordained fifteen years and was making many positive suggestions regarding the improvement of pastoral care in that country. This is especially important in view of the scandals that have shaken the Church so dramatically and caused many, many Catholics to cease to practice the faith.
Today, I will quote from Father Dempsey’s remarks regarding consultation in the Church, especially as it applies to priests. Dempsey points out that at the time of his writing his diocese has no bishop. When that appointment is made it will have a dramatic affect on Dempsey and all the other priests of the diocese. Dempsey and his cohorts are mature men, well educated, strongly committed and working hard for the Church but their opinion will not be sought about a decision that will profoundly affect their lives for years to come.
He admits that there are a few inquiries to select clergy to get their opinion but those inquiries are supposed to be super-secretive. In point of fact, they are quasi-public. Dempsey closes with this statement. “We are told of renewal in the Irish Church in the light of recent revelations, but there seems to be a distinct lack of renewal in this very significant area of Church life. The present system…has not served us well in the past.”
Next, Dempsey takes up issues regarding serious pastoral problems related to the sacraments.
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The other day, I came across an interesting article by a parish priest in Ireland who had been ordained about 15 years. His interesting remarks are too long for me to summarize here but let me give, first of all, the background.
The author is Father Paul Dempsey, a priest of Kildare. Dempsey pointed out that in the mid-19th century one of the strongest leaders of the Church in Ireland was Cardinal Paul Cullen, and he worked to create a model of a priest required for pastoral administration. That model succinctly follows:
“The priest was to regard himself as a man apart, marked out by his black or dark dress and Roman collar, prayerful, devoted, carefully nourishing his necessary learning, all this supported by regular retreats and clerical conferences. His life was to centre on his church, the focus of sacramental life for his people.
In addition, total obedience to his superior, the bishop, was expected. The priest’s opinion was in no way significant and did not need to be listened to.
This model of priest has been promoted for well over a century and still, to a certain extent, is encouraged by many figures in the Church today.”
Dempsey rightly bemoans the fact that this model not only has NOT disappeared, but seems to be somewhat resurgent and he gives some examples. More on the opinion of this dedicated priest later this week.
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