Jack Charlton’s recent death left many deeply saddened. An iconic personality, that won the hearts of the Irish people. He made people believe in themselves. His cap. His fishing. His pint. His long ball. His mantra – “put ‘em under pressure.” Big Jack was very different to Bobby.  The poetry of Bobby contrasted with the prosaic Jack. He would have been impressed by Southampton at present. They play with heart and guts. He also lived as if there was more to life than football.  Jack was the strong centre half.  His ‘black book’ summed up his tough and rough play.  He was a much better player than he appeared. His crude coaching was more subtle than it seemed. He became a symbol of hope and confidence in Ireland.  Nothing was now impossible. There was fun. There was the-devil-may-care outlook which was orchestrated.  He was even credited with playing a part in the birth of the Celtic Tiger.  He had come from a mining background and had gone down in the mines himself.  He spent his playing days at Leeds.  Johnny Giles is still our man from Leeds.  Lorimer. Hunter. Bremner and of course Revie.  Leeds are coming again!

Leeds played a game where no quarter was given or expected. I even had the boldness to use Jack as a Metaphor for the Readings at mass recently!!. (Effectiveness of God’s word) God waiting for us. Expecting the best from us. Giving us confidence.  Go play. Make the best of everyday. Make the best of yourself.  Have a go……..   Thanks for the memories Jack. You lit up the country. People who never knew anything about soccer – became fans.  Where were you during Italia 90 or when that goal in Stuttgart was scored

The Elephant Rope (Belief)

A gentleman was walking through an elephant camp, and he spotted that the elephants weren’t being kept in cages or held by the use of chains.

All that was restraining them from escaping the camp, was a small piece of rope tied to one of their legs.

As the man gazed upon the elephants, he was completely confused as to why the elephants didn’t just use their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead, they didn’t try to at all.

Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a trainer nearby why the elephants were just standing there and never tried to escape.

The trainer replied; “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The only reason that the elephants weren’t breaking free and escaping from the camp was that over time they adopted the belief that it just wasn’t possible

Moral of the story:

No matter how much the world tries to hold you back, always continue with the belief that what you want to achieve is possible. Believing you can become successful is the most important step in actually achieving it.

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You don’t just wake up one morning, light streaming in from the window, birds fluttering about, and jump from your bed with exuberance declaring “I have a faith!”

No, it’s more like a slow crawl from your bed as you try to slam on the snooze button one last time.

Getting faith isn’t easy, even though people put the phrase “have faith!” on repeat like it’s no big deal. It’s a slow, sometimes agonising process that many people give up on, but in truth, it’s worth the wait. Having faith puts that pep in your step when you feel like you’ve busted a kneecap. It gets you to try one more time towards your righteous desires and keeps you smiling when all you want to do is crawl back into bed. Faith is the end result of a long journey, but makes the trip bearable.

But sometimes it can be hard to see the road to faith, or at least the end of the road. If you’ve found yourself in this spot, Martin Luther King Jr. has some wise words.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

So what is the first step? Honestly, it’s different for everyone. But if you’re having a hard time viewing that staircase, here are a few steps to get you started

Identify the Doubt

What’s causing you anxiety right now? What’s making you worry? What’s filling you with doubt? Pinpoint an area of your life that’s weighing you down and take some time to ponder why it’s so hard. If you need to, find a quiet space to meditate or pray about the things that are bothering you, and ask yourself why these things are having an impact on your life.

Why are we doing this? Because in order to identify a solution, we need to identify the problem.

Find Your Mantra

Having a little saying you can repeat to yourself in times of trouble is a great way to dispel fear. Faith is a concept that’s been around since the beginning of mankind, and you can find motivating quotes across the religious or spiritual spectrum. Take some time to search them out and find a phrase or quote that speaks to you. Put this quote somewhere you can see it often, like your phone. Then when you feel that fear or anxiety begin to rise, just take a deep breath, and repeat after them:

“Having faith does not mean having no difficulties, but having the strength to face them, knowing we are not alone.” – Pope Francis

“If it can be solved, there’s no need to worry, and if it can’t be solved, worry is of no use.” – Dalai Lama

“For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” – Luke 1:37

Take Action

Now that we’ve identified the problem and have a mantra to keep us focused, let’s work on that solution. Write your problem down and start brainstorming ways to fix it, even the hard ones. What are the obvious ways you can fix it? The not-so obvious? Make bullet points until you have a solid list, then go through and find the solution that would be the most effective.

And now you’ll take action. You might be afraid, but that’s okay. Faith isn’t about not having fear, it’s about acting anyway. So take that solution and run with it, not looking back.

Faith isn’t a one-step process, and it’s also not a one-stop shop. In order to find and keep faith, you’ll need to practice over and over again. But that’s okay! With each step you’ll become stronger and stronger until faith is your first reaction to challenges, not fear.

Prayer to become a Giving Person

Loving Father I come to You today with grateful thanks for the gifts and promises that so readily stream in my direction from You. So often Lord my foolish heart is filled with worry and anxiety and I find myself looking at the problem of my supply instead of looking to You as my generous Supplier. Please forgive this lack of trust in You, for I know that You have promised to supply all our needs according to Your riches in glory – for which Lord I thank and praise You.

Lord I want to be able to hand over each and every one of my worries to You and to develop a generous and outgiving personality – that keeps my eyes on Jesus, rather than continuing to be the “worrier” that I have become. I know that this does not honour Your name and I so desire to walk in the paths of righteousness and become a person with a generous heart that flows from Your own generosity-a grateful heart that is full of trust and thanks to You, who have done so much for me.

Lord I know that I cannot change my nature myself – but I do know that in the power of the Holy Spirit I can take my worrisome thoughts captive and hand them over to You – and turn my worries and anxieties into purposeful praise, knowing that in all things You are the supplier of all I need.

I ask this in Jesus name. Amen

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I have a recurring dream, it centres itself around my leaving cert. I find myself sitting my history exam and not having a clue of any of the answers. I wake up anxious but with a great sense of relief. The Leaving Cert is never easy, but this year, it has been most challenging.

The celebrated adventurer and chief scout Bear Grylls was asked in an interview where did he find the courage, strength, resilience to survive in inhospitable deserts, mountains and castaway islands. His response was simple “Any strength I have comes from when I am on my own, on my knees, it comes from taking time to be still with God”.

This week over 60,000 students will receive their leaving certificate results. I suggest that no  results, on a piece of paper, can ever determine or define the fantastic unique gifts and talents that every young person has in abundance. To measure kindness, compassion, optimism, energy, humour, is far more important. Humbly I find young people fantastic and in living with this pandemic, life has been really challenging for them.

This year’s leaving cert students have navigated a very different last term, with its palpable loss of iconic moments that can never be restored or regained. Let no one ever say “sure you’re the class of 2020, you’ve had it easy” because they haven’t. So much, too much has been asked of them in recent months as they were sommersaulted from one possible scenario to another.

There were strong voices on either side of the argument. Sitting ‘State Exams’ versus being awarded ‘Predictive Grades’. These students were the ones caught up in the middle. Now a little distance from that decision, made in the best interests of public safety, still carry your worries, your losses, your concerns.

The Leaving Cert is a Rite of Passage. It’s more than a school, it’s the spirit. It’s more than a class, it’s the memories. It’s more than a team, it’s the bonding. As the children’s author Lorraine Marwood, Australian author and poet, describes it so beautifully in her novel ‘Leave Taking”. It tells the story of a family who have decided to leave their farm after the death of their little daughter Leah from cancer. Her older brother Toby knows nowhere else to call his home; he spends the day with his dog Trigger saying goodbye to all the places, all the things, all the little memories that has made the farm his home. No matter what age we are, endings are as important as beginnings.

This generation is more conscious and environmentally attuned to climate change and climate justice than any previous one. I think of the Friday School Strike for Climate initiative and its founder Greta Thunberg, the same age as yourselves. You must now be the leaders in this movement and the prophet Micah reminds us how we protect our environment and how we care for one another by acting justly, loving tenderly and walking humbly with your God.

During his papacy Pope Francis has demonstrated his capacity to engage with young people. He clearly understands the pressures young people are under today, the challenges they experience, and their fears. At the Vigil of World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016 the Pope explained how fear leads to “the feeling of being closed in on oneself, trapped”. He challenged the 1.6 million young pilgrims present there to go back home and make a difference, remarking that “Jesus is inviting you, calling you, to leave your mark on life, to leave a mark on history, your own and that of many  others as well.” Recently Pope Francis speaking about our faith said, “Jesus keeps knocking on our doors, the doors of our lives. He doesn’t do this by magic, with special effects, with flashing lights and fireworks. Jesus keeps knocking on our door in the faces of our brothers and sisters, in the faces of our neighbours, in the faces of those at our side.” May the good Lord bless all our young people at this time, especially those receiving their leaving Cert results this week.

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A woman, pushing on in years, boasted to her pastor that she did not have an enemy in the world. He was very impressed. What a wonderful thing to be able to say after all those years! And then she added: – ‘I have outlived them all’. I suppose if we live long enough we will also be able to make the same statement.

We have all been hurt in some way or other in the journey of life–made fun of in school by a teacher, not invited to the wedding, didn’t get the job I thought I should have got, or at a more serious level, betrayed by someone you trusted, abused physically or emotionally and so on.

Sheila Cassidy, who was herself tortured in South America, had this to say: – ‘I would never say to someone ‘you must forgive’. I would not dare. Who am I to tell a woman whose father abused her or a mother whose daughter has been raped that she must forgive? I can only say: ‘However much we have been wronged, however justified our hatred, if we cherish it, it will poison us. We must pray for the power to forgive, for it is in forgiving that we are healed’. Nelson Mandela continually reminded his fellow prisoners in South Africa that unless they let go of their hurts they would remain in the grip of their abusers.

By failing to forgive, we hurt ourselves more than anyone else. Surely this is what Jesus had in mind when he told how the merciless servant was cast into prison when he refused to forgive his fellow servant. I don’t think he was suggesting that God would cancel his mercy. He is simply saying that an unforgiving spirit creates a prison of its own. It builds up walls of bitterness and resentment and there is no escape until we come to forgive.

Forgiving and letting go is not easy, especially when the wound is very deep. This is why I call forgiveness the ‘F’ word, because it’s not to be used lightly. Forgiveness is a choice and often involves a three stage process: (1) I will never forgive that person (2) I can’t forgive (forgiveness seen as a good thing, but the hurt is too great) (3) I want to forgive and let go with God’s help.

Also we must learn to forgive ourselves. Imagine you are responsible for something very serious. You are driving a car with drink. There is an accident and a young person is killed. That life cannot be brought back. For more and more people there is a something in the background, some skeleton in the closet–a broken marriage, a broken relationship, a serious mistake. And for many of us we do not believe that there is another chance much less a seven times seventy chances. This is not the teaching of Jesus. God does not just give us another chance, but every time we close a door he opens another one for us.

The Lord challenges us not to make serious damaging mistakes, but he also tells us that our mistakes are not forever–they are not even for a life time–and that time and grace wash clean, that nothing is irrevocable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Pope Francis has said “gossiping is a worse plague” than the coronavirus, claiming it can be used to divide the Roman Catholic Church.

Speaking during his weekly address from a window above St Peter’s Square, Francis urged people to “never gossip”

Francis continued: “The devil is the great gossip. He is always saying bad things about others because he is the liar who tries to split the Church.”

In the unscripted comments, the 83-year-old added: “If something goes wrong, offer silence and prayer for the brother or sister who make a mistake, but never gossip.”

It is the not the first time Francis has brought up the subject of gossiping. In 2016, he urged priests and nuns to avoid spreading stories within their community to prevent the “terrorism of gossip”.

The heart of the Gospel is one of healing and forgiveness. May we all go in the grace to be able to let go, so we can begin again.

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Matt Talbot was born May 1856 in Dublin Ireland. He was one of twelve children, six of whom lived to adulthood. His father was a heavy drinker and, as a result, the family grew up in poverty. Typical of his era, Matt spent just one year at school. There was no compulsory education and he was unable to read or write. He entered the workforce at age twelve, employed by E & J Burke, a firm which bottled beer. His drinking began with taking the dregs from the bottom of bottles, which had been returned. Within two years, he graduated to whiskey and by the time he was sixteen, he came home drunk regularly.

By the time he was in his twenties, he spent all his wages and spare time in O’Meara’s Pub. As far as the neighbours in that area of Dublin were concerned, Matt Talbot was a habitual drunk. Today with our understanding of the illness of alcoholism there is little doubt that he was already a chronic alcoholic. Drink had become Matt’s only interest in life. When his wages were spent, he borrowed and scrounged for money. He pawned his clothes and boots. He supplemented his wages by doing extra work after hours. Among other things he minded horses outside a tavern, while the owners enjoyed themselves inside. The tips he received bought him more drink. He became a thief, once stealing a fiddle from a blind man. On Saturday he would come home with just a shilling from his wages for his mother. His life had become unmanageable. His drinking companions had several hobbies: swimming, playing cards, and girlfriends. Matt had only one – alcoholic drink.

By the time he was twenty-eight, he was well on the road to self-destruction, when a traumatic incident changed his life. On a Saturday morning in 1884, he waited outside O’Meara’s without a penny in his pocket. He had been unemployed that week. His  problem, he told himself, would be quickly solved. When he had money, he shared it generously with his drinking friends. Therefore, he reasoned, they would not reject him in his misfortune. But they did. One by one, they passed him. Some greeted him; others ignored him. Perhaps he had scrounged money from them too often, but they left him standing on the corner. Matt Talbot was stunned and shocked. Years later, he said that he was “cut to the heart.” But, it was a moment of grace. After some time thinking about his problem, he realised that he was totally enslaved to drink. He made his way home slowly. His mother was preparing the lunch when he arrived. In nineteenth century Ireland it was common for someone who wished to stop drinking to take a solemn pledge before a priest to abstain for a period of time. Mrs. Talbot could not believe her eyes when Matt came home sober on that fateful Saturday morning. “Ma, I’m going to take the pledge for life,” he said. He headed off to a nearby seminary where the priest persuaded him that he should take the pledge for ninety days only.

Those three months were sheer hell. We understand today the withdrawal symptoms of addiction, but in 1884 Matt Talbot had no one to share his suffering – the hallucinations, the depression and nausea. But he had an iron will, a rock-like stubbornness that stood him well down through the years. “I know that I will drink again when the three months are up,” he would remark to his mother. To fill in the time he used to spend in O’Meara’s, Matt went for a walk every evening after work. During one of those walks his resolution almost broke. He passed Bushe’s Public House about a mile from his home just as it opened. He caught the strong smell of beer and saw the crowded bar. The barman was busy serving the local men, and he paid little attention to this stranger waiting at the counter. Matt felt humiliated for the second time within a few weeks. Deeply hurt, he stormed out of the bar down the street and into a Jesuit Church. That evening he made another resolution, never to carry money with him. He kept that resolution for the rest of his life.

Dropping into a Church to rest during his walks became a habit. Matt was neither fit nor religious-minded. He grew tired quickly and since he could not rest in a Tavern or sit down on a public street, a church provided the haven he sought. Gradually he began to pray, to ask God to help him. To find the strength to remain sober he decided to attend Mass every morning before work and to receive Holy Communion. This was very unusual in the 1880’s when the average good layman went to Mass just on Sunday and received Communion only at Easter and Christmas. At the end of three months, Matt took the pledge to abstain from alcohol for six months and finally took it for life.

Matt Talbot now turned all his effort to increasing his union with God and developing his life of prayer. The strict ascetical life of the early Irish monks attracted him. Their love of prayer with the emphasis on penance and humility, and manual labour dedicated to God, appealed to him. He turned to a Jesuit Father, Father James Welshe to help him. His austere daily program may shock us today in an affluent society that demands comfort. He allowed himself just four or five hours sleep at night and arose about 5am to prepare for early Mass. Then he would return home for breakfast. Afterwards he would set off for work in the lumberyard of T. & C. Martin. He was a conscientious worker. Many years later, one of his former foremen described him as “the best worker in Dublin” who was often chosen to set the pace for others. But at a time when Dublin labourers were often exploited, he was not a “bosses” man. He had learned to read and write and was quite ready to discuss the rights of workers. Since he was a member of many religious associations, he attended a meeting almost every evening. When he came home about 9pm or 10pm it was time for his spiritual reading. His spiritual reading ended about 1am, and he retired for four hours rest before beginning his daily routine again. He did not go to work on Sunday but went to one of the City Churches and would kneel in an obscure corner from the first Mass at 6am until mid-day.

Despite his austerities, Matt was a small tough man – “as strong as a little horse”, according to a fellow worker. He had an iron will and a constitution to match. Neither the other workers in T&C. Martin’s, nor the fellow dockers on Dublin’s waterfront had an idea that he was leading a life modelled on the early Irish monks. He was a happy little man, although more silent than others. “Matt smiled at everything except a dirty joke,” a friend remarked. But many workers knew about his generosity. Matt lent them money to buy clothes or shoes for their children or to pay overdue rent.

Matt Talbot died suddenly from a heart attack in Granby Lane on the way to Mass on Sunday, June 7th, 1925. He was buried in what was virtually a pauper’s grave in Glasnevin Cemetery a few days later. The story of his life came to light because when his body was undressed, three chains were discovered wrapped around it. Inquiries disclosed that he practiced a devotion known as the slavery to Mary. The underlying idea was that a person who considered himself a spiritual slave to the Mother of God would remain close to her and to Jesus, her son. The devotion included wearing one fine, loose chain. It was typical of Matt Talbot to wear three. In 1972 his remains were removed to a tomb in Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Sean McDermott Street. In 1975 the Holy See conferred the title “Venerable” on him, which means that from a purely human point of view, Matt Talbot has the qualifications of a Saint. If this Opinion is confirmed by the Miracles required by Canon Law, he will be canonised.

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Whether you’re struggling with the fear and isolation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or you’re just having one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right, relying on faith can help carry you through.

I took some time to reflect on how my faith guides me during my life so I could offer some guidance to you

1. Maintain your faith at all times

I really don’t separate good times or hard times from my faith. I am blessed to have my life penetrated with the gift of faith and I have striven to have my relationship with Jesus (God) be as authentic a relationship as I would have with a physical person. I have scheduled prayer and worship as a part of my day. I pray that God will soften my heart during those times and make me attentive so that it is not “work” or “routine,” but true worship that I offer. In this, I desire to come to know and understand His love in my life and what He is asking of me. I also practice The Daily Examen, which is essential to be able to reflect on my day, my emotions, my interactions and my responses all in the light of Christ and what He is calling me to.

2. Find practices that bring you peace

I often go to the Passion of Christ sections of the Bible (Mark 14-15, Matthew 26-27, Luke 22-23, John 18-19) because I find my challenges can be best united to His. I ask for His wisdom to look at the situations I am in with His eyes and to be able to walk with His Heart. I use the Scriptural Stations of the Cross, which follows the walk of Jesus to Calvary. This has made my reflections and prayers come more alive because my body walks from Station to Station and my focus becomes engaged in His, carrying our sins, our wounds, our pain to an ultimate redemption. I also rest in the Psalms, which seem to hold within them all the varied emotions I feel when going through difficult times. I keep the structure of prayer and worship intact, which creates a backbone and consistent support to my day. When I get grumpy and negative, I can confess this before God for forgiveness and strength to move on.

3. Lay your struggles before God

During hard times, I bring my true emotions, the conversations I have with others, including their concerns, into my prayer. I lay them at the feet of Jesus, to whom I have grown in trust and confidence. It is His wisdom and love that gives me confidence and hope, even when my emotions struggle. Struggling is normal and I would say in many ways essential to growing in faith. If we can’t go before God in truth then we are not in a right relationship with Him. I think we should bring every emotion, fear, doubt and concern to Him. If you are in a relationship with someone and a lack of trust has come into that relationship, it is important for that relationship that the doubts are openly talked about. It is the same with my relationship with God. I need to be able to say to God, “I am doubting you. I am angry at you. I am feeling torn apart. Help me!” I think saying out loud how we feel to God allows Him to respond back in our heart and through others and there can be spiritual peace.

4. Rely on your support systems

If I am not internally able to share my struggles with God, I find a close friend to share my heart with, someone who cares enough to listen, not necessarily to do something. I think it is important that we accept and understand that we are created for community, for relationship. We need love, support, kindness, hope and confidence to gain strength to deal with the challenges of life, and we find that in and through our relationships.

This helps us better understand ourselves, take better control of the situation we are in and gain balance and perspective on things.

5. Find the good

Also remember to have a heart of gratitude and find some good in your day, to claim it as good and to tell someone of that good. We need laughter. Read a funny book, watch a truly funny movie. Remember that God is bigger than COVID-19, He is bigger than a bad week and this time on earth will be very short compared to the gift of Heaven. Loving God, please grant me peace of mind and calm. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose and walk the path you’ve laid out for me. I trust in your Love God, and know that you will heal and refresh my mind and body. Just as the sun rises each day against the dark of night. Let your grace and strength anoint me with your healing love.

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Upon his election in March 2013, Pope Francis said: ‘Some people want to know why I wished to be called Francis. For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.’

Since then, the Pope’s Franciscan “accent” has become increasingly evident. His manner of living is both faithful to the teachings of Jesus and illuminated by the spirit of the “poor little man” from Assisi. The title of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment Laudato si is taken from the first line of St Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures which is one of the best insights into the saint’s vision for life. It is crucial to grasping how St. Francis understood the message of the gospel — and may offer a glimpse into Pope Francis’ own vision for the world. After his election as pope, it was revealed that Pope Francis had been the runner-up in the previous conclave in 2005 that elected Pope Benedict. But in 2013 it was generally thought that Jorge Bergoglio was too old to be considered again, and he must of thought so himself, because he bought a round-trip ticket from Buenos Aires to Rome for the election.

Yet, as the conclave proceeded, Bergoglio had to think again what being pope could mean, and what name he would choose if he were elected. By becoming Pope Francis, he managed to express in that name much of what he hoped to accomplish during his papacy. St. Francis of Assisi was synonymous with themes Pope Francis quickly made his own: He was devoted to the poor, he preached God’s mercy, he sought to reform the church and he was passionate about caring for Creation

The annual feast of St. Francis invites us to reflect on the life of the saint and to ask if his namesake has succeeded in advancing his vision for the Church. Within hours of his election, Pope Francis quoted Pope John XXIII’s wish to bring the global church closer to the poor and to its original mission expressed by Jesus when he began his ministry in Nazareth quoting the prophet Isaiah, saying he was “anointed to bring good news to the poor.” Pope Francis has worked steadily to address the needs of the poor by challenging income inequality, the exploitation of workers, by pleading for migrants displaced by war, changing weather, industrial pollution, dumping and the indiscriminate and unequal consumption of natural resources. He proclaimed a Year of Mercy to promote God’s unconditional love and to focus on reconciliation within the church as the face of God’s mercy to sinners.

Jesus told St. Francis to “repair my church,” and Pope Francis has been tireless in seeking to reform governance and internal structures, financial accountability and by addressing the scandal of child sexual abuse that has so damaged the church’s credibility and its ability to evangelize.

Perhaps Pope Francis’ most urgent task has been pleading with nations and world leaders to protect the planet, “our common home,” as the one goal and challenge that will determine all other changes needed to avert disaster now and for future generations.

St. Francis modelled simplicity and evangelical poverty as the antidote to a medieval church losing its identity because of wealth and corruption. His community of friars grew rapidly as young people found a way to live purposely and free of material greed and preoccupation with status and power.  St. Francis imitated the poor Jesus and his passionate love for the poor.

Pope Francis has not shied away from sounding the alarm and probing the consciences of our age about what history will say of those who knew what was coming but did nothing.

St. Francis, who died at age 44, exhausted by his efforts to repair God’s church and protect the planet and God’s poor, now speaks again to us on his feast and through his beloved and courageous brother, Pope Francis.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

And where there is sadness, joy

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,

To be understood, as to understand, to be loved, as to love

For it is in giving that we receive, and it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen

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On the anniversary of St Francis of Assisi’s death, Pope Francis celebrates Mass before the Saint’s tomb and signed his Encyclical “Fratelli tutti”. Pope Francis, has warned against “myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism” in some countries, and a “growing loss of the sense of history” in a major document outlining his view of the world

Fratelli Tutti – the third  encyclical letter addressed to the whole of the Catholic church, of his papacy – was published on Sunday, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, amid global uncertainty and anxiety over the Covid-19 pandemic and rising populism.

Pope Francis urges nations to work towards a just and fraternal world based on common membership of the human family. He expands on familiar themes in his teachings, including opposition to war, the death penalty, slavery, trafficking, inequality and poverty; concerns about alienation, isolation and social media; and support for migrants fleeing violence and seeking a better life.

Pope Francis had begun writing the encyclical when the pandemic “unexpectedly erupted”. But, he says, the crisis has reinforced his belief that political and economic institutions must be reformed to address the needs of those most harmed by it. The global health emergency has demonstrated that “no one can face life in isolation” and that the “magic theories” of market capitalism have failed. “As I was writing this letter, the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly erupted, exposing our false securities,” the Pope’s document reads. “Aside from the different ways that various countries responded to the crisis, their inability to work together became quite evident…. Anyone who thinks that the only lesson to be learned was the need to improve what we were already doing, or to refine existing systems and regulations, is denying reality.

“The recent pandemic enabled us to recognise and appreciate once more all those around us who, in the midst of fear, responded by putting their lives on the line. We began to realise that our lives are interwoven with and sustained by ordinary people valiantly shaping the decisive events of our shared history: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caretakers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests and religious… They understood that no one is saved alone. “The fragility of world systems in the face of the pandemic has demonstrated that not everything can be resolved by market freedom. It is imperative to have a proactive economic policy directed at ‘promoting an economy that favours productive diversity and business creativity’ and makes it possible for jobs to be created, and not cut.” Francis says a “certain regression” has taken place in today’s world. He notes the rise of “myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism” in some countries, and “new forms of selfishness and a loss of the social sense”.

The leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics says “we are more alone than ever” in a world of “limitless consumerism” and “empty individualism” where there is a “growing loss of the sense of history” and a “kind of deconstructionism”.

“Hyperbole, extremism and polarisation” have become political tools in many countries, he writes, without “healthy debates” and long-term plans but rather “slick marketing techniques aimed at discrediting others”. He notes that “we are growing ever more distant from one another” and that voices “raised in defence of the environment are silenced and ridiculed”.

Addressing digital culture, he criticises campaigns of “hatred and destruction” and says technology is removing people from reality. Fraternity depends on “authentic encounters”. He writes: “Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.”

He also speaks eloquently of kindness that involves “speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement” and not “words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn.” For Francis, however, kindness is not just a personal virtue, but something that needs to permeate culture. Because kindness “entails esteem and respect for others, once kindness becomes a culture within society it transforms lifestyles, relationships and the ways ideas are discussed and compared,” he writes.  “Kindness facilitates the quest for consensus; it opens new paths where hostility and conflict would burn all bridges.” This should lead to a “culture of encounter,” he says, where people “should be passionate about meeting others, seeking points of contact, building bridges, planning a project that includes everyone.”

These days, are challenging for us all. May we all embrace the power of hope and kindness at this moment in our lives.

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Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the boiled eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. ‘Daughter, what do you see?

‘Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,’ she hastily replied.

‘Look closer,’ he said, ‘and touch the potatoes.’ She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. ‘Father, what does this mean?’ she asked

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity – the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

‘Which are you,’ he asked his daughter. ‘When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Living out the virtue of Christian hope when confronted with adversity that we cannot control or overcome, allows us to dig deep to unearth a level of confident patience and perseverance that will sustain us. It can also give us the courage to resist, challenge and triumph over adversity and so circumstances that seem hopeless to some people will seem less so to those living in accordance with this virtue. This is because as Christians, death no longer needs to be considered as the moment of our annihilation and similarly, in moments of crisis and adversity we can come to know that we are held by a love that is stronger even than death itself

Very much in line with the famous adage of mystic Julian of Norwich – “All will be well” -Christians have the ability to remain joyful in all circumstances, however difficult, because of their knowledge that God gently guides history and cares in an intimate way about us. Our opportunity, is to deepen trust, that our lives are safe in God’s hands, that God has a plan for us all, calling us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

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2020, has been some roller-coaster, that will be remembered for generations to come, as the year of the pandemic. As we begin weeks of greater restrictions, I pray that healing, will visit all who are recovering from Covid at this time. This week, we begin winter time. November, is a time to  remember all our loved ones who have gone before us. Death is that challenging confrontation that reminds us “We are only here for a short time”. Death points us to mystery. A Christian proclamation, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”. Funerals have been most difficult for bereaved families during this pandemic. As a people, we do the funeral rituals very well, but so much of what was once the normal has been taken from funerals at this time. Who would have thought that we could not shake hands to offer sympathy, a gesture that was so associated in reaching out to the bereaved in times of death. Sincere prayers throughout the month of November for all who were recently bereaved.

Halloween did not come from Hollywood but rather its origins are strongly connected to ancient Celtic roots. In Celtic Ireland about two millennia ago, Samhain was the point between the lighter (summer) and darker halves (winter) of the year. At Samhain, the gap between this and the other world was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to pass through. People’s ancestors were honoured and invited home, while harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as spirits to avoid harm. Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into a communal blaze, household fires were extinguished and started again from the bonfire. Food was prepared for the living and the dead and was ritually shared with the less well-off.

Christianity incorporated honouring of the dead into the  Christian calendar with All Saints (All Hallows) 1st November, followed by All Souls on the following day. The wearing of costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits has survived as Halloween customs. The Irish emigrated to America in great numbers during the 19th century, especially around the time of famine in Ireland during the 1840s. The Irish carried their Halloween traditions to America, where it is now one of the major holidays of the year. November is the time of year when we remember the souls of loved ones who have gone before us.

November is a difficult time of year. The beginning of  winter brings long nights and cooler days. This can be a time of loneliness and anxiety, especially for those who live alone. In our Celtic tradition, we have a great sense of our own mortality and vulnerability during this month. The Celtic  festival of Samhain was a time to remember all who had gone before. Death is difficult and painful. It strips us of the familiar and often leaves us naked and vulnerable with our bereavement and painful losses, which we all have experienced when a loved one dies. The death of a loved one often leaves many unanswered questions as we attempt to carry on without a husband, wife, sibling or friend.

Perhaps the two most powerful lines in the entire Gospel describe the human emotion felt by Jesus when his friend  Lazarus died: “Jesus wept.” Jesus knew the pain and hurt that comes when a loved one dies. And for God to fully embrace the human condition, he also had to embrace death itself through his son.

The humiliating and brutal manner of Christ’s death united God with all types of suffering and persecution. The final words that came from our dying God was a prayer of welcome and wonderful invitation: “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” We know from our experience that the leaves will blossom again, that spring will come. Christ’s death was the ultimate demonstration of love by his father. As he was awoken to new life and resurrection, so, too, are all of us who believe in him. As we remember our loved ones who have died and pray for them, we do so with great hope in our hearts.

St. Paul tells us that “our true home is in Heaven”. May all our loved ones enjoy the eternal promise of life and peace in the happiness and joy of God’s presence. Jesus tells us: “I am going ahead of you to prepare a place for you, so that where I am, you, too, shall be.” And despite the pain that comes when a loved one dies, in faith we are encouraged to hope in the reality that God’s love is even brighter than death itself. Pádraig Pearse once told a beautiful story to demonstrate our Christian hope regarding death. In the month of September, the little boy asked his mother where do all the swallows go to? She replied: “To the land where it is always summer.” We all have “Loved and Lost”; May all we remember enjoy the light of an eternal flame.

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1. Life is messy (Covid especially: world-wide mess, winter weather, weariness)

The lived experience of life is what makes us who we are. If we lived in a perfect existence we would never grow. Life is not always a smooth ride. It is, in fact, by its very nature messy at times. Remember God didn’t send Covid like an Old Testament plague, so forget about conspiracy theories or superstition. Faith doesn’t protect you from the storms of life but it gives you courage to steer a course.

2. God is in the mess with you (i.e. the Covid pandemic)

God deals directly with us and is present to us, so our job is to recognise where God is present in our everyday lives. Even in the mess of things, in the dirt and muck of things at times, God is always there. That may be unexpected but it is liberating. We’ve seen God at work in these Covid times: the community sense, helping others, Frontline workers’ commitment, the emergence of the Common Good, focusing on important things: God, family, relationships, kindness, reaching out.

3. There are two forces working on us (one of light and one of dark)

There are two voices speaking to us at any moment: one is from God and leads to life, while the other he calls the ‘enemy of human nature’ and leads to ‘death’. While this is primarily a spiritual insight, it obviously has huge implications for mental health and psychological well-being. Ultimately, it boils down to consistently making life enhancing decisions, tackling the seductive demons and unmasking them. We can’t afford to be naive, listening to the wrong voice leads to destructive  consequences.

4. Learn how to discern (tune in to God’s guidance)

This is about identifying what is the unhelpful inner movement (anxiety, shame and paralysis, desolation) and moving towards a more positive one (connection, reconciliation, positive action; consolation). God is normally calling us through our humanity, our deeper feelings, not normally in miracles and ‘signs’. Using these movements of consolation and desolation, we can tune in to what God is saying and make the adjustments necessary to align ourselves with God’s plan and live a more rewarding life. Covid is a time to look deeper, there are gifts or blessings in it, you can respond more maturely, find God in it, how to respond, live in the reality, and make good choices.

5. The answer lies within us (God in our deepest feelings, not superficial ones)

Life is tough and feelings can be the toughest things of all. Learn to befriend them, understand them and realise that you are much more than your feelings; you’re not your feelings. Everything in life passes – savour the good and let go of the bad. Feelings come and go. Learn to watch them like clouds coming into your life, and remember just as you can’t hold onto a cloud, your job is to let your surface feelings go too.

6. Fear or anxiety is not a good counsellor (fear around Covid, illness, work, safety etc.)

The trap for people with a tendency to be fearful is to canonise that emotion such that it dominates all decision making. Of course, there is an opposite understandable reaction which sees us override all fear and behave recklessly. The point is that both are driven by fear and lack balance – fear can be a useful indicator to be cautious about some undertaking but taken  to an extreme it is crippling and immobilising. The best formulation might be ‘feel the fear and do the best thing  anyway’. (Act against the fear/anxiety; Have the courage to implement your best decisions, get back your peace & power).

7. The paradox of suffering (the experience of the Cross)

This ‘U’ shaped curve pattern seems to apply to almost any human process of change: things get worse before they get better. This is also the spiritual process sometimes called ‘the dark night’ or the ‘Way of the Cross’. Understanding this process helps a lot in terms of keeping hope alive, knowing what to expect, getting your head right, and crucially how to pray in really tough times, as Jesus did on the Cross, such that you come through and experience the light at the end of the tunnel. Through faith our hope is strengthened, we learn how it is possible to pray our way through dark lockdown times. Remember especially, if you are feeling abandoned and empty, God is carrying you (‘footprints in the sand’), God is close to you, but we need to learn how to interpret these times and pray through them as Jesus does. Generally, you have to pass through the experience of the Cross or Passion to appreciate the light.

8. Prayer is about finding God’s will

This is the most challenging thing as it demands prayer is not about my needs, rather I need help from a higher power to face situations and make good decisions. A bit like charging a battery, there is no shortcut for being plugged into the source for a certain time and frequency. This prayer has to result in some positive, practical action, acting more like Christ, e.g. reaching out to others. It becomes easier with practice.

9. It is about God working through us

St. Paul says that the Spirit prays within us. God needs priority access to our hearts and time to make great instruments of us. It’s more about listening and learning, God will meet us more than halfway. In any close, loving relationship, people find a way to relate through words, gestures, signs or symbols. It is about finding some way that works; each of us are different and different things will work. As Pope Francis says each of us has our own path to God based on how we are uniquely made. Some of us use sight, some actions, some words and some gestures to communicate our love for others. Our job is to try out different ways of praying and learn what works in terms of God becoming more and more the centre of our lives

10. You always have a choice

If we are created by God, and we are in constant  communication with our creator, then God has a plan for us. Like a GPS buried inside us, it is possible to get guidance and direction by stopping being busy, creating a space, and looking at what is coming up within us. It is only in reflection, looking back over the experience, that all of us are able to sort out what was genuine. Similarly, for us, feelings and moods are messy, but with practice and some guidance it is possible to find a way of getting a good GPS reading and moving forward. We have to allow ourselves to be guided, finding the way like pilgrims on the road.

I sincerely pray, in these days of winter darkness, we will be overwhelmed by the much brighter light that comes from God’s consolation.

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A woman, pushing on in years, boasted to her pastor that she did not have an enemy in the world. He was very impressed. What a wonderful thing to be able to say after all those years! And then she added: – ‘I have outlived them all’. I suppose if we live long enough we will also be able to make the same statement.

We have all been hurt in some way or other in the journey of life–made fun of in school by a teacher, not invited to the wedding, didn’t get the job I thought I should have got, or at a more serious level, betrayed by someone you trusted, abused physically or emotionally and so on.

Sheila Cassidy, who was herself tortured in South America, had this to say: – ‘I would never say to someone ‘you must forgive’. I would not dare. Who am I to tell a woman whose father abused her or a mother whose daughter has been raped that she must forgive? I can only say: ‘However much we have been wronged, however justified our hatred, if we cherish it, it will poison us. We must pray for the power to forgive, for it is in forgiving that we are healed’. Nelson Mandela continually reminded his fellow prisoners in South Africa that unless they let go of their hurts they would remain in the grip of their abusers.

By failing to forgive, we hurt ourselves more than anyone else. Surely this is what Jesus had in mind when he told how the merciless servant was cast into prison when he refused to forgive his fellow servant. I don’t think he was suggesting that God would cancel his mercy. He is simply saying that an unforgiving spirit creates a prison of its own. It builds up walls of bitterness and resentment and there is no escape until we come to forgive.

Forgiving and letting go is not easy, especially when the wound is very deep. This is why I call forgiveness the ‘F’ word, because it’s not to be used lightly. Forgiveness is a choice and often involves a three stage process: (1) I will never forgive that person (2) I can’t forgive (forgiveness seen as a good thing, but the hurt is too great) (3) I want to forgive and let go with God’s help.

Also we must learn to forgive ourselves. Imagine you are responsible for something very serious. You are driving a car with drink. There is an accident and a young person is killed. That life cannot be brought back. For more and more people there is a something in the background, some skeleton in the closet–a broken marriage, a broken relationship, a serious mistake. And for many of us we do not believe that there is another chance much less a seven times seventy chances. This is not the teaching of Jesus. God does not just give us another chance, but every time we close a door he opens another one for us.

The Lord challenges us not to make serious damaging mistakes, but he also tells us that our mistakes are not forever–they are not even for a life time–and that time and grace wash clean, that nothing is irrevocable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Pope Francis has said “gossiping is a worse plague” than the coronavirus, claiming it can be used to divide the Roman Catholic Church.

Speaking during his weekly address from a window above St Peter’s Square, Francis urged people to “never gossip”

Francis continued: “The devil is the great gossip. He is always saying bad things about others because he is the liar who tries to split the Church.”

In the unscripted comments, the 83-year-old added: “If something goes wrong, offer silence and prayer for the brother or sister who make a mistake, but never gossip.”

It is the not the first time Francis has brought up the subject of gossiping. In 2016, he urged priests and nuns to avoid spreading stories within their community to prevent the “terrorism of gossip”.

The heart of the Gospel is one of healing and forgiveness. May we all go in the grace to be able to let go, so we can begin again.

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Matt Talbot was born May 1856 in Dublin Ireland. He was one of twelve children, six of whom lived to adulthood. His father was a heavy drinker and, as a result, the family grew up in poverty. Typical of his era, Matt spent just one year at school. There was no compulsory education and he was unable to read or write. He entered the workforce at age twelve, employed by E & J Burke, a firm which bottled beer. His drinking began with taking the dregs from the bottom of bottles, which had been returned. Within two years, he graduated to whiskey and by the time he was sixteen, he came home drunk regularly.

By the time he was in his twenties, he spent all his wages and spare time in O’Meara’s Pub. As far as the neighbours in that area of Dublin were concerned, Matt Talbot was a habitual drunk. Today with our understanding of the illness of alcoholism there is little doubt that he was already a chronic alcoholic. Drink had become Matt’s only interest in life. When his wages were spent, he borrowed and scrounged for money. He pawned his clothes and boots. He supplemented his wages by doing extra work after hours. Among other things he minded horses outside a tavern, while the owners enjoyed themselves inside. The tips he received bought him more drink. He became a thief, once stealing a fiddle from a blind man. On Saturday he would come home with just a shilling from his wages for his mother. His life had become unmanageable. His drinking companions had several hobbies: swimming, playing cards, and girlfriends. Matt had only one – alcoholic drink.

By the time he was twenty-eight, he was well on the road to self-destruction, when a traumatic incident changed his life. On a Saturday morning in 1884, he waited outside O’Meara’s without a penny in his pocket. He had been unemployed that week. His  problem, he told himself, would be quickly solved. When he had money, he shared it generously with his drinking friends. Therefore, he reasoned, they would not reject him in his misfortune. But they did. One by one, they passed him. Some greeted him; others ignored him. Perhaps he had scrounged money from them too often, but they left him standing on the corner. Matt Talbot was stunned and shocked. Years later, he said that he was “cut to the heart.” But, it was a moment of grace. After some time thinking about his problem, he realised that he was totally enslaved to drink. He made his way home slowly. His mother was preparing the lunch when he arrived. In nineteenth century Ireland it was common for someone who wished to stop drinking to take a solemn pledge before a priest to abstain for a period of time. Mrs. Talbot could not believe her eyes when Matt came home sober on that fateful Saturday morning. “Ma, I’m going to take the pledge for life,” he said. He headed off to a nearby seminary where the priest persuaded him that he should take the pledge for ninety days only.

Those three months were sheer hell. We understand today the withdrawal symptoms of addiction, but in 1884 Matt Talbot had no one to share his suffering – the hallucinations, the depression and nausea. But he had an iron will, a rock-like stubbornness that stood him well down through the years. “I know that I will drink again when the three months are up,” he would remark to his mother. To fill in the time he used to spend in O’Meara’s, Matt went for a walk every evening after work. During one of those walks his resolution almost broke. He passed Bushe’s Public House about a mile from his home just as it opened. He caught the strong smell of beer and saw the crowded bar. The barman was busy serving the local men, and he paid little attention to this stranger waiting at the counter. Matt felt humiliated for the second time within a few weeks. Deeply hurt, he stormed out of the bar down the street and into a Jesuit Church. That evening he made another resolution, never to carry money with him. He kept that resolution for the rest of his life.

Dropping into a Church to rest during his walks became a habit. Matt was neither fit nor religious-minded. He grew tired quickly and since he could not rest in a Tavern or sit down on a public street, a church provided the haven he sought. Gradually he began to pray, to ask God to help him. To find the strength to remain sober he decided to attend Mass every morning before work and to receive Holy Communion. This was very unusual in the 1880’s when the average good layman went to Mass just on Sunday and received Communion only at Easter and Christmas. At the end of three months, Matt took the pledge to abstain from alcohol for six months and finally took it for life.

Matt Talbot now turned all his effort to increasing his union with God and developing his life of prayer. The strict ascetical life of the early Irish monks attracted him. Their love of prayer with the emphasis on penance and humility, and manual labour dedicated to God, appealed to him. He turned to a Jesuit Father, Father James Welshe to help him. His austere daily program may shock us today in an affluent society that demands comfort. He allowed himself just four or five hours sleep at night and arose about 5am to prepare for early Mass. Then he would return home for breakfast. Afterwards he would set off for work in the lumberyard of T. & C. Martin. He was a conscientious worker. Many years later, one of his former foremen described him as “the best worker in Dublin” who was often chosen to set the pace for others. But at a time when Dublin labourers were often exploited, he was not a “bosses” man. He had learned to read and write and was quite ready to discuss the rights of workers. Since he was a member of many religious associations, he attended a meeting almost every evening. When he came home about 9pm or 10pm it was time for his spiritual reading. His spiritual reading ended about 1am, and he retired for four hours rest before beginning his daily routine again. He did not go to work on Sunday but went to one of the City Churches and would kneel in an obscure corner from the first Mass at 6am until mid-day.

Despite his austerities, Matt was a small tough man – “as strong as a little horse”, according to a fellow worker. He had an iron will and a constitution to match. Neither the other workers in T&C. Martin’s, nor the fellow dockers on Dublin’s waterfront had an idea that he was leading a life modelled on the early Irish monks. He was a happy little man, although more silent than others. “Matt smiled at everything except a dirty joke,” a friend remarked. But many workers knew about his generosity. Matt lent them money to buy clothes or shoes for their children or to pay overdue rent.

Matt Talbot died suddenly from a heart attack in Granby Lane on the way to Mass on Sunday, June 7th, 1925. He was buried in what was virtually a pauper’s grave in Glasnevin Cemetery a few days later. The story of his life came to light because when his body was undressed, three chains were discovered wrapped around it. Inquiries disclosed that he practiced a devotion known as the slavery to Mary. The underlying idea was that a person who considered himself a spiritual slave to the Mother of God would remain close to her and to Jesus, her son. The devotion included wearing one fine, loose chain. It was typical of Matt Talbot to wear three. In 1972 his remains were removed to a tomb in Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Sean McDermott Street. In 1975 the Holy See conferred the title “Venerable” on him, which means that from a purely human point of view, Matt Talbot has the qualifications of a Saint. If this Opinion is confirmed by the Miracles required by Canon Law, he will be canonised.

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Whether you’re struggling with the fear and isolation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or you’re just having one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right, relying on faith can help carry you through.

I took some time to reflect on how my faith guides me during my life so I could offer some guidance to you

1. Maintain your faith at all times

I really don’t separate good times or hard times from my faith. I am blessed to have my life penetrated with the gift of faith and I have striven to have my relationship with Jesus (God) be as authentic a relationship as I would have with a physical person. I have scheduled prayer and worship as a part of my day. I pray that God will soften my heart during those times and make me attentive so that it is not “work” or “routine,” but true worship that I offer. In this, I desire to come to know and understand His love in my life and what He is asking of me. I also practice The Daily Examen, which is essential to be able to reflect on my day, my emotions, my interactions and my responses all in the light of Christ and what He is calling me to.

2. Find practices that bring you peace

I often go to the Passion of Christ sections of the Bible (Mark 14-15, Matthew 26-27, Luke 22-23, John 18-19) because I find my challenges can be best united to His. I ask for His wisdom to look at the situations I am in with His eyes and to be able to walk with His Heart. I use the Scriptural Stations of the Cross, which follows the walk of Jesus to Calvary. This has made my reflections and prayers come more alive because my body walks from Station to Station and my focus becomes engaged in His, carrying our sins, our wounds, our pain to an ultimate redemption. I also rest in the Psalms, which seem to hold within them all the varied emotions I feel when going through difficult times. I keep the structure of prayer and worship intact, which creates a backbone and consistent support to my day. When I get grumpy and negative, I can confess this before God for forgiveness and strength to move on.

3. Lay your struggles before God

During hard times, I bring my true emotions, the conversations I have with others, including their concerns, into my prayer. I lay them at the feet of Jesus, to whom I have grown in trust and confidence. It is His wisdom and love that gives me confidence and hope, even when my emotions struggle. Struggling is normal and I would say in many ways essential to growing in faith. If we can’t go before God in truth then we are not in a right relationship with Him. I think we should bring every emotion, fear, doubt and concern to Him. If you are in a relationship with someone and a lack of trust has come into that relationship, it is important for that relationship that the doubts are openly talked about. It is the same with my relationship with God. I need to be able to say to God, “I am doubting you. I am angry at you. I am feeling torn apart. Help me!” I think saying out loud how we feel to God allows Him to respond back in our heart and through others and there can be spiritual peace.

4. Rely on your support systems

If I am not internally able to share my struggles with God, I find a close friend to share my heart with, someone who cares enough to listen, not necessarily to do something. I think it is important that we accept and understand that we are created for community, for relationship. We need love, support, kindness, hope and confidence to gain strength to deal with the challenges of life, and we find that in and through our relationships.

This helps us better understand ourselves, take better control of the situation we are in and gain balance and perspective on things.

5. Find the good

Also remember to have a heart of gratitude and find some good in your day, to claim it as good and to tell someone of that good. We need laughter. Read a funny book, watch a truly funny movie. Remember that God is bigger than COVID-19, He is bigger than a bad week and this time on earth will be very short compared to the gift of Heaven. Loving God, please grant me peace of mind and calm. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose and walk the path you’ve laid out for me. I trust in your Love God, and know that you will heal and refresh my mind and body. Just as the sun rises each day against the dark of night. Let your grace and strength anoint me with your healing love.

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Upon his election in March 2013, Pope Francis said: ‘Some people want to know why I wished to be called Francis. For me, Francis of Assisi is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.’

Since then, the Pope’s Franciscan “accent” has become increasingly evident. His manner of living is both faithful to the teachings of Jesus and illuminated by the spirit of the “poor little man” from Assisi. The title of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment Laudato si is taken from the first line of St Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures which is one of the best insights into the saint’s vision for life. It is crucial to grasping how St. Francis understood the message of the gospel — and may offer a glimpse into Pope Francis’ own vision for the world. After his election as pope, it was revealed that Pope Francis had been the runner-up in the previous conclave in 2005 that elected Pope Benedict. But in 2013 it was generally thought that Jorge Bergoglio was too old to be considered again, and he must of thought so himself, because he bought a round-trip ticket from Buenos Aires to Rome for the election.

Yet, as the conclave proceeded, Bergoglio had to think again what being pope could mean, and what name he would choose if he were elected. By becoming Pope Francis, he managed to express in that name much of what he hoped to accomplish during his papacy. St. Francis of Assisi was synonymous with themes Pope Francis quickly made his own: He was devoted to the poor, he preached God’s mercy, he sought to reform the church and he was passionate about caring for Creation

The annual feast of St. Francis invites us to reflect on the life of the saint and to ask if his namesake has succeeded in advancing his vision for the Church. Within hours of his election, Pope Francis quoted Pope John XXIII’s wish to bring the global church closer to the poor and to its original mission expressed by Jesus when he began his ministry in Nazareth quoting the prophet Isaiah, saying he was “anointed to bring good news to the poor.” Pope Francis has worked steadily to address the needs of the poor by challenging income inequality, the exploitation of workers, by pleading for migrants displaced by war, changing weather, industrial pollution, dumping and the indiscriminate and unequal consumption of natural resources. He proclaimed a Year of Mercy to promote God’s unconditional love and to focus on reconciliation within the church as the face of God’s mercy to sinners.

Jesus told St. Francis to “repair my church,” and Pope Francis has been tireless in seeking to reform governance and internal structures, financial accountability and by addressing the scandal of child sexual abuse that has so damaged the church’s credibility and its ability to evangelize.

Perhaps Pope Francis’ most urgent task has been pleading with nations and world leaders to protect the planet, “our common home,” as the one goal and challenge that will determine all other changes needed to avert disaster now and for future generations.

St. Francis modelled simplicity and evangelical poverty as the antidote to a medieval church losing its identity because of wealth and corruption. His community of friars grew rapidly as young people found a way to live purposely and free of material greed and preoccupation with status and power.  St. Francis imitated the poor Jesus and his passionate love for the poor.

Pope Francis has not shied away from sounding the alarm and probing the consciences of our age about what history will say of those who knew what was coming but did nothing.

St. Francis, who died at age 44, exhausted by his efforts to repair God’s church and protect the planet and God’s poor, now speaks again to us on his feast and through his beloved and courageous brother, Pope Francis.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

And where there is sadness, joy

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,

To be understood, as to understand, to be loved, as to love

For it is in giving that we receive, and it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen

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On the anniversary of St Francis of Assisi’s death, Pope Francis celebrates Mass before the Saint’s tomb and signed his Encyclical “Fratelli tutti”. Pope Francis, has warned against “myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism” in some countries, and a “growing loss of the sense of history” in a major document outlining his view of the world

Fratelli Tutti – the third  encyclical letter addressed to the whole of the Catholic church, of his papacy – was published on Sunday, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, amid global uncertainty and anxiety over the Covid-19 pandemic and rising populism.

Pope Francis urges nations to work towards a just and fraternal world based on common membership of the human family. He expands on familiar themes in his teachings, including opposition to war, the death penalty, slavery, trafficking, inequality and poverty; concerns about alienation, isolation and social media; and support for migrants fleeing violence and seeking a better life.

Pope Francis had begun writing the encyclical when the pandemic “unexpectedly erupted”. But, he says, the crisis has reinforced his belief that political and economic institutions must be reformed to address the needs of those most harmed by it. The global health emergency has demonstrated that “no one can face life in isolation” and that the “magic theories” of market capitalism have failed. “As I was writing this letter, the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly erupted, exposing our false securities,” the Pope’s document reads. “Aside from the different ways that various countries responded to the crisis, their inability to work together became quite evident…. Anyone who thinks that the only lesson to be learned was the need to improve what we were already doing, or to refine existing systems and regulations, is denying reality.

“The recent pandemic enabled us to recognise and appreciate once more all those around us who, in the midst of fear, responded by putting their lives on the line. We began to realise that our lives are interwoven with and sustained by ordinary people valiantly shaping the decisive events of our shared history: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caretakers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests and religious… They understood that no one is saved alone. “The fragility of world systems in the face of the pandemic has demonstrated that not everything can be resolved by market freedom. It is imperative to have a proactive economic policy directed at ‘promoting an economy that favours productive diversity and business creativity’ and makes it possible for jobs to be created, and not cut.” Francis says a “certain regression” has taken place in today’s world. He notes the rise of “myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive nationalism” in some countries, and “new forms of selfishness and a loss of the social sense”.

The leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics says “we are more alone than ever” in a world of “limitless consumerism” and “empty individualism” where there is a “growing loss of the sense of history” and a “kind of deconstructionism”.

“Hyperbole, extremism and polarisation” have become political tools in many countries, he writes, without “healthy debates” and long-term plans but rather “slick marketing techniques aimed at discrediting others”. He notes that “we are growing ever more distant from one another” and that voices “raised in defence of the environment are silenced and ridiculed”.

Addressing digital culture, he criticises campaigns of “hatred and destruction” and says technology is removing people from reality. Fraternity depends on “authentic encounters”. He writes: “Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.”

He also speaks eloquently of kindness that involves “speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement” and not “words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn.” For Francis, however, kindness is not just a personal virtue, but something that needs to permeate culture. Because kindness “entails esteem and respect for others, once kindness becomes a culture within society it transforms lifestyles, relationships and the ways ideas are discussed and compared,” he writes.  “Kindness facilitates the quest for consensus; it opens new paths where hostility and conflict would burn all bridges.” This should lead to a “culture of encounter,” he says, where people “should be passionate about meeting others, seeking points of contact, building bridges, planning a project that includes everyone.”

These days, are challenging for us all. May we all embrace the power of hope and kindness at this moment in our lives.

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Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the boiled eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. ‘Daughter, what do you see?

‘Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,’ she hastily replied.

‘Look closer,’ he said, ‘and touch the potatoes.’ She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. ‘Father, what does this mean?’ she asked

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity – the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

‘Which are you,’ he asked his daughter. ‘When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Living out the virtue of Christian hope when confronted with adversity that we cannot control or overcome, allows us to dig deep to unearth a level of confident patience and perseverance that will sustain us. It can also give us the courage to resist, challenge and triumph over adversity and so circumstances that seem hopeless to some people will seem less so to those living in accordance with this virtue. This is because as Christians, death no longer needs to be considered as the moment of our annihilation and similarly, in moments of crisis and adversity we can come to know that we are held by a love that is stronger even than death itself

Very much in line with the famous adage of mystic Julian of Norwich – “All will be well” -Christians have the ability to remain joyful in all circumstances, however difficult, because of their knowledge that God gently guides history and cares in an intimate way about us. Our opportunity, is to deepen trust, that our lives are safe in God’s hands, that God has a plan for us all, calling us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

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2020, has been some roller-coaster, that will be remembered for generations to come, as the year of the pandemic. As we begin weeks of greater restrictions, I pray that healing, will visit all who are recovering from Covid at this time. This week, we begin winter time. November, is a time to  remember all our loved ones who have gone before us. Death is that challenging confrontation that reminds us “We are only here for a short time”. Death points us to mystery. A Christian proclamation, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”. Funerals have been most difficult for bereaved families during this pandemic. As a people, we do the funeral rituals very well, but so much of what was once the normal has been taken from funerals at this time. Who would have thought that we could not shake hands to offer sympathy, a gesture that was so associated in reaching out to the bereaved in times of death. Sincere prayers throughout the month of November for all who were recently bereaved.

Halloween did not come from Hollywood but rather its origins are strongly connected to ancient Celtic roots. In Celtic Ireland about two millennia ago, Samhain was the point between the lighter (summer) and darker halves (winter) of the year. At Samhain, the gap between this and the other world was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to pass through. People’s ancestors were honoured and invited home, while harmful spirits were warded off. People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves as spirits to avoid harm. Bonfires and food played a large part in the festivities. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into a communal blaze, household fires were extinguished and started again from the bonfire. Food was prepared for the living and the dead and was ritually shared with the less well-off.

Christianity incorporated honouring of the dead into the  Christian calendar with All Saints (All Hallows) 1st November, followed by All Souls on the following day. The wearing of costumes and masks to ward off harmful spirits has survived as Halloween customs. The Irish emigrated to America in great numbers during the 19th century, especially around the time of famine in Ireland during the 1840s. The Irish carried their Halloween traditions to America, where it is now one of the major holidays of the year. November is the time of year when we remember the souls of loved ones who have gone before us.

November is a difficult time of year. The beginning of  winter brings long nights and cooler days. This can be a time of loneliness and anxiety, especially for those who live alone. In our Celtic tradition, we have a great sense of our own mortality and vulnerability during this month. The Celtic  festival of Samhain was a time to remember all who had gone before. Death is difficult and painful. It strips us of the familiar and often leaves us naked and vulnerable with our bereavement and painful losses, which we all have experienced when a loved one dies. The death of a loved one often leaves many unanswered questions as we attempt to carry on without a husband, wife, sibling or friend.

Perhaps the two most powerful lines in the entire Gospel describe the human emotion felt by Jesus when his friend  Lazarus died: “Jesus wept.” Jesus knew the pain and hurt that comes when a loved one dies. And for God to fully embrace the human condition, he also had to embrace death itself through his son.

The humiliating and brutal manner of Christ’s death united God with all types of suffering and persecution. The final words that came from our dying God was a prayer of welcome and wonderful invitation: “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” We know from our experience that the leaves will blossom again, that spring will come. Christ’s death was the ultimate demonstration of love by his father. As he was awoken to new life and resurrection, so, too, are all of us who believe in him. As we remember our loved ones who have died and pray for them, we do so with great hope in our hearts.

St. Paul tells us that “our true home is in Heaven”. May all our loved ones enjoy the eternal promise of life and peace in the happiness and joy of God’s presence. Jesus tells us: “I am going ahead of you to prepare a place for you, so that where I am, you, too, shall be.” And despite the pain that comes when a loved one dies, in faith we are encouraged to hope in the reality that God’s love is even brighter than death itself. Pádraig Pearse once told a beautiful story to demonstrate our Christian hope regarding death. In the month of September, the little boy asked his mother where do all the swallows go to? She replied: “To the land where it is always summer.” We all have “Loved and Lost”; May all we remember enjoy the light of an eternal flame.

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1. Life is messy (Covid especially: world-wide mess, winter weather, weariness)

The lived experience of life is what makes us who we are. If we lived in a perfect existence we would never grow. Life is not always a smooth ride. It is, in fact, by its very nature messy at times. Remember God didn’t send Covid like an Old Testament plague, so forget about conspiracy theories or superstition. Faith doesn’t protect you from the storms of life but it gives you courage to steer a course.

2. God is in the mess with you (i.e. the Covid pandemic)

God deals directly with us and is present to us, so our job is to recognise where God is present in our everyday lives. Even in the mess of things, in the dirt and muck of things at times, God is always there. That may be unexpected but it is liberating. We’ve seen God at work in these Covid times: the community sense, helping others, Frontline workers’ commitment, the emergence of the Common Good, focusing on important things: God, family, relationships, kindness, reaching out.

3. There are two forces working on us (one of light and one of dark)

There are two voices speaking to us at any moment: one is from God and leads to life, while the other he calls the ‘enemy of human nature’ and leads to ‘death’. While this is primarily a spiritual insight, it obviously has huge implications for mental health and psychological well-being. Ultimately, it boils down to consistently making life enhancing decisions, tackling the seductive demons and unmasking them. We can’t afford to be naive, listening to the wrong voice leads to destructive  consequences.

4. Learn how to discern (tune in to God’s guidance)

This is about identifying what is the unhelpful inner movement (anxiety, shame and paralysis, desolation) and moving towards a more positive one (connection, reconciliation, positive action; consolation). God is normally calling us through our humanity, our deeper feelings, not normally in miracles and ‘signs’. Using these movements of consolation and desolation, we can tune in to what God is saying and make the adjustments necessary to align ourselves with God’s plan and live a more rewarding life. Covid is a time to look deeper, there are gifts or blessings in it, you can respond more maturely, find God in it, how to respond, live in the reality, and make good choices.

5. The answer lies within us (God in our deepest feelings, not superficial ones)

Life is tough and feelings can be the toughest things of all. Learn to befriend them, understand them and realise that you are much more than your feelings; you’re not your feelings. Everything in life passes – savour the good and let go of the bad. Feelings come and go. Learn to watch them like clouds coming into your life, and remember just as you can’t hold onto a cloud, your job is to let your surface feelings go too.

6. Fear or anxiety is not a good counsellor (fear around Covid, illness, work, safety etc.)

The trap for people with a tendency to be fearful is to canonise that emotion such that it dominates all decision making. Of course, there is an opposite understandable reaction which sees us override all fear and behave recklessly. The point is that both are driven by fear and lack balance – fear can be a useful indicator to be cautious about some undertaking but taken  to an extreme it is crippling and immobilising. The best formulation might be ‘feel the fear and do the best thing  anyway’. (Act against the fear/anxiety; Have the courage to implement your best decisions, get back your peace & power).

7. The paradox of suffering (the experience of the Cross)

This ‘U’ shaped curve pattern seems to apply to almost any human process of change: things get worse before they get better. This is also the spiritual process sometimes called ‘the dark night’ or the ‘Way of the Cross’. Understanding this process helps a lot in terms of keeping hope alive, knowing what to expect, getting your head right, and crucially how to pray in really tough times, as Jesus did on the Cross, such that you come through and experience the light at the end of the tunnel. Through faith our hope is strengthened, we learn how it is possible to pray our way through dark lockdown times. Remember especially, if you are feeling abandoned and empty, God is carrying you (‘footprints in the sand’), God is close to you, but we need to learn how to interpret these times and pray through them as Jesus does. Generally, you have to pass through the experience of the Cross or Passion to appreciate the light.

8. Prayer is about finding God’s will

This is the most challenging thing as it demands prayer is not about my needs, rather I need help from a higher power to face situations and make good decisions. A bit like charging a battery, there is no shortcut for being plugged into the source for a certain time and frequency. This prayer has to result in some positive, practical action, acting more like Christ, e.g. reaching out to others. It becomes easier with practice.

9. It is about God working through us

St. Paul says that the Spirit prays within us. God needs priority access to our hearts and time to make great instruments of us. It’s more about listening and learning, God will meet us more than halfway. In any close, loving relationship, people find a way to relate through words, gestures, signs or symbols. It is about finding some way that works; each of us are different and different things will work. As Pope Francis says each of us has our own path to God based on how we are uniquely made. Some of us use sight, some actions, some words and some gestures to communicate our love for others. Our job is to try out different ways of praying and learn what works in terms of God becoming more and more the centre of our lives

10. You always have a choice

If we are created by God, and we are in constant  communication with our creator, then God has a plan for us. Like a GPS buried inside us, it is possible to get guidance and direction by stopping being busy, creating a space, and looking at what is coming up within us. It is only in reflection, looking back over the experience, that all of us are able to sort out what was genuine. Similarly, for us, feelings and moods are messy, but with practice and some guidance it is possible to find a way of getting a good GPS reading and moving forward. We have to allow ourselves to be guided, finding the way like pilgrims on the road.

I sincerely pray, in these days of winter darkness, we will be overwhelmed by the much brighter light that comes from God’s consolation.

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November is a time to remember and pray for family members, colleagues, neighbours and friends who have died since this time last year. Those who have gone before us, those who were so much present with us, so central to our lives, have left us with a deep sense of loss. We look for peace, for healing of heartache, and for hope. I live behind a graveyard, and witness how daily, so many loved ones visit their family grave. Finding peace and connection with loved ones who have passed is a deeply spiritual search.

This year is particularly difficult for those who have been bereaved since March. Those profound feelings of loss have been heightened by not being able to be present at a time of death and by the absence of the familiar family and community supports.

The lockdown and restrictions have impacted on how we say goodbye to our loved ones. Some sadly died without familiar faces around them, some left this life with the caring presence of hospital and nursing home staff and we are grateful to them. Familiar faces, consoling words and reminiscence are all important in our grieving process. Many have not had the traditional practices that help us; wakes, gatherings at home, reception of remains at the church and a funeral Mass with an unrestricted  attendance. These experiences have added to the sense of loss

We have been without the normal free flowing schedule of Masses and sacraments for over seven months now. Our priests and parishioners have made great efforts to keep our churches open and safe and welcoming, for this we are very thankful. Although we have moved online, and on television, for Mass, it is not the same. In his message for World Mission Day 2020, Pope Francis writes;

‘Being forced to observe social distancing and to stay at home invites us to rediscover that we need social relationships as well as our communal relationship with God.

We long so much to be back in church, with the support of a gathering, and meaningful participation of being present with others, an expression of who we are and what we believe in. Our remembrance this November takes place at a time of continuing uncertainty, isolation and economic hardship. We take reassurance from the good practices learned in all areas of life about how to keep ourselves and others safe. Every day we should reassure our young people of our love and support and help them to nurture their God-given gifts.

We take reassurance from the determination of our political leaders to bring us through this pandemic as safely and as socially and economically resilient as possible. We take reassurance from our belief in a caring God who encourages us to make wise decisions for the common good and to look out for each other. Jesus’ call to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ has taken on a new meaning in the current context of caring and of keeping safe

We have the reassurance of the Lord that all will be well and that He will strengthen our ability to lift ourselves and others with resolve and hope during this terrible time, resolve to do our very best to ensure maximum safety. Hope based in Jesus’ promise to be with us always ‘until the end of time’ (Matt 28:20). In his extraordinary Urbi et Orbi address of March 2020, Pope Francis said;

‘In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side’

The risen Lord is with us.

During the month of November parishes will continue with their remembrance practices in so far as the restrictions allow, November lists, remembrance trees, candles and other local traditions. Many find connecting via parish web-cams comforting at this time. November, is not an easy time with darker days and colder weather, not to mention living in the midst of a pandemic. However hold onto hope. Hope in the light of Christ which is always brighter than any winter darkness. Hope in our shared experience, when winter comes, can spring be far behind?

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