On 17 March, the solemn Feast of Saint Patrick, Irish Bishops celebrated Masses at home and abroad dedicated to the theme of ‘Hope,’ on behalf of Ireland’s faithful at home and our diaspora.
Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, celebrated Mass in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, during his “Pilgrimage of Hope” to the United States. In his homily Archbishop Martin said, “Saint Patrick was a pilgrim of hope and in this ‘Jubilee year of Hope’ I’m honoured to be with you In New York as a pilgrim of hope, and I bring you greetings from Armagh, the home of Saint Patrick. Thank you, Cardinal Dolan for your kind invitation and warm welcome. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go leir.
“We know from his own writings that Patrick was trafficked into slavery in Ireland as a young teenager, but despite his isolation and the pain of loneliness – so far from his home and family – Patrick turned with all his heart to God, and dared to hope.
“Much later in his life, as a priest and bishop, he heard the ‘voice of the Irish’ calling him and Patrick had the courage to return to the land of his captivity, this time as a missionary to spread the Good News to the people of Ireland and a message of hope and trust in the Lord. No doubt he was inspired by those words in today’s Gospel reading: ‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch’ and again, ‘Follow me; do not be afraid; for from now on it is men that you will be catching’.”
Here at home, Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin, celebrated Mass in the Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin. In his homily, Archbishop Farrell said, “Just like the prophet Amos in the First Reading, Patrick was under no illusions about himself. Beyond all the hype and “paddywhackery,” there is something extraordinary about Patrick. If we look closely at his witness, we may be able to see the contours of hope in this time increasingly characterised by an air of anxiety about the future – not only from the perspective of our faith tradition, but also that of a changing and less clear national identity.
“To look closely at Patrick, is to be confronted with one who put flesh on what we might call a faith-filled hope, through which, ‘the dark door of time, of the future, has been thrown open, [and] the one who has hope lives differently…’ (Pope Benedict, Spe Salvi, 2)
“The Jubilee of Hope that the Catholic Church around the world celebrates this year, has asked us to consider our hope anew, this fundamental quality of Christian life. In the busyness of our lives, but also in the frenetic nature of life today, we can lose sight of that which makes a difference. Hope is foundational for every person, whether they consider themselves people of faith or not. ”
To read the full text of these homilies visit www.catholicbishops.ie.
ENDS
