CatholicVoice Omnia possum in eo, qui me confortat
26 March - 8 April 2021
Issue 313
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Happy Easter, Let Us Celebrate The Birth, Death, And Resurrection Of Our Saviour Jesus Christ
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2 EDITORIAL
Catholic Voice
26th March 2021
Blessings In Disguise the part of Irish bishops has been appalling. There are no recorded cases of transmission of the virus in churches and bishops should be pushing much more forcefully to restore public worship in Ireland. In particular the recent comments from the Archbishop of Dublin and his banning of Holy Communion have left me dismayed - more on that in John Lacken’s column.
Anthony Murphy As readers will know we are currently living and working in England, we are very keen to return to Ireland but this will not be possible until Kim’s back has healed well enough to cope with the journey home, progress is steady but slow and it is likely we will have to stay here until the summer. One of the advantages of being in England is that I am able to attend Mass several times a week. The spaces are limited with tickets necessary via an online booking system but so far I have managed to attend most Sundays and I have tickets for the Easter Triduum. Of course it should not be necessary to have to acquire tickets for Mass but such are the times we live in and at least the bishops of England and Wales have been forceful in ensuring that public worship continues. It is a great tragedy and very wrong that readers in Ireland will be denied access to the sacraments this Easter and the lack of leadership on
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Thankfully the local priest here is very friendly and I am able to receive Holy Communion on the tongue though this has not been without difficulty. A few weeks ago the priest spoke to me before Mass and explained he had been approached by several parishioners who were concerned that giving me Holy Communion on the tongue was a breach of the bishop’s advice and risked spreading infection of the Chinese virus. I still receive Holy Communion on the tongue but now I wait behind at the end of Mass until the busy bodies and snoops have left the Church. It is very sad that some people view Communion in this way and once again highlights the failure of catechesis in our Church. All the most extraordinary graces and blessings are contained in the MOST HOLY EUCHARIST! Jesus complained to Saint Faustina saying that many people treat Him in the Eucharist as if He were a mere object! How horrendous the sad reality that Jesus is treated as a mere object! One Holy Communion is worth more than the whole created universe. Why? For the simple reason that Holy Communion is truly and substantially God Himself, Jesus Himself in His BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY. Every time you approach to receive Holy Communion, “The Bread of the angels”, receive it as if it were your first, last and only Holy Communion! If done you will make huge strides on the highway to holiness!
I do not believe God would allow His sacrament, His greatest gift to mankind to become contaminated with a man made Chinese virus and therefore I will continue to receive His Body with confidence and faith and I am thankful for the priest who makes this possible despite the agitation he is subject to for doing so. So as we approach the great feast of Easter let’s remember that in spite of all the troubles and turmoil inside the Church and within society Christ has had the final victory over death and in Him we are promised a new life. But a victory is never gained without a battle being fought and while we should enjoy the Easter eggs and Easter bunnies we should not forget that we are called to join this battle and engage in the daily struggle to proclaim God’s Kingdom here on earth. The First Letter of St. Peter strikes the tone and helps us prepare for battle: “Do not be surprised, beloved, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst. It is a test for you, but it should not catch you off guard. Rejoice instead, in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you …. The season of judgment has begun, and begun with God’s own household. If it begins this way
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EDITORIAL 3
26th March 2021 Catholic Voice with us, what must be the end for those who refuse obedience to the gospel of God? And if the just man is saved only with difficulty, what is to become of the godless and the sinner? Accordingly, let those who suffer as God’s will requires continue in good deeds, and entrust their lives to a faithful Creator…. Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith, realising that the brotherhood of believers is undergoing the same sufferings throughout the world. The God of all grace, who called you to his everlasting glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who have suffered a little while. Dominion be his throughout the ages! Amen (1 Peter 4:12-5:14). The choice we have is simple. We can either remain silent while God is mocked in the public square and people are led into confusion or we can speak up and proclaim the unchangeable truths of the `Gospel. The Easter message is not that there is no battle, but rather that the battle is a glorious one whose outcome has already been decided. Let us choose sides wisely, for we must make a choice, as Christ tells us “He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathers not with me, scatters.” (Matthew 12:30) Jesus is risen from the dead and He is not going away. Let us make sure that we are still on His side when we get that final call.
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10 LETTERS
Catholic Voice
Letters We received the following poem from and ex-gambling addict who now helps those suffering from addiction. Many people do not realise that recovering addicts are currently denied access to their support groups; they are not allowed to meet. This can lead some of them into despair or to a return to their addictions. Colin tries to give them Hope.
Corona Death The wind has got my number, it’s responding to the dead. Damn banshees dealing poker from the bottom of my bed. Withered cards in bony hands are playing for my soul. There is no higher ante as this virus takes its toll. Darkness slips across the floor and takes a vacant seat. Despair is your companion when this demon comes to feast. Whispered words on fetid breath pollute the rancid air. Will friend or foe come vanquish me and fill the final chair? Lose or win with mortal sin I surely will be damned. Might heaven send a Seraphim to play the final hand? A hooded figure steals inside as shadows hide his face. Devils growl beneath their breath, he takes the final place.
26th March 2021
Send your letters to: Letters Page, Catholic Voice, St Michael’s House, Castlemitchell South, Athy, Co Kildare or email to letters@catholicvoice.ie
A Letter to the Archbishop of Dublin My Lord Archbishop, I am writing to convey my astonishment at the announcement of your intention to suppress Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, public recitation of the Holy Rosary, Stations of The Cross and distribution of Holy Communion to the faithful, unless at a funeral, wedding or for those assisting at Holy Mass. For over a year, Catholics have been deprived of opportunities to practice our Faith by government regulations, which in the opinion of many are disproportionate to the Covid-19 outbreak. During this time, not one case of this virus has been linked to Church attendance. Yet, Catholics complied with instructions, waiting patiently, hoping and praying faithfully for support from our bishops, the Shepherds of the Flock, to take a stand against these restrictions and re open our churches, all to no avail. Instead, these restrictions are now being increased rather than diminished, despite the roll out of a “vaccine” which is seen as a “ticket to freedom”. Further and tighter restrictions are presently being imposed, not only by a godless government but now, to the horror of Catholics, by our Catholic Archbishop.
Five-stud is the game of choice and soon the cards are dealt. Earthly goods are worthless here, my soul the only wealth. No beasts attempt to lift their hands, nor angels care to see, For they have played this game before and know who’s come for me.
This imposition is tantamount to persecution of the Catholic Faith, even more extreme than that of Penal Times, since it now comes from within our Church.
Eyes shut tight, hand closed on hand, silent pleas to stop. Time will be the doctor now, this game is just his prop. The cure is not a tablet as the cause has long been known. For if I’m to win this battle I must do it on my own.
When I learned of your appointment as Archbishop, Your Excellency, my hopes soared. I felt this change would bring back some semblance of Tradition to the Catholic Church. My hope was based on the memory of a younger Father Farrell, who was guest speaker at a Family Ministry Course which I attended in the mid ‘90s in Dowdstown House, Dalgan Park., Co. Meath. After your presentation , you were accosted by a small group of “feminists” who planned in a workshop, to set you up by confronting you on the topic of contraception. As a young priest, with courage and conviction, no person in attendance that night, was left in any doubt as to the Church’s unchanging teaching on the subject. It was an event I have never forgotten.
Waking light escapes the sun and finds a welcome space. The dark cannot avoid its gaze and leaves the room in haste. Curtains drawn by drunken arms with eyes afraid to see. But hope has come to play this day and hope depends on me. Colin Walker Monaghan
I am sickened and shocked!
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In conclusion to this sombre email, the words from St John’s Gospel resound;
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“Then Jesus said to them ; Amen, Amen I say unto you : except you eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood : you shall not have Life in you. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath Life Everlasting and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:54-55)
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LETTERS 11
26th March 2021 Catholic Voice May I ask, Archbishop Farrell, where and to whom do we turn for the Bread of Life which is our ONLY hope of Life Everlasting, if your instruction to priests is complied with, thus depriving Catholics of our true heritage?
and imperceptibly now reverted back to the “Penal Days” , however , this time not due to the “jack boot” but a combination of state interference and a pathetically rudderless clerical concurrence.
Is mise, le meas,
During this lockdown whilst travelling regularly within my 5km zone I have observed that the most compliant , disciplined and civilised cohort of those adhering rigorously to C19 protocol were the regular “church goers”.
Respectfully yours, in Jesus, Mary and St Joseph, Imelda Tobin (Mrs) Co Meath
Easter Ceremonies Dear Editor, We are in the season of Lent and Easter is fast-approaching. Many, if not most Irish people, have found the last year of the Pandemic quite challenging on many fronts. It has been tough for so many people and a huge challenge for everyone all over the world. For those of us who cherish our Catholic faith, the inability to access the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist, for so many months has been particularly difficult.
Recently our parish was given a missive from our new Archbishop curtailing further the faithful’s need for spiritual succour by cancelling daily Adoration but allowing “private prayer”. Same parishioners ,same time slot, same altar , but without the presence of their
beloved Host visible anymore. This is impossible to justify either legally or morally plus aside from it being a very mean gesture indeed it also makes no sense. Our new Archbishop having taken up the limp baton of his predecessor declared “ I think the Lord is probably saying to us at this time: I don’t want you to keep doing the things that you were doing 100 years ago, 200 years ago.” ,he needn’t worry , unlike our ancestors only a small minority apparently place any value our espoused faith, let alone are prepared to stand up for it, as was once the case in far tougher times. Declan Deeney, Killiney.
The
Dominicans Truth has no Expiry Date!
As the most important week in the Christian Church calendar is nigh, many of us deeply desire to be able to participate in the Easter ceremonies in person this year. Online is just not quite the same. I would ask both our Church and political leaders that for those who wish to participate in, (and are able to), that our places of worship be open for the ceremonies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. All the safety measures would be in place, as they were before, and our churches were so safe as a result. Last year we weren’t able to participate and it would be a great sorrow for so many people if we were not to be able to attend again this year. Please open our churches especially in time for Holy week. God is essential. Thank you. Aisling Bastible, Clontarf, Dublin.
Penal Times Dear Editor, It seems from the standpoint of worship that Ireland has inexorably
"Opinion is a flitting thing, but Truth outlasts the sun." - Emily Dickinson www.irishdominicanvocations.com