May, especially this year when all is so late and the winter was so long and harsh, is a beauty here.
The gentle, yet fresh greening and flowering.
This week saw a time away, to research one of the old Celtic sites for the guide cards and later the book.
It was a visit we were so looking forward to. Saint Crona's, near Dungloe, dating back to the 5th century; appetite whetted by a wonderful photo sent to boards ie.
No signs to it; maddening and a warning of the gross neglect and utter disappointment.
This is sadly all too common here. Wonderfully kept sites like Glendalough and Clomnacnoise, and then these equally precious parts of Irish heritage shamefully neglected.
There is no pride, no treasuring.
In researching the book, this is the theme, sadly. Ruins abandoned, cattle grazing on graves. In some places, the "killeens" mounds where unbaptised babies and suicides were buried, unconsecrated. Just left in fields.
The place was finally tracked down with the kind help of an English man who was papering the hall of a house nearby.
The gate was ... padlocked. No bar! But as we were just over it, a cross-looking lady with a dog appeared.
They had locked the gate as some people the day before had been abusive when the farmer had told them to make sure the children stayed away from the cattle grazing around the ruins.
On his land.
They are wild, and have calves.
Which we totally understood and were sympathetic to, realising that there was a land dispute once more here. And we offered simply to leave.
But the habit opens doors, and gates, and she went to fetch the farmer to go in with me.
An old man with a walking stick.
It is hard to quantify this.
So common.
And so .... disappointing.
The ruins, utterly neglected in a rough field full of cowpats.
And negotiating the cattle to get there at all.
This site has walls around the abbey ruins. Crona was a 5th century lady made saint in the lovely Celtic tradition , simply for the good wsorks she did.
Inside the graves; totally overgrown and neglected.
Weeds thigh high; broken gravestones, gaping holes.
Except for a row of military graves. Neat and carefully tended.
The farmer, with whom we spent an hour, vented and ranted, bless him.
Yet he has no idea who owns the site. No one seems to know.
The graves inside are it seems Protestant graves.
In places, the walls are crumbling and need urgent attention. It seems there has been some major dispute with the old farmer and there is some attempted manipulation going on.
So we listened and commiserated, and looked and pondered.
His knowledge re the ruins is amazing; we are noting it and plan to go back soon to ensure that this is not lost.
A large pit was found at the back; full of seashells. Their rubbish tip as the sea was their supplier
And a further shock; that there are famine victims buried there; unmarked.
So we promised and undertook to do what we can to find out who owns what and who is responsible and so to do what we can; and not for the first time in this incorrigible land where these precious sites are at risk.
Knowing that we have heard only one side of the story of course...
Well aware of the depths and layers of these people now.
Idolatry?
The spin has begun in the preaching at Holy Mass.
A lady seeking a statue of St Anthony... A Dominican preacher... If she remembered the teachings of Jesus as well as she did the main points of the homily, we would do well here.
But Jesus is never mentioned seemingly as the Church here attempts to pick itself out of the rubble.
One thing other denominations always say is this; that the Irish Catholic Church seems to always defend itself and not Jesus, Who needs no defence.
We gently mentioned Jesus; and there was a long and bewildered pause.. "Oh yes, of course Jesus.."
The pause spoke worlds.
She had asked us what we thought the Church here needs; we were temporarily speechless...
But it needs that all take off the rose coloured glasses, and see what has happened in full penitence and shame; and to start then looking at what Jesus teaches on this.
And to start looking outwards, away from fine buildings etc, to the people Jesus loves... the needy ones.
Away from defending the indefensible to nurturing the ones Jesus loves; from introversion to outreach.
And this can only happen if there is honesty and acceptance of reality; which it clearly appears is being gainsaid.
It is only in giving that there is reality then.
Jesus Who gave His life.. How can we hold back?
From saving babies, from feeding others as well as we feed ourselves.
Saying this on an internet board earned the accusation of iconoclasm.
Not so; but icons are not Jesus and if they become an end in themselves? then that is idolatry.
And it seems that here the Church has become an icon.
Blessings and peace this chilly May day.
