http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2010/05/parents-ignore-limousine-ban-at-first.html
A few weeks ago on the stall ( we are gathering in First Communion dresses for the missions, as they become available eg at Vincent de Paul Thrift Shops) a lady from Belfast told us she has one in her wardrobe. It was worn by her grand-daughter two years ago, and the child does not want it.
It cost E600.
This is all part of the over-materialistic hype that now surrounds First Holy Communion here.
As this article reveals.
http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2010/05/kilkenny-hosts-holy-communion-fair.html
and this even....
http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2010/01/m-launches-cut-price-communion-wear.html
A mini-wedding.
Small wonder one young priest opines that all Confirmations should be suspended for two years, so that the true nature of these vital rites of passage can be revalued and re-inspired.
As he says, the next time he will see the large ( well over 80% ) of the children who are confirmed and than make their First Communion will be at their weddings.
The most troubling aspect of these articles, especially the first one, is the expressed attitude of the priest.
Nothing to affirm and teach the true meaning of this occasion; what was always a sweet and solemn day.
Of that First meeting with Jesus in the Eucharist.
They seem to be afraid of offending people?
For they have truly lost all authority now? And are no longer able to teach even these great truths.
Truly, there is no spiritual life left in this place; empty rituals and the emphasis on the material, the worldly, the outward show without the inner grace.
A child will focus on what is shown to them. If there is to be a bouncy castle, a limousine, hairdressers, make up, a costly dress, then that is what will dominate the day.
Here we see the little "princesses" walking from the car park; elaborately coiffed and dressed.. then a meal in a restaurant, or playing chasing games on the grass in all their holy finery.
As they are taught, so will they grow.
Not in deep awe, but in the material aspects.
Not in this beginning of their full life in Jesus.. Not in that inner grace and holiness and love of the Lord that this day should mean.
Not with the poor Jesus, teaching of loving and giving; but in outdoing their neighbours and emulating the huge Irish weddings we see here.
Blessed the couple we met many years ago. Like many here, they were living together with their small child, because they could not afford a vast wedding AND a house to live in.
The young woman had enough spiritual awareness (she did not go to Sunday mass because she said it had become a fashion parade, but to the quieter mid week masses...) that her situation troubled her. And thankfully we were able with the wonderful kindness of a Franciscan Friar, to arrange a small and very secret wedding for them.
Putting the sacrament before the feast.
Making sure that the holiness is there, the giving to Jesus.
Which Ireland sorely needs in these days and which it is not getting from the priesthood ( see later in the post re Dublin) her life in Him.
They may be learned superficially in rules and dogma; but learned in holiness and truth?
We talked a while ago with an angry English young mother, embittered by a Convent School education where she had seen hypocrisy and a cult like attitude.
She bristled visibly at the mere sight of us; we are sadly used to this. And have learned to introduce ourselves gently and firmly.......
Her children of course not baptised; even though her mother had been very upset at that.
Because like so many she identifies all "religion" as bad, and cannot see that there is a difference between faith and religion.
That Jesus is not religion.
Recently, her son had told her that he wanted to make his First Communion. She had asked why.His reply? Because his classmates were all getting lots of money.
She told him he would have to go to confession and mass every week; and he dropped the idea.
She was right to do that.
Because this rite of passage has become for most a social occasion; and the more they spend on it, the better, they believe.
Such is modern Ireland.
Older ones remember their First Communion day; often a borrowed dress and maybe a cake afterwards.. and a humbler and more meaningful walk with Jesus.
Even though then as now, a gift of money to the priest/bishop was the custom also...
The Bishop of Longford also has had his say; preaching that the First Communion children should give some of their day's money to rebuild the St Mel's cathedral that burnt down at Christmas.....
And which was of course fully insured....
A message indeed to children in a country where destitution and hunger and homelessness are growing apace like the monsters they are.
The rich Church getting ever richer from the Irish people. Always the same.
Why should we expect differently now?
Still, it is sad to see and hear these things.
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And as we sit at our stall and sell and chat; we learn more and more each week.
We had read the words of Archbishop Martin and been puzzled at his statement that there were many within the Church who still wanted to suppress the truth.
After a long conversation with a young couple from Dublin, we are puzzled no more.
This is what they are being taught, and, more amazing, believing... that only a very few priests did anything wrong... all priests are holy and that is all that matters about mass, which also must be attended daily...the priest , ie what he may have done - does not matter.... ( this is a gross distortion of the Catechism).... child abuse within the Church will always happen and there is nothing anyone can do about it..
They were all fired up with the positive belief that there is about to be a revival from within the Irish Catholic Church. Suddenly ( and they were speaking as if about the Second Coming of Jesus) the priesthood and the orders were to be filled again.. not foreign priests of course. They spoke of conference E2000, when apparently 1000 young Irish people attended... ( ten years ago; long enough for them to have been ordained or entered, had that been going to be the case....)
According to them, all the religious orders are doing fine; all we told them re the truth was like water off a duck's back. THEY WILL RENEW!
No vision that the only way any renewal will come here is when small children are taught true values by example. By others leading holy lives based on the teaching and example of Jesus.
Priests and religious are the elite of course.. back to the old power and "bums on seats" regime of these few priests succeed.
Whatever a priest or religious does, still holy? No way... That way abuse and corruption lie.
When we said that it was almost impossible for any order from overseas to get more than a toehold here? Ah, but the Franciscan Friars of Renewal! We said, yes, but they are PRIESTS.. oh no they said, there are Brothers too...... not true....and that it has taken them ten years.. oh no it hasn't.. then they realised that that is true..At which stage we realised that nothing we said was going to make any difference to these who are being brainwashed into believing what is not true.
For when it comes to the words of a priest? Even a religious apparently is not to be believed.. and we had given enough facts and figures and quoted enough of the Catechism...
Ostriches who will topple the Church more surely than even the abuse.. No penitence; no shame.
We heard much the same things from an older lady much later in the day from much closer to home; about imminent renewal that is. And they are being given false figures re ordinations also.
And we smiled and nodded; for truly there is nothing else we can do.
They are where they are at; and that is where they need to be at this time.
As we sit among our beautiful wares, striving to save tiny babies from death by starvation and exposure.
Sometimes the contrast is too great to bear for mere mortals .. so we rest our souls and lives in Jesus.
Then we read this....
http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2010/06/bishop-resists-lay-call-to-move-priests.html
So much for child protection guidelines.. and so soon.
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Full summer greenery here as the year and the seasons catch up with themselves. Blossom in the wind...
We were thinking how poorly our vegetables are doing; all is late.
But a look at the gardening class beds at the local garden centre ! Theirs are even further behind.. And they bought the professionally raised seedlings.
So we wait now....
Peas starting to show flowers.. broad beans in pale blossom.. potatoes through the black plastic mulch and greening.. and today, runner and French beans planted out.. and onions shooting apace.
All depends on the weather now...
It has been hot.... the first two days of hot weather, the wee house "sweated". Floors and walls running with water.
The picturesque Irish cottages have no cavity walls or damp courses, or vents, and no space under the floors.
They topped the old earth floors with concrete, or simply laid stone tiles. No space or floorboards.
So the cold and damp are deeply rooted.
Then they install double glazing, so the problem is compounded.
Which is why we invested in a dehumidifier.
And still, for three days, the walls and floors "sweated"... towels down, all doors and windows wide open day and night..
And dry at last...
Blessings and peace this day....
