As I was leaving Knock earlier today someone asked me “Did you get to shake the Pope’s hand?” “No,” I replied, “but I don’t think he’ll notice that until later!”
It was a great occasion, the Pope’s visit to Knock and I was glad to be there. I was there in 1979 too but don’t remember much about it, other than being a long long way away in the crowd, glad to be there, but not taking too much in.
In the lead-up to the Papal Visit, I was asked to help in a very small way (in the greater scale of things) with putting some information together that media might use. It turned out to be an interesting project. I was given some guidelines and headings, a proposed timetable of events etc and was to flesh them out. Hopefully that happened.
One of the elements of the visit that caught my imagination was the Pope’s time for quiet prayer in the Apparition Chapel. There he was to receive a lighted taper from two small children and light a candle placed in front of the Apparition Statues. It was to be a quiet time, introduced by the sounding of a bell. I liked the idea but liked, in particular, the story behind the stand in which the candle was placed.
Designed by Anne Lavin (with whom I worked in Knock many years ago and who has been a good friend through the years), the wood used was from a tree that fell in the grounds of Knock Shrine. Though it could have been discarded or re-cycled in a less creative way, someone saw its potential. A local man and his son, Tom and Tomás Cunnane worked on the piece and created this wonderful holder – more than a holder, a launching pad for hope. The outside of the tree is polished and bright whilst the inside is chiseled and marked, representing the inner hurts we experience, feel and carry. Through these are shrubs, many of them wild shrubs that grow where they will but add colour to life and remind us that growth is possible. Embedded in, and rising from all of this is the candle, the sign of hope and light where there may well be despair and darkness. So so much going on. I loved it!
I was thinking about it last night and thought it’s a wonderful and challenging image for our church at this time. Like the tree, in the grounds of Knock Shrine, what was once perceived as tall and strong – a source of shade and shelter – has fallen and is damaged. We are at a crossroads, a moment of decision making. How best can we salvage what is and always will be precious to many? It seems to me the answer lies in recognising what weakened the tree, hollowing it, working on it, re-shaping it without air-brushing the hurts that have undoubtedly taken place.
There’s something Soul nourishing about the carpenter and his son working on this piece of timber in Knock Parish. I like to think of them working, side by side, in the shed beside the house. Can’t help but think of another shed in Nazareth and a carpenter there with a little child, working on and shaping wood. I’ve no doubt the carpenter Joseph, part of the Knock Apparition story, took his turn at working on the fallen tree, alongside Tom and Tomás, so that a new story could be told and something precious saved.
So, though I didn’t shake Pope Francis’ hand, these days have touched my Soul and I’m glad to have been there – been part of it.
Earlier I looked at Cardinal O’Malley’s Blog and notice he has included piece on his recent visit to Ireland, especially to Knock and Ballintubber Abbey. Was pleased to see, in his post, some photos I’d taken! More importantly I was pleased to see a link to a YouTube video of the Mass. I especially like the anointing of the Altar during the Mass.
Archbishop Neary spoke at the beginning of the Mass and he quoted Pope John Paull 11 who spoke at Knock in 1979. I liked the words but could not fully recall them. Take a few minutes to hear his words too. The piece I liked is around the 20 min mark and includes these words from Pope John Paul and he appeals to God to keep the Faith alive in the hearts of the people of Ireland;
“May prosperity never cause Irish men and women to forget God or abandon their faith. Keep them faithful in prosperity to the faith they would not surrender in poverty and persecution. Save them from greed, from envy, from seeking selfish or sectional interest. Help them to work together with a sense of Christian purpose and a common Christian goal, to build a just,, peaceful and loving society where the poor are never neglected and the rights of all, especially the weak, are respected.”
I was in Knock yesterday for the Re-dedication of the Basilica. An occasion worthy of the place and the “unspoken” message of Mary who stood with people, as she always does, when needed. Cardinal Seán O’Malley (Archbishop of Boston) was the Principal Celebrant and homilist at the Mass.
He spoke very well about Knock, its meaning for him personally and its place in the heart of the Church. During the ceremony he anointed the Altar and, I have to say, this was a highlight for me. There was something very moving in seeing him first pour oil on the four corners of the Altar and then in its centre. Then with sleeves rolled up (a man at work) he rubbed the oil into the surface of the Altar. It was a moment of offering something to God that God might make full use of it, in and through us all.
At Mass today, I shared a few words around this and about a local football event that took place in the parish yesterday, an annual event marking the life of a child who died eight years ago at age five. She is remembered each day of course by her family and those who knew her best and annually in this gathering known as the “Aoife Regan Shield”. Today she was remembered in our Parish Mass. I thought it appropriate that she be remembered so seamlessly in both settings within a day of each other. I believe that’s what parish life should be about, bringing what happens on the field of play to the Altar, anointed well over 100 years ago, in our Parish Church that, like yesterday’s rising incense, our prayers may be carried to the Heavenly Presence.
There may Mary, the silent but present Mary of Knock, whisper to Him afresh; “They have no wine” ….
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/Fm6ss1PBC1Q?rel=0]
“Though your message was unspoken, still the truth in silence lies …..” this is one of my favourite lines from Dana’s hymn “Our Lady of Knock”. It brings us back to that gable wall on an August evening in 1879 and to a people gathered in wonder and fear. A vision before them and much pain and confusion behind and all around them in the wake of famine days and forced, uncertain, emigration. No words exchanged. No words spoken by Mary to these people you’d imagine were in need of a word. She didn’t tell them that they were disappointing her son. She didn’t call them to one kind of devotion or another. She didn’t demand response in promises of any kind. Knock and its story, remind us though that she was “THERE” – for the people present that evening she was “HERE”.
I often think of that when looking at this fourth station. There’s no mention of any dialogue. You can almost imagine their eyes meeting across a largely hostile and curious crowd. Once those eyes met and locked in on each other, there was reassurance. “You are still my son” ….. “it matters not what they think of you or what they think you’ve done or anything else …. you are still my son”. Presence and reassurance – maybe that’s as good as it gets.
What did she receive in return from his gaze? A loving acknowledgement that out of all that’s going on around here, out of all this thunderous crowd, “I see you. I need you. I love you”. The fourth commandment comes to mind “Honour your father and your mother”. No accident that it comes right after the call to keep Holy the Sabbath Day. This relationship between parent and child must also remain holy and be forever reverenced.
This Station then speaks to all that is good in that bond between parent and child, in this case, mother and son and calls us to be there/here for each other in moments of crisis and uncertainty. It also calls us to prayer for families that have been broken or compromised in any way due to a breakdown in communication and relationship.
Oh, that today we would listen to his voice, let us harden not our hearts.
Last week I had a call from my classmate, Dermot Maloney, to see if I’d be free to share a thought or two with a group of students who would be visiting Knock Shrine today. I said I would and was happy to spend a bit of time with them at the Gable Wall. A very impressive group of young people and a credit to themselves and their school.
There were 150 students along with the School Principal, Fr Dermot and other members of Staff. They were a pleasure to meet and I hope they have a great year. Just checked the School Website and noticed some pictures from Knock so borrowed the one above. I hope they’ll not mind:)
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