Earlier this month I visited the home of a little girl who was very ill and who, sadly, has since died. May she be at peace.
I’d met her and her family a number of times in recent years but had not been to her home before. I felt (and still do) sad for her parents and family but was very taken by the girl’s obvious connection with those around her and, I am totally convinced, with God. As I drove away from her home, trying to make sense of what was going on for this family (and incapable of doing so), a song was playing on the radio. It was the Ronan Collins Show and I’d never heard the song before. I didn’t even realise I was listening to it, to be honest, as my thoughts were in the house and with the family I had just left. Then I heard the chorus:
How can something so fragile leave us helpless We all feel helpless once in a while How can something so fragile leave us humble We all need humble once in a while.
It described exactly what I was feeling – helpless and humble. I wished that I could do more for this girl and her family – we all did – and much was done to try to help but at day’s end we were, all of us, helpless. This little girl humbled me to the core because I knew she experienced a connection with God and with Our Lady that was very personal to her. She had visited with her family many of the Shrines and Pilgrimage Sites that are part of our faith. She had brought from them a comfort that seems to have run very deep. It’s certain that, even in her tender years, she knew more of God’s love for her than many of us and that she found there a strength that she may or may not have put into words.
The song is called “Dragonflies” and I know virtually nothing about them. I’ve wondered though. I checked a little and see now that dragonflies live most of their lives beneath the water in a sort of tadpole state. In the summer they emerge from the water, fully formed and glorious in colour, complex in make-up, and extremely agile. Their lifespan in this state is very short-lived and they disappear, in many cases, almost as quickly as they arrived.
The songwriter ponders their journey, uniqueness and the difference they make. (Today I noticed a story on line that the distinctive movement of dragonflies’ wings can destroy bacteria and that scientists are trying to develop a way of replicating this movement so that bacteria can be broken down before it causes harm). The song, to me, is saying that the dragonfly is noticed, special and forever cherished. Though small and fragile, it makes a massive contribution to our world.
That’s what I want to say about Doireann – the little girl – that’s what I want to say to her parents, sister, grandparents and friends. Yes she humbled us, yes she made us feel helpless but in her six years she made a real difference. Like the dragonfly, most of those years she was a little girl, living primarily under the surface and in the watch of her family and those who loved her most. In sickness, she rose to the surface, and made all of us realise how special and treasured – how unique and gifted – her life. She made a real difference and we are better people because she lived.
The song, by Eddi Reader, is included below. The child, Doireann, is in our hearts. The need to remember her family and to remember her continues.
A lost summer’s day, a lifetime away What do you find Slow turning sun, with somewhere to run On your mind Not the flash that you saw That was gone in the wink of an eye As soon as we’re here, we disappear, like dragonflies.
Their miracle blue can never tell you How it came to be Each different kind, accidental designed Before you and me And we ask the whole of our lives maybe there’s no why As soon as we’re here, we disappear, like dragonflies.
How can something so fragile leave us helpless We all feel helpless once in a while How can something so fragile leave us humble We all need humble once in a while.
Did you think of this That each of us know in our hearts we must go And that’s what beauty is And just as the dream you were in dissolved in the morning sky As soon as we’re here, we disappear, like dragonflies.
How can something so fragile leave us helpless We all feel helpless once in a while How can something so fragile leave us humble We all feel humble once in a while.
And now nature can sing such beautiful wings Did you think of this That each of us know in our hearts we must go And that’s what beauty is And just as the dream you were in dissolved in the morning sky As soon as we’re here, we disappear, like dragonflies.
Just looking again at photos from last week, I am reminded that a week ago today we visited the Cathedral in Tegucigalpa on our way to the airport. It’s the Cathedral of Michael The Archangel and is truly beautiful. We spent a bit of time there and its size allowed for space and its space allowed for prayer and the prayer was a connection with people we’d met over the days and people we know that might be in need of a prayer (who isn’t?) I’m glad we had the chance to visit …..
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.”
This weekend’s Gospel Passage finds us with the disciples asking a question that could well be our own, “Lord, will you teach us how to pray?” In answer he gives them the words of the Our Father – a prayer that brings together all that is central to our faith – the acknowledgement of God as Father, His place in Heaven and Earth and it calls us to a deeper and more giving/forgiving relationship with those around us.
We get distracted in our prayers – wandering off topic to a place of uncertainty or day dreams. We worry about this but do we need to? Is the starting place not what matters? We desire to acknowledge God. That must mean something. Come back from the distractions, worry less about what is to be said and find peace in just being there ….
I want to share the words from today’s Mass. This is the fourth week I’ve recorded the words at Sunday Mass. I don’t think I’ll be able to keep this going or maybe even need to keep this going but for this week anyway!!
These are the words shared in the email from a priest of the diocese. I think they’re very good and worth reading as well.
Humility in Success
Portugal defeated France in the final of the Euro 2016 European Football Championship. At the post-match press conference Portugal’s coach, Fernando Santos dedicated his victory to Jesus in the following words.
“First of all, I would like to thank God, the Father, for this moment and for everything in my life.”
The Portuguese coach went on to thank family, friends & colleagues before adding:
“Lastly, but most importantly, I want to speak to my best friend, and His mother, to dedicate this victory to Him and thank Him for haven chosen me; for giving me the gifts of wisdom, humility and perseverance to guide this team, and for having guided me and lit my way. That all I do, hope and wish for may be for the greater glory of His name.”
Decided to pay a visit to Glendalough yesterday. Finished afternoon talk here in Kiltegan and, the evening being good, thought it a good place to go for a while. The evening was lovely as I set out and GOOGLE MAPS assured me I was on the “fastest route”. That may well have been the case but it was also a nerve-wrecking route! Pinnacle View led onto the Wicklow Way and after many pullings-in to let cars pass in the opposite direction, I emerged on a road that said Glendalough was 3KM away. So it was. The day had changed alas, and the sky was quite overcast.
It was quiet there and I easily got parking and crossed the little style into Glendalough. I’d say it’s nearly thirty years since I was there. I remember going with two of my Maynooth classmates for a visit during our final year in the seminary. I remember us praying some of the Breviary together in the “cathedral”.
Anyway, I wandered around for a while and said a prayer or two. All in all, glad I went and will do again some day and won’t leave it as long.
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