God save our gracious president!

by Ronan

I have some wonderful news! I was wrong. Not that this is a rarity, but this particular mistake is really quite sweet. The Poor Clare community in Ennis celebrated their golden jubilee this week and the celebration was marked by a visit from our belovéd President Maire McAleese. Last week I wrote with dismay at how this great woman seemed to have fallen into the secular trap set for every aspiring Irish politician today - don’t dare mention religion in public. Thank you Madam President for breaking free from these Christo-hostile bonds.

In the monastery Mrs McAleese wished “a very happy birthday to all the Poor Clares for 50 wonderful years and I particularly thank you for 11 of those years”.

Our president of the people, for the people, went on to admit that she spends three days in the monastery on retreat every year…while president of Ireland…shock, horror! The Irish Times and Irish Independent once again take their impartial stance to the world: “President tells of days spent living with nuns in Ennis”…“President spends yearly retreat with enclosed nuns”…”cloistered away in prayer”…etc

“You can’t take the burden of sorrow from them and people do come in great sorrow, but you can go in a journey of light with them and that matters so much; the courage, the faith, the hope that your prayers give them. That little bit of energy to keep them focused for tomorrow - that is so important to bring the joy of Clare and the joy of Christ into their lives.” It is so heartening to hear a lay Irish public figure speak about the “joy of Christ”…so heartening.

This approach by such a well respected figure does trickle down. The Irish Times went on to explain that the Poor Clares “dedicate their lives to God through the vows of enclosure, chastity, obedience and poverty.” No “scandal”, ”falling church attendence”, “disillusioned Catholics” or jibes about “wafers”. This is some of the best press the Church has gotten in Ireland since the scandals ten years ago!

A signed photograph of President McAleese hangs on the wall of the main corridor: “Much love to my dearest sisters, Mary.” In the visitors’ book yesterday she wrote: “Congratulations on 50 years of prayful loving care of so many people whose sorrows you shared, whose joy you enchanced.” and ended with those wonderful words “God bless this lovely community”. I don’t know when I last heard an Irish politician say the words “God bless”.

The remnants of a ‘Catholic Ireland’ can often be seen when Irish politicians attend Catholic services as a government representative in special circumstances. When the President and her husband joined the Poor Clares and local friars for midday prayer in the monastery chapel there was a sense that this was the real thing. After her enlightening the nation on her commitment to her faith she read from the book of the prophet Hosea…and one can’t help but feel that she believes the words she reads. Rare in a politician really!

This is extraordinary news and consider it recognised. A respected figure in Ireland has come out and proclaimed that she has a soul…and that she cares. The skys haven’t opened. She hasn’t been impeached….but this Irishman is cheering.

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 and is filed under Prayer & the Christian life, The Church, Views on News.