Church should celebrate in sackcloth and ashes

YOU reported (August 24) the suggestion by Fr Iggy O’Donovan OSA that the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ireland should be marked by a day of atonement and that “it would be inappropriate for the day to be one of celebration because of all that was happening in institutions at the time of the papal visit”.

I want wholeheartedly to support Fr O’Donovan’s suggestion and would also like to focus on the Eucharistic Congress due to be held here in 2012.

Pope Benedict was quoted recently as being troubled that the Eucharistic Congress “could be marred by the fact that the church is still struggling to deal with the historic legacy of abuse”.

Also, in a fairly recent article in a Catholic newspaper, one of the organisers of the congress told us we would have to “dig deep” to defray the considerable expenses involved. Is it possible that I am the only Catholic in Ireland who thinks the holding of the Eucharistic Congress is totally inappropriate in light of what has already been revealed and the revelations yet to come.

Eucharistic congresses, by nature, are celebrations and there is always a danger of, or at least a perception of, triumphalism, especially with the red and purple robes of the prelates, unfortunately inherited by the church from imperial Rome. Sackcloth and ashes would seem more appropriate.

Is there any chance that the congress could be deferred – or even cancelled – at this stage. It could be replaced by eucharistic events in each parish on a chosen weekend in 2012. After all, we do badly need the healing power of the eucharist.

These parish events could be carried out in a true spirit of repentance and solidarity with the abused. The money saved could be donated to the funds needed to assist those who suffered so much at the hands of our church.

People who would have travelled to Dublin for the congress could also be encouraged to donate the money saved by not travelling.

If the holding of the congress in Ireland in 2012 is set in stone – as so many Catholic things appear to be – then might I suggest the following:

* There should be a strong emphasis on repentance for the occasion.

* The events should consist mainly of silent adoration.

* There should be penitential services with general absolution – I hope, under the circumstances, Pope Benedict might agree to this.

* Those attending, clerical and lay, should wear something indicative of repentance and solidarity with the abused.

* At the masses, there should be a single celebrant as a large number of priests concelebrating creates an impression of dominance and power,

* the celebrants of the masses, whether priests, bishops or cardinals, should wear the simplest of vestments while all other clerics – of whatever rank – should wear their ordinary street clothes,

*Whatever roles are available for the laity should be assigned to women.

Oliver Broderick

Montserrat House

Ashe Street

Youghal

Co Cork