Adopting Patron Saints and Blessed's has been a part of World Youth Day from the start. So, we on the Rio in Dublin Team, have selected some patrons of our own and now it's time to meet them....
St Felix of Cantalice. Felix is probably not well know to most people in Ireland. He is an Italian Capuchin Saint and the Patron of the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People, where some of the events of Rio in Dublin will take place. He was renowned for his simplicity of life, his prayerfulness, his sharp mind and gentle ways. He worked most of his life begging alms on behalf of the Friars and the poor of Rome and was an unofficial spiritual guide to many Cardinals and even Popes. He finished all his sentences by stating '
Deo Gratias' Thanks be to God, and so got the nick-name 'Brother Deo Gratias'.
St Kevin will be well known to anybody who has visited Glendalough, where he founded his Monastery. Kevin was a Tallaght man...born in what is know Kilnamanagh. He began his studies in a Monastery there, which his brother was the Abbott of, but decided that the Lord was calling him to a more austere life of deep prayer and contemplation. So he set off on foot, with a small number of companions, and walked over the Dublin Mountains to Glendalough, where he spent the rest of his life. Legend has it that St Kevin became so wrapped up in prayer that he would stand perfectly still, arms outstretched, for so long, that birds would nest in the palms of his hands!! Makes us think about the time we can't sit still in Church for a few minutes!!
Francis Taylor and Margaret Ball are also known as the Dublin Martyrs and a statue to them stands outside the Pro Cathedral in Dublin. Margaret Ball, was a lay women, whose son, Walter, became a Protestant during Penal Times and later the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Margaret provided safe houses for Bishops and Priests who were being persecuted and in return, her son, now Major, threw her into prison, promising to release her if she renounced her faith, which she didn't. She died in Prison at the age of 70 in 1584. Francis Taylor, a layman, and Lord Major of Dublin, was also imprisoned because he refused to renounce his Catholic faith and accept the British King as head of the Church.He remained in prison until he died in 1621.
Venerable Matt Talbot is well down around inner city Dublin and so people are still alive today who remember meeting him when they were children. Matt was a docker and suffered greatly with addiction to alcohol, he was an alcoholic as we would say now. Long before the 12 step programme of the AA, Matt devised his own, very hard, regime to keep him away from 'the drink'. He his known for his kindness to others though he suffered greatly himself. Matt's approach was based on a total trust in God and God's Mercy. He dies in 1925 on his way to daily Mass and was found dead on a Dublin back street. His remains are interred in Sean Mac Dermot Street Church.
Blessed Columba (Joseph as he was born) Marmion was born very close to where we are celebrating Rio in Dublin and was Baptised in St Paul's Church on Arron Quay (Former home of CYC). We worked as a curate for a time in Dundrum before being appointed a Professor of Metaphysics in Clonliffe College Dublin (Now home of the Office of Evangelisation). He joined a Benedictine Community in Belgium and over time helped found new monasteries in Belgium. Columba was known for his largeness of life, his good humour, kindness to the monks and students in his care and also for his incredible sermons and spiritual writings. He was made Blessed by John Paul 2 in 2000.
St Colmcille was a Donegal man, born in Gartan, near our Capuchin Friary and Retreat Centre at Ards. He was the son of a Chief. His name Colmcille, is a nickname given by his fellow students when he was studying for Priesthood and means 'Dove of the Church', as he sent most of his spare time before the Blessed Sacrament. He left Ireland and founded a Monastery on the Island of Iona, off the Coast of Scotland. Though living in this remote place, Colmcille managed to influence many to 'Go make disciples of all nations' and is attributed as the father of Irish Missionary activity in the world. He died way back in 597.
Each Patron represents a different aspect of discipleship, we join with them in prayer:
St Felix of Cantalice, disciple of
charity to the poor R/ Pray for us
St Kevin, disciple of
Christ within us. R/ Pray for us
Francis Taylor & Margaret Ball, disciples of
faith R/ Pray for us
Matt Talbot, Servant of God and disciple of
Trust. R/ Pray for us
Blessed Columba Marmion, disciple of
God's Word. R/ Pray for us
St Colmcille, Disciple of
Mission. R/ Pray for us
Pax
Br Martin OFM Cap.
St Kevin will be well known to anybody who has visited Glendalough, where he founded his Monastery. Kevin was a Tallaght man...born in what is know Kilnamanagh. He began his studies in a Monastery there, which his brother was the Abbott of, but decided that the Lord was calling him to a more austere life of deep prayer and contemplation. So he set off on foot, with a small number of companions, and walked over the Dublin Mountains to Glendalough, where he spent the rest of his life. Legend has it that St Kevin became so wrapped up in prayer that he would stand perfectly still, arms outstretched, for so long, that birds would nest in the palms of his hands!! Makes us think about the time we can't sit still in Church for a few minutes!! 
May their prayers be joined to all who celebrate Rio in Dublin!
ReplyDeleteA spiritual director I had once turned me on to Columba Marmion, and his books did me a lot of good.