Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings

32 Pages·2012·1.98 MB·English

P
E
VOLUME LXIII NO.5 MAY 2011 1.55
IONEER
‘… Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings’
Stephen Redmond SJ Welcome
BOOK
to the
magical
REVIEW
world
of
reading
The Archbishops, Bishops and Priests
who Served in the Archdiocese of
Dublin in the Seventeenth Century
J Anthony Gaughan
Published by Kingdom Press
ISBN 978-0-9524567-3-5
www.janthonygaughan.com
€15.00
T
his book is mainly a catalogue of almost
three-hundred clergy, secular and religious,
who ministered in the Dublin Archdioceses
in a momentous era in the history of the Church in
Ireland: a period marked by anti-clergy legislation and
proclamations, intermittent toleration and (under both
Stuart and Cromwellian governments) martyrdom.
Despite its title, the book brings us well into the
eighteenth century into sight of the beginning of the
relaxation of the Penal Laws.
Father Gaughan presents in scholarly and factual style
(to quote Eamon Duffy of The Stripping of the Altars
fame in his foreword) ‘men who were by no means
all saints … often at odds with one another’, many of
whom ‘lived lives of costly heroism …. In obscurity … cathedrals were in possession of the State Church
a heritage to be proud of.’ of Ireland) but significant reminders of their pre-
The book should appeal especially to Dublin readers. Reformation Catholic status.
They could bring it with them on a tour of the older My favourite character in the catalogue is the
parts of the city: Dublin Castle, where Archbishop Capuchin Stephen, who ministered to the people of
Peter Talbot (ex-Jesuit) died a prisoner, a victim of the Swords chiefly at night and preached to them in Irish;
infamous Titus Oates; near Christchurch the location all this in the dangerous Cromwellian time. God’s
of Newgate jail where the imprisoned Edmund Byrne ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ of Swords? I’d love to see a painting
was ordained archbishop by fellow-prisoner, the bishop of his lamp-lit liturgy.
of Dromore; places where priests lived: Croker’s Lane, I was surprised by the statement that Peter Talbot
James’ Street, Church Street, Bull Lane, Cook Lane … received Charles II of England into the Church. It
It helps our sense of Catholic continuity to note the is, indeed, virtually certain that he helped to orient
well-known parishes of our own time that existed then: Charles towards the Church but Charles actually
Donnybrook, Booterstown (where the church has an and formally became a Catholic on his death-bed the
impressive plaque of pastors’ names), Blanchardstown, day before he died in 1685 (five years after Peter’s
Kinsealy …. death). The receiving priest was John Huddleston who
Laity, I am glad to say, are mentioned here and there had protected him when he was ‘on the run’ from
in the catalogue: providing a lodging for the priest or a Cromwell.
place for Mass. The catalogue highlights the important The priestly ethos of the catalogue clergy must have
role of the continental Irish Colleges in the history been rich in hope: a virtue much needed in our time.
of the archdiocese. It also takes note of the papal I strongly recommend this book, not only as sound
appointments to the staffs of Christchurch and Saint history but as a document of hope to help us in our
Patrick’s; honorary appointments, to be sure (the commitment to the Lord.
s
May 2011 PIONEER OFFERING t
Volume LXIII Number 5 n
“For Thy greater glory and consolation, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for Thy e
sake to give good example, to practise self-denial, to make reparation to t
n
Thee for the sins of intemperance, and for the conversion of excessive
o
drinkers, I will abstain for life from all intoxicating drink.”
C
The Official Publication of the
Pioneer Total Abstinence Association Going My Way
of the Sacred Heart
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Viewpoint
Email: [email protected] Before leaving the Jesuit house at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
Website: www.pioneerassociation.ie William Desmond
in the summer of ’63 I called to say goodbye to my religious
superior, the late Fr Fergal McGrath. I was setting off to study 6 Witnesses, Not Spectators
Founded at the philosophy in the great unknown of France so I asked him if he
Alan Mowbray SJ
Church of St Francis Xavier, Dublin
had any advice for me. He paused for a moment and then said,
by Fr James A. Cullen, SJ 8
“Barney, if you ever find yourself in a train in France ask the The Pope’s Newspaper
on 28 December 1898
person opposite you where it is going”. We laughed. All the Paul Hurley SVD
same, I was hoping for something better. 10
Annual Subscription for 2010/11 Margaret Iveagh: A Saintly
In the summer of ’64, I rushed onto the station platform
Ireland: €28.50 Lady of Ireland’s Penal Days
UK: stg£30.00 at Lyon just in time for the 3p.m. to Paris. I threw my case
Sean Ua Cearnaigh
USA (airmail) $65.00 onto the rack, sat down and began relaxing, thanking my
All other countries (airmail) €45.00
lucky stars that I had made it. I listened to the banging of 12
Payment should be made to the Pray As You Can
Pioneer Association the doors. Opposite me was a gentleman reading Le Monde.
Paul Nicholson SJ
And sent to: “If you ever find yourself...” Don’t be stupid. But just maybe.
27 Upper Sherrard Street, The man lowered his newspaper. I caught his eye and said 14
Dublin 1, IRELAND Promoting the Priesthood
casually “Paris?” “Mais non!” he screamed, “Marseille”!
Frank Burke
Nihil Obstat I never got out of anywhere as fast in my life. I shouted
Alan Mowbray, SJ to the Station-Master, “Paris?” He said “La”, pointing to 16 St Teresa of the Andes
Censor Deputatus
the train getting ready to move on the other side of the Sr Therese Marie Frost
Imprimi Potest platform. I got in just as the doors were closing. Phew! The
18
+ Diarmuid, very thought of it: hurtling a few hundred miles at top speed Wise Owl Things
Archbishop of Dublin
in the wrong direction on the non-stop Mistral Express to
Primate of Ireland 19
Sound Bytes
the Mediterranean still makes me shudder.
Editor: We all know the story of the most famous pair ever to
20
Fr Bernard J. McGuckian, SJ Air Force One:
have found themselves going the wrong way. Fortunately
Editorial Assistant: The Flying White House
for them, like me, they met a Stranger who helped them
Róisín P. Fulham
change direction. The only reason we have ever heard of Aidan Grennan
Printed by: Emmaus is because that was where they were headed. They
22
Anglo Printers Ltd. The Quiet Revolution
were walking along depressed and ‘downcast’, so they didn’t
Lo-call 1890 624 624
Peter Hannon SJ
recognise their fellow Traveller. Later they tell us that “their
Design & Origination by: hearts burned within them” as they listened to his Word. 24
Conversion
Messenger Publications
It was in the Breaking of the Bread that the truth suddenly
James Kelly SJ
Cover: dawned on them. They turned round and made their way back
to Jerusalem. A couple of days earlier it was there that they had 26 Cookery
‘And though the last lights off the witnessed the greatest event in history without knowing it. And Terri Jones
black West went
yet now they were ‘foolishly’ walking away from a part in it. (Cf
Oh, morning, at the brown brink 27
Crossword
eastward, springs – Luke 24:35-48).
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent Ireland has the privilege of hosting the next International
28
World broods with warm breast and Pioneer
Eucharistic Congress scheduled for 10 – 17 June of next year, 2012,
with ah! bright wings.’
News
the eightieth anniversary the last great Congress held in Dublin in
From God’s Grandeur 1932. The period of preparation provides all of us with a providential
by Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins
opportunity to get moving joyfully in the right direction and to walk in
See pages 6-7
the right Way. Who in their right senses would want to abandon the only
Way and Truth that leads to the Life to be found nowhere else but in the
New and Eternal Jerusalem?
Bernard J. McGuckian, SJ, Editor
“Promoting Sobriety for a Better Society”
Pioneer, May 2011 3
and shortly after the transition from the Mass in Latin,
that the ‘and also with you’ of today was substituted.
It was a very minute change and could be perceived
as somewhat inelegant. Well, today, more far-reaching
Viewpoint
changes to what is said by the celebrant and by the
congregation are on the cards from the first Sunday
of Advent.
Given that this day falls on 27 November and is being
W i l l i a m D e s m o n D signalled so far in advance, the thinking must be that
the Vatican is giving very sufficient time for changes to
be put in place. The plain fact of the matter is that much
A Towering Figure
more far-reaching changes to the one, which I have
indicated here, are being scheduled. From the outset,
Fittingly described as ‘a towering figure in the history it has to be said, that not everyone is pleased with
of the Catholic Church’, the beatification this month what is being proposed, with the document known as
of Pope John Paul II will be hailed by the majority of Liturgiam Authenticam, as its basis. These new principles
Catholics worldwide with great enthusiasm, such is the laid down for the translation of the Latin Mass was
regard and genuine affection in which he was so widely used for centuries. Basically, the requirement, we are
held during his lifetime and continues to enjoy to this told, provided a literal translation of the centuries-old
very day. As I come to think of it, alongside the other Latin Mass. This, I see, is where rather widely differing
beatus of this decade, Pope John XXIII, the Polish Pope opinions began to surface.
shares with his predecessor the same kind of strong The initial response from Church authorities
personal affection which has been such an endearing dissuaded any move to change the proposed new
quality of their days in the papacy and beyond. John situation. Whatever about that, some of the proposed
Paul II had exceptional charisma which became evident changes to the liturgical prayers have been observed
almost from the start of his twenty-seven years on the by some as ‘cumbersome and ‘very awkward’. At this
throne of Peter which, as it happened, witnessed such very early stage, it would be hard to disagree, but could
climactic changes in world history, notably, that of the wider counsel prevail?
collapse of Communism, in which, as a Polish Cardinal
and Pope, he played such a significant part.
Gone Too Soon
For me, personally, what will stand out in particular
are such writings of Pope John Paul II as his first
encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, with its truly convincing The level of suicide in this country at present is well
and exemplary look at what the life of Jesus on earth and truly alarming. It is now estimated to be running at
portrayed and the light it can shed on how Catholics ten deaths per week. Who are they? It varies. The very
could see the Saviour’s role and meaning. Also is troubling nature of the times, the economic recession
questioning by an Italian journalist on all aspects of in particular, is making a very big impact on the lives
Catholic doctrine and belief in understandable terms of many people. So, too, is the changing nature of
in the publication, On the Threshold of Hope, makes rural society, which has some adverse effects on older
enthralling reading. Again, I found the study this Pope people. It must be said, thankfully, that efforts to deal
presented to the Church and the faithful in general, on with this virtual epidemic of self-destruction is being
the life and place and significance of St Joseph, husband strenuously encountered by many growing expert
of the Blessed Virgin, very telling. All in all, what a life so groups throughout the country. Needing guidance
well and truly spent – lived up to the very end with the to try to detect tell-tale signs among young people,
extraordinary degree of physical suffering which John mothers in particular, I note, are to the fore. Now, I
Paul was called on to endure. am fully aware that in the case of young people, it is
very important for society, especially for loved ones,
not to be saddled with guilt or left to struggle with
Rites or Wrongs?
grave concern for the spiritual fate of the one who
has taken his/her own life. That God is merciful beyond
A simply question, but one which leads to others of measure and, of course, fully aware of all circumstances
complexity is this: would you like to respond during of a person’s life goes without saying.
the celebration of Mass to the saying by the priest However, when it comes to unravelling something
quite a number of times, ‘The Lord be with you’, to of the mind-set of a young person’s life today, it is
which you would answer the following: ‘And with your legitimate to point out the differing circumstances
spirit.’? It might be remembered, quite some years ago governing lives today and some decades ago. An older
4 Pioneer, May 2011
Muslims at prayer
generation will clearly recall the tenets of Catholicism, would be worrying and the impact on Israel, given the
which once held sway. Now, I am aware that no finger is friendly relationship between the two States would be
ever pointed at a young suicide victim’s weakened state an extra cause for concern in the west. In this part of
of religious faith compared with those who grew up in the world, when we think of the Arab Middle East, we
Ireland over forty years ago. invariably think of the Islamic religion of that region.
So much for the wide projection of our country And, who couldn’t but be taken by picture coverage of
in those days as representative of the top rank of demonstrations of that religion which showed literally
Catholic belief and practice. That being the case, our thousands of people who, in Islamic fashion, prostrated
country people lived out their lives accordingly – and themselves in Friday prayer at Cairo’s Tahrir Square?
were happy to live out such an existence. In light of these events, it was with interest that my
eye settled on a daily newspaper’s dramatic headline,
‘Quarter of world population will be Muslim by 2030’.
Muslim Growth
This means that upwards of 2.2 billion people will be
in this grouping. Globally, the Muslim population is
Earlier this year, in both Tunisia and Egypt – the latter forecast to grow at twice the rate of the non-Muslim
in particular – massive demonstrations by these population over the next two decades.
countries’ citizenry inevitably attracted considerable France is currently home to Europe’s biggest Muslim
media attention, especially television, as there is little population.
the TV cameras like better than the highly-visible Nearer home, the Muslim population of Britain, I see,
nature of a protest movement. By all accounts, the is expected to rise to about 5.6 million – not far behind
demonstrations touched on the basic democratic France. So, more religious believers on our doorstep
deficit in these countries. However, from the point of in due course. This is some form of challenge to the
view of the west, a certain level of uneasiness arises. In secularist scenario growing apace in this part of the
the case of Egypt, given the very stable political situation world – even if the prospect is not quite as we would
projected by that nation, any alteration in that respect like it to be.
Pioneer, May 2011 5
Witnesses
not
Spectators
Alan Mowbray SJ third dimension is placing faith in God. Each dimension
builds on the other. If we have no faith in ourselves, it is
At Confirmation time, the child is celebrating hard to trust others or have trust in God. And, without
joyful growth into young adulthood. A special having any trust in others, how can we move outside
initiation is occurring that places that same our circle and place our faith in the wonder of God’s
child into the Christian Community. The boy or girl love?
becomes a witness to the values that Jesus stands for. The key third dimension is operative when the young
Now a witness is quite different from a spectator. A person places their faith in God’s unconditional love
witness shares in the values of all those who belong for them. It is well to recall that this Christian initiation
to the community and promises to carry those values for the child begins with a gift. At the very first spark of
into ordinary life. The spectator, on the other hand, their creation, the Creator was already loving them. Yes,
looks on but walks away from the event once it is over. they have been hearing about this vital gift from their
The parents of these children are joyfully seeing parents from the moment they received Baptism but
them growing into mature Christians. Parents rejoice now as a young adult, they place their faith personally
also as their children move into being active agents in that love and in front of the whole community.
in life. Their child begins to assume responsibility and
learns to make personal decisions. The scaffolding Chrism and Christ
around the child is coming down but parents, family, The young person feels the Oil of Chrism on their
teachers, friends, community of faith, Jesus Himself, will forehead while the Bishop prays. Oil is always seen as
walk with each child. special and essential. We spot this in the time of Jesus
when they needed oil to cook their meals and light
Self, Others and God their lamps and in its use for many other necessities,
I like to think of this growing child as being a witness especially for healing.
to a faith that has three dimensions. The first is having The Church transformed the use of oil into a sign,
faith in self; the second is having faith in others and the a sacrament for strength and healing. Imagine that the
6 Pioneer, May 2011
Church uses holy oil in Baptism, in the Sacrament of
Confirmation; again at the Ordination of a priest and
fourthly, for Christians who desire the Sacrament of
the Sick. It will not surprise us that the oil of Chrism
takes the first five letters of Christ’s name to underline
his presence at Confirmation.
Congregation of
Wind and Fire
This child whom you cradled in your arms for baptism Alexian Brothers
has grown imperceptibly to young adulthood. While we
cannot see children growing, their size of shoes changes, The Alexian Brothers, as followers of Jesus the
Healer, dedicate their lives to serving the sick and
their backs lengthen, their clothes are outgrown but
those on the margins of society. They do this with the
we still cannot see their physical act of growing itself.
support of prayer and community life.
Wind
There is a good parallel for this growth in the sacrament
of Confirmation. Wind was heard blowing in the upper
room where the disciples had gathered to receive the
gift of the Spirit that Jesus had promised them. They
could not see this wind but they felt its effects. It was
a great image for strength and power and change and
Is Jesus Calling You?
that inner growth in faith that was transforming the
disciples. At Confirmation, we recall that wind for
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
young people who are being confirmed and we speak
Website: www.alexianbrothers.ie
to them of this grace they are receiving: that the Spirit
is at work in each child …but invisibly ! Contact: [email protected]
Phone: [phone]
Fire
Another great image of the presence of the Spirit is
fire, the flame that held steady over the first disciples’
heads in Jerusalem. Our problem is that we look upon
fire as destroying, burning and killing. In the Middle East
Bequest
that would be true as well. But there is another type
of fire that cleanses and makes new growth possible.
It occurs in the forest in the very early spring where
Please remember the
the dead wood has fallen and the heavy grasses of last
summer (savanna) are blocking growth. Pioneer Total
Here fire is cleansing and welcome. Fire comes to
Abstinence Association
consume everything that impedes new growth and
renews the ground for the wildebeest and all the of the
herbivores to roam and to eat. This Christian image
Sacred Heart
of fire tells of the inner renewal going on within each
child coming to the Bishop for Confirmation. The in your will.
candle aflame is also a sign of hope, a beacon of hope
x
for grandparents and parents that their faith is being
joyfully passed on.
“I gIve and bequeath to the PIoneer total
Below are the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to
each young person: abstInence assocIatIon of the sacred
heart, 27 uPPer sherrard street, dublIn 1,
Wisdom Ireland the sum of E for the general
Understanding charItable PurPoses In Ireland of the
Right Judgement
saId assocIatIon. the receIPt of the saId
Courage
assocIatIon shall be suffIcIent evIdence of
Knowledge
Reverence Payment of the saId sum.”
Wonder and Awe in the Lord’s Presence
Pioneer, May 2011 7
The PoPe’s neWsPaPer
PAUL HURLEY, SVD, writes about L’Osservatore Romano,
which celebrates its 150th birthday this year.
Orson Wells’ 1941 film Citizen Kane, among the best ever on 31 March, was the wording “daily newspaper” added
made in Hollywood, was about an imaginary American to the masthead.
newspaper tycoon. Some real-life multi-millionaires, After the breach of Porta Pia by Italian troops in 1870,
like Tony O’Reilly in Ireland, Lord Beaverbrook, the the paper solidified its opposition to the Kingdom of
Canadian-born British politician, and Rupert Murdoch, Italy, affirming obedience to the Pope and adherence to
the Australian, have owned chains of newspapers his directives, stating it would remain faithful “to that
worldwide and made a lot of money from them. unchangeable principle of religion and morals which
Pope Benedict XVI has one newspaper and it’s recognises as its sole depository and claimant the Vicar
doubtful if it makes any money for him. This year it of Jesus Christ on earth”. Soon after, L’Osservatore
celebrates its 150th birthday. began to replace the Giornale di Roma as the official
L’Osservatore Romano first appeared on 1 July 1861, a news organ of the Pontifical State. This development
few months after the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed was obvious during the pontificate of Pope Leo X111,
on 17 March and when only one other newspaper who acquired the paper’s ownership and sealed its
was published in Rome. It took the name of another official status in 1885.
newspaper, which had ceased publication ten years Today the paper takes a more objective and subdued
earlier. Marcantonio Pacelli, Minister for Home Affairs stance than at the time of its foundation, priding itself
in the Government of the Papal States and grandfather in “presenting the genuine face of the Church and the
of Pope Pius XII, had suggested to Pope Pius 1X that the ideals of freedom”, following the statement by Cardinal
paper be founded so as to counteract anti-clericalism Bertone in a speech in 2006 when inaugurating a
at a time when the Church was losing her temporal new exhibition dedicated to the history of the paper.
power, in the Papal States, in Italy. He described it as “an instrument for spreading the
Its first editor, Marquis Augusto Baviera, had his teachings of the successor of Peter and for information
office near the Trevi Fountain, so popular with tourists about Church events.”
nowadays. From there it moved over the years to 12 A common error made by some people is interpreting
different addresses in the city, until the Lateran Treaty the texts of L’Osservatore Romano as if they were of official
of 1929, when it went to its present headquarters in value for the Magisterium. They cannot have such a value
Vatican City. unless a high-ranking bishop is writing a more solemn
It was unable to appear for a few weeks in 1870, text and not a mere theological opinion. For instance, an
when Rome was captured by troops from the Papal article in 2008 expressed the wish that the debate on
army. A few years later the owners of another Italian brain death be re-opened because of new developments
paper tried to buy L’Osservatore, but Pope Leo X111 in the medical world. An official spokesman said that the
forbad this. article presented a personal opinion and “did not reflect
Of its ten editors in 150 years, Raimondo Manzini a change in the Church’s position”.
(1960-1978) is probably the best known. Under John XX111 was the Pope who did most to improve
him it reached its highest circulation, during World the paper. He suggested that instead of starting every
War II, when it was the only newspaper in Italy to report of his speeches with the standard phrase, “We
publish Allied war bulletins as well as those of the Axis present the following discourse as we gathered it from
Powers. This boosted its sales to 200,000 – but it also his august lips,” it should simply state, “the Pope said”.
caused its distributors to be beaten up by the Fascists And that instead of always referring to him as “the
and the paper to be publicly burned in Rome. Dalla illuminated, beneficent, inspired Sovereign Pontiff”, it
Torre also introduced its Sunday edition, L’Osservatore should merely call him “the Pope”.
della Domenica. Pope Paul V1 read the paper every afternoon, made
It is now published (daily or weekly) in eight different comments on the margins and sent the marked copy
languages – Italian, French, English, Spanish, German, to the Editor. Once when he found Curia prelates’
Portuguese, Polish and Malayalam. names misspelt he wrote, “These are errors that
The first edition was entitled “a political and moral L’Osservatore should not make.” Since the paper
paper”. Its editors met in the Salviucci on the Piazza is subject to the Secretariat of State, the Deputy
de’ Santi Apostoli, where the paper was printed. Only Secretary acts as an informal link between the Pope
when the editorial staff was established on the Palazzo and the paper. He consults the Pope on major points
Petri in Palazzo Petri and the first issue printed there of editorial policy and plans articles, but sometimes
8 Pioneer, May 2011
the Pope himself telephones the Editor. The present editor has some ideas for making it more
L’Osservatore Romano doesn’t publish crime or attractive. He is Gian Maria Vian, a 58-year-old former
fashion reports, no comics or crosswords, no letters to teacher of patristic philology, who was appointed by
the editor, no birth or marriage notices. But in recent Pope Benedict in 2007. He says the Pope gave him a list
years it has been giving some Sunday sports results of things he wanted to see in a revamped L’Osservatore.
in its Monday afternoon edition. It also carries a few Firstly he asked for more international coverage, more
advertisements – sometimes in Latin. A car-hire firm, attention to the Christian East and more space for
for instance, advertises that it is a modern company, women. “Get some women writing for you and devote
giving securitatem amplius (maximum security) and more attention to women’s issues.
allowing apertis condicionibus (excellent terms). So right away Vian hired the paper’s first ever female
Raimondo Manzini increased its size so that it could journalist. Her appointment brings the total editorial
have more international, and less Roman, news, more staff to 25, out of a total staff of fewer than 100.
book and film reviews, more pictures. It also publishes These changes give one a quite different view of the
regular moral ratings for Italian TV programmes. He Pope, who is usually regarded as very conservative.
tried to make it more readable, and more outspoken Vian insists that this is a caricature and that as far as
too. Some years ago it scolded the Italian film stars the media is concerned, Benedict has a firm grip of
Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida and it denounced the processes involved. “When I was invited to meet
Brigitte Bardot’s many “marriages”. the Pope,” he says, “he also said he’d like to see more
From the point of view of presentation, its main pictures in our paper.”
merit is the excellent quality paper on which it is So Vian now has colour pictures every day on the
printed – by a press that produces 28,000 copies an front and back of the Osservatore, which he says makes
hour. It normally goes to press about 3.30 p.m., but it it “one of the most elegant of European papers. He has
often waits an hour or more if a papal announcement is no difficulty in getting the pictures, since the paper has
expected. The editorial staff - Italian priests and laymen its own archive of nearly nine million photos, a unique
- rarely worries about deadlines. Anyway it is always visual history of seven pontificates.
dated for the next day, since ecclesiastically speaking, it Vian has also made the paper more controversial.
is published after vespers. It recently praised Oscar Wilde’s “lucid analysis of the
There is one edition for Rome and another for modern world,” while treading lightly on the reason he
the rest of Italy. Two-thirds of its circulation of about was jailed. And the paper also published a favourable
80.000 is sold at news-stands in Rome and the rest review of the latest Harry Potter film, despite the Pope’s
are posted to subscribers abroad, mainly clergy, earlier warning that the themes of the Potter books
governments and international organisations. Before could undermine children’s sense of good and evil.
the fall of Communism there, six copies went every day The controversies surrounding Vian’s editorship
to Moscow, where they were studied by the Kremlin’s have not, however, increased its circulation. But he still
“Vaticanologists”. Besides Italian it also has editions considers that he has been successful “in the context of
in other languages – English, French, German, Spanish an Italian press, which is suffering a truly dreadful crisis”.
and Malayam. It has a special Spanish edition for South And “in any case”, Vian joked about the controversies,
America, which is printed in Buenos Aires. “It’s my publisher, the paper’s owner, who is infallible,
“It is not for nothing that people call it the Pope’s not me.”
newspaper,” wrote Pope Paul V1 in its centenary issue. Joking aside, let us wish the Pope’s newspaper a
“No other newspaper can have such a large horizon very happy 150th birthday and another
of observation, such rich sources of information, more 150 years of serving the
important subjects for discussion, so authoritative a Church.
judgement. How can we make it the really great paper
it should be?”
The answer seems to be that though it
may become more attractive, its semi-official
character limits its development. But it has
improved since the time Cardinal Tardini,
Pope John’s Secretary of State, told one of the
standard jokes about it. “When we were young
seminarians,” he said, “we always knew what to
tuck inside our shirts in cold weather. We could
find nothing heavier or stiffer, than the Osservatore
Romano. Pope Paul V1 put it more kindly. “One cannot
always say that it makes entertaining reading,” he said.
“It’s a grave, serious paper, not one to pass the time.”
Pioneer, May 2011 9
MARGARET IVEAGH
A Saintly Lady of Ireland’s Penal Days
Sean Ua Cearnaigh
Oh! Weep those days, the penal days, Martyrs there were many during the era of the Penal
When Ireland hopelessly complained; Laws, among them the saintly Tipperary priest Nicholas
Sheehy, who was hanged in Clonmel in 1766.
Oh! Weep those days, the penal days,
Not all of the nobility of Ireland, however, sided with
When godless persecution reigned.
the oppressors in eighteenth-century Ireland. A few
Gaelic and Old English Catholic aristocratic families
Thus did the patriot, Thomas Davis, himself a Protestant,
had somehow managed to retain their lands and they
commence his memorable poem on Ireland’s penal
succoured their downtrodden co-religionists during the
days, that sad protracted period when England and
worst years of persecution. Sadly, they were very few in
her parliamentary allies in Ireland tried their utmost
number. Among the best loved of aristocratic Catholics
to stamp out Catholic faith in the country. Even the
who flourished during the Penal Days was a saintly lady
eighteenth century English writer, Horace Walpole,
who lived beneath the shadow of Tipperary’s storied
who could hardly have been accused of championing
Slievenamon. She was Margaret Burke, known to all as
Ireland, was constrained to write:
Lady Iveagh, wife of Thomas Butler of Kilcash Mansion
“Attempts were now made to drive out the Catholic
and sister-in-law of Christopher Butler, Archbishop of
religion altogether. With this intent a series of acts
Cashel.
were passed during the reign of William and Anne, by
Margaret Burke, daughter of William, Earl of
the Irish Parliament, which were of a character quite
Clanrickarde, member of an ancient Anglo-Norman
unparalleled and were in flagrant violation of the Treaty
Catholic family, was born in 1673. In 1689, at the age of
of Limerick.”
sixteen, she married Brian Magennis, first Earl of Iveagh.
Stephen J Brown, SJ wrote: “By these Penal Statutes
Her older sister, Honoria, was the wife of the patriot
Catholics could not get their children educated, they
Patrick Sarsfield.
could not carry arms, the profession of the law was
Lord Iveagh fought on the side of Catholic King James
closed to them, and all ecclesiastics who were in
in the War of the Two Kings. Following the final Jacobite
correspondence with Rome were to be expelled. In
defeat at Limerick in 1691, he joined the Austrian army.
George II’s reign even more stringent laws were made
He was killed in action in 1695. Following his death, his
against the Catholics.”
widow returned to Ireland. Her brief marriage to Lord
Also included among the iniquitous penal laws were
Iveagh was childless.
the outlawing of the Mass, and the hunting to death of
In 1696, Margaret Burke, now and forever afterwards
bishops and priests. Men who abandoned their Catholic
known as Lady Iveagh, remarried. Her new spouse was
faith in favour of Protestantism were given the right to
Thomas Butler, owner of extensive lands in County
disinherit their parents. Davis described something of
Tipperary and lord of Kilcash Mansion, some seven
these insidious practices when he wrote:
miles from Clonmel. Thomas Butler, who had himself
They bribed the flock, they bribed played a prominent part in the fight against King William
the son, was, like all the Tipperary Butlers, a staunch Catholic.
He was, incidentally, related to the Kilkenny Dukes of
To sell the priest and rob the sire;
Ormond, of whom James Butler, the first bearer of the
Their dogs were taught alike to run
title, had played a somewhat ignoble part during the
Upon the scent of wolf and friar, days of the Confederation of Kilkenny. These latter
Among the poor, Butlers were rigid, indeed, bigoted Protestants who
fully agreed with the cruel Penal Laws against Catholics.
Or on the moor
Nonetheless, blood proved thicker than water and
Were hid the pious and the true
so, due to the protection of the powerful Protestant
While traitor knave
Kilkenny Butlers, the Catholic Butlers of Kilcash and
And recreant slave other family estates in Tipperary were left unmolested.
Had riches, rank and retinue; And, this in a country where Catholics were cruelly
treated by their aristocratic overlords was in itself
And, exiled in those penal days,
remarkable.
Our banners over Europe blaze.
Because of her husband’s kinship with the Dukes
10 Pioneer, May 2011