IEC 2012 opens in Dublin: The Eucharist, food for Ireland’s renewal
“The Church in Ireland is a Church on the path to renewal”, said Archbishop Diarmuid
Martin of Dublin, as he opened the 50th International Eucharistic Congress
in the Irish capital Sunday, very much setting the tone for a week of events. Listen:
It was a clear
message to the faithful from Ireland’s four ecclesial provinces who were joined by
thousands of pilgrims from overseas Sunday afternoon in the Royal Dublin Society Arena
– it was the good news they needed to hear. Flags from the Solomon Islands, from
the Democratic Republic of Congo, from the US, Vietnam, China, Australia and Europe
fluttered in the sea breeze as 40 Cardinals, some 200 bishops and priests processed
behind the book of the Gospels for the first celebration of the Eucharist in the week
long Congress. The celebration began with the unveiling of the “Healing Stone”
at the foot of the altar Upon it’s granite surface a prayer had been inscribed, written
by a survivor of clerical sex abuse. Archbishop Martin stood before it as a young
women recited the prayer as silence pervaded the arena, followed by lengthy applause.
Archbishop Martin, recalled all those who suffered abuse and “who still today
bear the mark of that abuse and may well carry it with them for the rest of their
lives”. “In a spirit of repentance, let us remember each of them in the silence of
our hearts”. But Archbishop Martin also had a reminder for the Catholics of Ireland,
particularly those voices within the Church and wider society who in recent times
have been demanding reform of the Church and some of its key teachings. He said “The
Church is not ours to redesign; it is gift that we receive from the Lord with the
guidance throughout history of the Holy Spirit and following the example of Mary and
the saints”.
Mass was presided by Pope Benedict XVI’s personal representative
to the Congress, Cardinal Marc Ouellet. In his homily he also spoke of the “suffering”
and “serious challenges to the faith” within the Irish Church. “Every Sunday
…we go to church to meet the Risen Lord…by partaking in the Holy Eucharist” he said.
“It may seem in the world’s eyes that we gather for social reasons or according to
our cultural and religious traditions, but in fact we are called together by the Lord
Himself”. Cardinal Ouellet also reached out to those people who feel themselves
to be on the margins of the Church. “Christ’s unique sacrifice offers salvation ti
each and every human being”, he said “We do not know, nor do we have to know, whether
some or many will refuse His grace in the end”. He said: “At these gatherings we
come as we are, poor sinners, and we may not always have the proper disposition to
receive communion. But…everyone is able to live what is called a “spiritual communion””. “Let
us be aware of the unfathomable gift of the Holy Eucharist. God deserves much more
adoration and gratitude for this gift of love”. Indeed, the gratitude of the Irish
gathered in the Dublin Arena Sunday was palpable. Gratitude for the sight of young
and energetic men and women religious milling about in the crowds, a rare sight in
the Ireland of today. Gratitude for the African pilgrims who entertained the assembly
in song and dance in the lead up to the Mass. Gratitude for the 30 boys and girls
from Austria, a visible presence of the young Church, ‘a breath of fresh air’ as one
elderly lady put it. Gratitude to Pope Benedict XVI for this opportunity, in the
midst of suffering, to experience the healing and comfort that only the Eucharist
in communion with Christ and with one another can bring.