Séamus Ahearne: WE NEED OUR PROPHETS: FRANCIS WAS ONE SUCH PERSON.

The Funeral observations (Pope Francis) were extraordinary. The coverage on the BBC; on all the papers; on The Sunday Times (a full front page of the scene up to the Basilica) was surprising. Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York and acting Archbishop of Canterbury (taking the place of Justin Welby who had resigned) became very emotional, and was on the verge of tears, as he spoke of the Funeral and the reception the Anglicans got, in St Peter’s Square on that day. The whole Ceremony was well done. How everything was arranged in those few days is remarkable. Everything flowed seamlessly. There was space. There was a calm. It came across as prayerful. The Altar wasn’t crowded by priests. Giovanni Battista Re led the Celebration rather well. His script and Homily stayed with the man of faith Francis was. His fluttering pages made it all very real and ordinary. Building Bridges and not walls – was Francis speaking!

A RASCAL: FRANCIS.

The rascal Francis had elbowed Carlo Acutis off the stage. It did mean that many young people had arrived. The phalanx of men was illustrative of how the Church is. But that discussion is for other times. Trump and Zelensky appeared to be in Confession, in the Basilica. They were closely observed by Francis. It could be claimed as the first miracle in the process of canonisation. If the Romans would dare to put an immediate halo on Francis. (We had too many quickies with other popes). I believe the journey to Mary Majors was spectacular. I know Mary McAleese had problems with Keven Farrell’s cope… (She has much more to say than that).

THE CONCLAVE: OUR PRAYERFUL HOPE FOR A MAN OF COURAGE TO EMERGE.

We all miss Francis and hope that the Spirit has some say in the Conclave. I only know two participants: Bob and Tim. Arthur and myself did exchange letters some years ago but we have very differing views! I have no influence and am too old to be called to Rome. I saw Kieran O’Mahony osa on the panel of RTÉ. He was good and ever so relaxed. Our Monday folk at Mass offered to knit him a red hat to go with his red gansey. They were amused but wanted to let him know that he would hardly get a red hat in Rome! They like him as he is. And his style.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS:

I was recalling: The Ordination as Bishops  of two men on the 20th January 1980. (For Dublin as Auxiliaries). Larry Forristal was taken away from Rivermount here. He did say many times and much later, that he should have remained a parish priest in Finglas South. Larry was here for the early days of the parish. He was very fond of the people in Rivermount, and is still spoken about with affection and praise. We have celebrated the Golden Jubilee (opening on the 18th December 1974). I was remembering too, Brendan Comiskey. In my student days in Ballyboden, Brendan and Martin Nolan osa appeared. They were exciting and excited. They were full of hope and life. They were very articulate both of them. They communicated in a language that made sense. The Church. Faith. Religious life. Ministry became very attractive. The stuffiness and formality of church dissolved. Gaudium et Spes radiated from them. We were exhilarated by them. We caught something that time which has inspired some of us ever since.

A VATICAN 2 MAN:  BRENDAN.

And life moved on. Brendan was captured for a different life. It felt as if the constraints of being a Bishop might suffocate him. He was a free spirit. He was full of the poetry of faith. However the other side of this came across in the bravery of official Church, to appoint someone such as Brendan. Things did eventually go wrong where Brendan was. Those problems have shattered much of the hope that we found so effusive and enthusing. It is easy to blame Brendan. It is easy to blame the Vatican. But that is too simple. Brendan was more than the problems that happened around him. Not too many anywhere has emerged unscathed from all of this. He was more. He was a loving character. He was warm. He was fluent. He wrote so much. He gave Retreats. He made calls.

BE POSITIVE. BE GENTLE. BE VISIONARY.

He was often on the phone to me. He usually was pleased with something that I had written but sometimes, he cautioned me to be gentle; to be positive; to be encouraging. He saw the ACP as essential to a living and lively ministry. Of course he was right in my case. However, it was the humanity and gentle humour that touched me. I was happy to hear his voice and happy to tell him that his voice still mattered. May he rest in peace. And may the good he did, bless all of us. We can never afford to lose the voice that spreads light and hope and wonder and beauty. He did that as best he could.

Seamus Ahearne osa 30th April 2025.

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One Comment

  1. Roy Donovan says:

    Pope Francis spoke often of a ‘culture of encounter’. That was my experience of meeting Brendan. He had that way of making a personal connection in abundance. He did this in his preaching as well as in person. I came away each time encouraged and uplifted. I second all that Seamus says about Brendan. He was such a breath of fresh air. His energy was contagious.

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