Seán Walsh: New Leaf

New Leaf

A priest from the Redemp’trists

gave us the School Retreat 

at the beginning of Lent.

Hell or Heaven for starters,

then the mercy of God

that knows no limits…

Hughie Ward has stopped cursing

and Jacko Quinn has made up his mind:

no more stealing from

the sweets counter in Woolworths.

And I went to him for confession.

‘Behind a screen in a classroom 

in the Primary …

Uptight I was going down on the kneeler

but he wasn’t the same a tall 

as when we were all together in the Hall

and he was telling us from the stage 

that it only took one mortal sin…

A new pin I was coming away…

By the end of the three days

I didn’t know myself! 

Walking on air I was through the town – 

dark, rain swept, dismal – 

but how was I to know? 

Wasn’t I in Heaven!

One hand in a coat pocket,

fingering the beads,

and me singing me heart out 

but so low no one could hear… 

How’s this it went?..

Heart of Jesus, 

Burning with love for me

Inflame my heart, 

with love… with love of Thee…

And he did, to be sure he did! 

Inflame my heart… 

‘Burnt into my very soul. 

Lifted, I was. On fire!

A flame – oh, a furnace!

And then… Then?.. Ah-hh…

 Adolescence.

Book available from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Travels-my-Dad-Sean-Walsh/dp/B0BMSV6T3S/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1M8BE6Y8VXNY5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.T9ePsiJLiotJUzrgUdamaqNJTOCiafgWdMtri1GNK8FXC9VBXMP-UZbg8NW8q26q728AVk8gPNo5TE21uHnquTRseSkVzqmMMu6usRVf5RVu5nnFYzLoRfOGcyWt56g6bOf2g1l1ykP5p7bpoPOOcchxxSvibvY0OACSbPWZutCKxL1KzsOdcod63P4WOmJMqh3ST-Ep0lICajxL2GXxa9-wARMeRgEGtwe9cMii2oU._d8fj6wYq6bOxatduEn9EwkJ_0GIzbfdFaBqzsWcixM&dib_tag=se&keywords=Travels+with+My+Dad&qid=1736158328&sprefix=travels+with+my+dad%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-2

Similar Posts

Association of Catholics in Ireland Zoom: ‘Turn Away From Sin, Repent and Believe in the Gospel’ with Archbishop Eamon Martin

Blog
0 Comments

“Turn away from sin – repent and believe in the Gospel.”What does this mean for us in 2023?Archbishop Eamon MartinZOOM – 16th Feb 2023 – 8.00 pmWith the world facing…

One Comment

  1. sean walsh says:

    “Just wonderful – and full of wondering!.. I wallowed in it with
    smiles and joy and admiration…”– Bernard Farrell. Playwright.
    (Bernard was referring to my Amazon paperback, Travels with My Dad.)

    (A friend, he gladly gave me the ok to use his quote.)

    Reply

Join the Discussion

Keep the following in mind when writing a comment

  • Your comment must include your full name, and email. (email will not be published). You may be contacted by email, and it is possible you might be requested to supply your postal address to verify your identity.
  • Be respectful. Do not attack the writer. Take on the idea, not the messenger. Comments containing vulgarities, personalised insults, slanders or accusations shall be deleted.
  • Keep to the point. Deliberate digressions don't aid the discussion.
  • Including multiple links or coding in your comment will increase the chances of it being automati cally marked as spam.
  • Posts that are merely links to other sites or lengthy quotes may not be published.
  • Brevity. Like homilies keep you comments as short as possible; continued repetitions of a point over various threads will not be published.
  • The decision to publish or not publish a comment is made by the site editor. It will not be possible to reply individually to those whose comments are not published.