Parish Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30 The McNally family, RIP
11.00 Tom Drinkwater, (Anniv).
6.30 Nellie Carter, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying......

On All Saints Day, 1755, an earthquake occurred under the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, about 200 kms off the coast of Portugal. Within 30 minutes of the quake, a giant wave -about six metres highlashed the coastline, bringing still more destruction. This was of course the most infamous tsunami ever experienced in Europe. At least 30,000 people were killed in Portugal alone. The effects of the quake were felt even along the south and west coasts of Ireland.

Throughout the 18th century a movement, know as 'The Enlightenment', was gaining ground among the educated elite in Europe. Led by Voltaire, they believed that there was a rational explanation for everything, including the world. Expressed negatively, their conviction ran: 'if something doesn't stand to reason, it doesn't stand!' Reason is the measure of all. The big bugbear of the rationalist was 'superstition'. And, in their book, the traditional God was the creation of superstitious minds. As such, he had no part to play in the new, 'enlightened' Europe that was then coming to birth.

Many of those killed in the Lisbon quake were attending Mass, November 1st being a Holy Day. Religion seemed to add to the calamity rather than alleviate it! Jeff O'Connell has an interesting article on the 1755 disaster in this week's local Advertiser. According to Jeff, the clergy played a rather active role in this pre-Enlightenment mopping-up operation:

For the religious minds of the 18th century, this manifestation of the anger of God was difficult to explain. In the following days, priests roamed the city hanging people suspected of heresy on sight, blaming them for the disaster.

Such scenes are no longer so common in the wake of natural disasters! However, natural disasters themselves are still with us, together with their related questions. The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus put the question succinctly: "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not all-powerful. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is evil. Is he both able and willing? Then where does evil come from?" This week, a modern militant atheist and philosopher, Richard Dawkins, poked cynical fun at believers: "I thought believers might be disillusioned with an omnipotent being who had just drowned 125,000 innocent people (or an omniscient one who failed to warn them)."

Rowan Williams of Canterbury came up with an interesting hypothesis: "If some religious genius did come up with an explanation of exactly why all these deaths made sense, would we feel happier or safer or more confident in God?" Of course we would not! As humans, we crave meaning. Rational scientists like Dawkins settle for mere explanations. Not the same thing!

An unexamined assumption of our technological age is that the world is ultimately controllable. The tsunami has undermined all that! Hence people (especially journalists) turned to theology in angry frustration at their obvious vulnerability. Jeff O'Connell got it just about right in his article: "Neither believer or non-believer can provide a satisfactory answer to the question 'How can a good God allow such terrible things to happen?' But common ground can surely be recognised in the determination to help the afflicted, comfort the bereaved, send healing to the injured, and aid to those who have lost their livelihoods and homes."

- Dick Lyng.

EVENTS THIS WEEK

FRUITS OF THE GIVING TREE

On behalf of the management, staff and service users of the Galway Diocesan Youth Services, I wish to thank you, your community and congregations for the extraordinary generosity demonstrated through your church 'Giving Tree' . Our service users were most thankful and appreciative of the gifts and it was wonderful to observe their great delight. Distribution of the gifts formed a central part of the Christmas lunch celebration here at No. 4 on Monday December 19th.

Wishing you every blessing in the New Year, Mary McGlynn (Joint Director)

THE MASS, AS CELEBRATED IN 150 AD

{The following account of the 'Sunday gathering' was written by Justin Martyr in the year 150 AD. You will recognise all the main parts of the Mass as we celebrate it today, including the collection!}

"On the day which is called Sunday we have a common assembly of all who live in the cities or in the outlying districts, and the memoirs of the Apostles or the writings of the Prophets are read, as long as there is time. Then, when the reader has finished, the president of the assembly verbally admonishes and invites all to imitate such examples of virtue. Then we all stand up together and offer up our prayers, and after we finish our prayers, bread and wine and water are presented. He who presides likewise offers up prayers and thanksgiving to the best of his ability, and the people express their approval by saying 'Amen'.

The Eucharistic elements are distributed and consumed by those present and to those who are absent they are sent through the deacons. The wealthy, if they wish, contribute whatever they desire, and the collection is placed in the custody of the president. With it he helps the orphans and widows, those who are needy because of sickness or any other reason, and the captives and strangers in our midst; in short, he takes care of all those in need."

-St. Justin Martyr.

WE THREE KINGS

Where do we go from here?
We left our country,
Bore gifts,
Followed a star.
We were questioned.
We answered.
We reached our objective.
We enjoyed the trip.
Then we came back by a different way.

And now the people are demonstrating in the streets.
They say they don't need the Kings any more.
They did very well in our absence.
Everything was all right without us.
They are out on the streets with placards.
Wise Men? What's wise about them?
There are plenty of Wise Men,
And who needs them? - and so on.

Perhaps they will be better off without us.
But where do we go from here?

-Muriel Spark.

STUDY COURSE ON THE BIBLE

The bible is the best seller all over the world each year but is often the least used book in the library. Yet is everyone's book and has been a source of wisdom and inspiration in every age of Christianity.

Croí Nua (Rosary Lane, Taylor's Hill, opposite Scoil Rois entrance) presents an introductory course that may help people to become familiar with the bible and its use. This term it will focus on the Gospel of Matthew which is the main liturgical text for this year.

The course will take place every Tuesday from January 11th 2005 to March 15th, 2005. In order to facilitate people for whom morning or evening is unsuitable, the course will take place each Tuesday at 10.30-12.30 and 7.30-9.30. Course Leader is Fr Patsy Kelly, MSC (Phone: 520960)

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