You've no doubt heard of this but one of my favourite stories from history is about the Irish Madonna of Hungary. http://irishmadonna.com/
I was looking at the 1766 religious census for Ireland (does not survive for every parish). https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/1766-religious-census.html Catholics were recorded as papists. The survey also recorded if a 'papish priest' resided in the parish. In 1766 our Catholic ancestors were still viewed as chattel, third class citizens. It was still difficult to build chapels in the north of Ireland. My ancestors were protestant planters who came from Scotland in the mid seventeenth century. In 1766 they were all Presbyterians. Yet by 1900 almost all were Catholic. There was an incredible conversion somewhere. I believe my whole clan converted because some soul became a victim, a holy soul who prayed for the conversion of my family. I look forward to finding out who that was in the next life.
A powerful family fact! Thank you for telling us. A whole family saved. I am sure you are right about a victim soul.
Emmanuel House of Prayer, where Eddie & Lucy Stones reside is in Clonfert not far from where this Cathedral is. It is also an ancient monastic settlement founded by St Brendan the Navigator and St Brendan is buried there. I think there is some plan by God to re evangelise Ireland from Clonfert. They do wonderful work there.
[/ATTACH] St. Brendan is a favourite of mine. I absolutely love that someone took the time to prove his journey to the west was possible. https://lookingnorth.blog/2020/07/the-brendan-voyage/ This is my own humble rendering of his Cross ~
During Covid my husband and I visited Dingle, Co Kerry as we could not go outside the country because of our vaccination status. We stayed at the foot of Mount Brandon. ST Brendan was originally from there and there is a little cove where he set out on his great voyage. I discovered that there is a pilgrim way all the way to the peak of Mount Brandon and local people climb and pray on a specific day every year in memory of Brendan. It is a very spiritual place. From Mount Brandon you look out on Sceilig Michael. Early Irish monks lived and prayed on this inhospitable rock just like the early Church fathers who retreated to the desert. That year I had missed my annual visit to Medjugorge but I climbed Mount Brandon doing the stations on the way. There are crosses at various points on the mountain marking each of the stations. It was a very challenging climb, much more than Mount Kriesevac in Medjugorge. I realised there is a huge spiritual heritage in Ireland that we are not even aware of. We truly walk in the footsteps of saints.
I have also visited Quin, Co Clare and seen Tim Severins boat which is a reconstruction of the boat described by St Brendan that he used on his great voyage. I think there are moves afoot to relocate the boat to the Brandon cove from where Brendan set out.
Yes. Ireland is holy ground. I do not believe the devil will have his way there in the long run. Think of the battalions of martyrs in heaven imploring Our Lady to send help.
Many thanks Lois, I hadn't heard this wonderful story, though I'm familiar with many of the Marian apparitions and miraculous events. I've been reading about the Irish Madonna and also saw this short video about the copy of the painting now in St. Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea, Co. Galway.
30 Days with the Irish Mystics by Thomas Craughwell Day 8: Shielded by the Saints: May Jesus with his apostles be our aid against danger. Let Mary and Joseph cherish us, and the spirit of Stephen: From every peril may the commemoration of Ignatius’ name deliver us. Every martyr, every hermit, every saint who lived in chastity, May they be a shield to us to protect us, be an arrow from us against demons. ST. COLMAN OF CLOYNE (522–C. 600) Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. . . . Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. EPHESIANS 6: 10–11, 14–17 TODAY’S MEDITATION In times of trouble it was the custom among the Irish to call upon the help of as many saints as they could think of. They looked upon the kingdom of heaven as the home of a vast and powerful army, ready to protect Christians from all harm, especially from the wiles of the Evil One. Follow the example of the Irish and call upon the saints to help you in all your trials. PRAYER Come to my aid, all you saints of heaven! Stand between me and all evil. Shield my family and friends and benefactors from all harm. And inspire us to follow your example so that we may all be united together with you in heaven. St. Colman of Cloyne, and all you mystic saints of Ireland, pray for me!”
On December 26 the Martyrology of Donegal records a feast of Saint Jarlath of Tuam, whose more usual day is June 6. The MD cites his reputation for asceticism, he performed 300 genuflections by day and the same by night, read it here: http://www.omniumsanctorumhiberniae.com/2014/12/saint-iarlaithe-of-tuam-december-26.html?m=1
