Faith in the Family

We will talk for years to come about the weekend Pope Francis came to Dublin. Four of us were at the fabulous Festival of Families in Croke Park and all six of us at the Mass in Phoenix Park. It was wonderful to see the Pope in Ireland and wonderful for our family to experience the buzz, excitement and positivity of thousands of people gathered together to celebrate with the Pope.

I don’t think that a visit by the Pope will transform the Church in Ireland – that would be simplistic. It will take a lot more energy and vision over the coming months and years, building on what Pope Francis has invited and challenged us to be which will do that. However, I do think that for people of Faith this is an experience that can give a much-needed boost of confidence, conviction and hope.

Pope Francis spoke of the daily outpouring of the Spirit in family life. He reminded us that family is “a privileged place and an important means” of spreading the Good News. He reminded us of that through our Baptism we are each called to be missionary – to go out sharing the joy of the Gospel.

I was delighted to have been asked to moderate one of the panels at the World Meeting of Families Pastoral Congress in the RDS. The theme on which I was to speak and then lead a discussion on with a panel was: ‘Who is doing the dishes: Pope Francis on the small things that matter in family life.’ In his writings Pope Francis regularly brings things back to the bits and pieces of life experience. He roots his theology in what we understand ourselves.

And so Pope Francis is able to say: “The Lord’s presence dwells in real and concrete families, with all their daily troubles and struggles, joys and hopes…the spirituality of family love is made up of thousands of small but real gestures.” (AL 315)

We were delighted in Croke Park when Pope Francis went off script to remind us of the three vital phrases in family life: please, thank you and I’m sorry. He asked us to repeat them after him, cajoling us to speak up, challenging us again to be louder until Croke Park rang with the sound of thousands of voices and he grinned with delight. These simple phrases contain within them the virtues of family life – love, gentleness, respect, understanding, forgiveness.

These are the virtues that Pope Francis invites us to take out into the world. It is not easy. We have gone through a period of brutal negativity towards the Church and towards Faith in the build up to this visit. It would be so easy to retreat, to engage only with like-minded souls. I loved the atmosphere in the RDS at the Pastoral Congress. The joy was palpable. So many families, young adults, such a variety of nationalities, nuns dancing in the arena, bishops sharing the craic and the chat. It was good to be there! I can really understand why, at the Transfiguration, Peter suggested: “Should we just build a tent here and stay?”

Now however we are back down the mountain, returning to ordinary life. What are we taking with us? For me there is a powerful sense that we, you and I, have to step up and be Church.

Pope Francis spoke about the scandal of clericalism and the evils it has facilitated. If we sit back and wait for our priests and bishops to come up with a plan to re-energise the Irish Church then we are falling into that sin of clericalism. We need to believe in our call to be bearers of the Gospel in our families and beyond. Pope Francis has reminded us of who we are: the People of God.