Courtney McGrailIreland is in urgent need of spiritual regeneration, writes Maria Fogarty
An upcoming young adults’ conference organised by the Legion of Mary has as its theme ‘Mary went in haste’. A sense of urgency has a way of focusing the mind and establishing priorities. Mary was the first and most perfect disciple of her beloved Son; the ideal for our own discipleship.
Immediately after the Annunciation, our Blessed Mother set out and travelled in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth with the message revealed by the Archangel Gabriel, and also to support Elizabeth in her hour of need. Mary was the first to bring the Good News through a selfless act of love and charity.
One of the most commonly used words in today’s society is equality. Of course, true equality derives from God’s revelation to his people, that all men are equal because we are created in his image and likeness. This knowledge is the absolute basis of all progress, true enlightenment and in the new millennium, as St Pope John Paul II described, the ‘New Evangelisation’.
During the American bishops’ Ad Limina visit to Rome toward the end of St John Paul II’s life, the Pope asked the recently deceased Cardinal Francis George of Chicago “what are you doing to evangelise the culture?”
Cardinal George was deeply struck and at the same time very motivated by this insightful question.
John Paul was prompting a keen response to the stifling culture of secular relativism within western society today. A culture that manipulates freedom of conscience and religion to fit the acceptable conventions of the day, belittling any challenge to the ‘anything goes’ mentality, and enforcing the mantra that all beliefs, lifestyles, ideas etc. should be treated equally, with no regard for reason or consequence.
Backdrop
Against this backdrop of the 21st Century, Christians are commissioned to announce the Good News that Jesus Christ, our Saviour, has risen from the dead.
In 2012 Pope Francis’ final words at World Youth Day, to over three million people on Copacabana Beach in Brazil, were “go and make disciples of all nations”. As we well know, this is also Christ’s final commandment to his apostles before his Ascension. In today’s world, how do we endeavour to respond faithfully to Christ’s final commandment and to the Popes’ call to evangelise?
By its very nature the Christian faith is communal. A heart and mind touched by love and truth, cannot be kept to oneself, instinctively it reaches out, as a plant reaches toward the light in a shaded room. Belief in Jesus Christ communicates itself in many forms, permeating family, friendship, vocations, service and work. By way of the sacraments, the Holy Spirit radiates within us, touching every part of our daily lives, which in itself is evangelising our world.
Sadly, our culture has led huge numbers of people to turn away from the Church, no longer attending Mass or receiving the sacraments. In Ireland, the vast majority of those who have ceased the practise of their faith are baptised Catholics. The recent social and constitutional change in our country confirms without question that Ireland is mission territory!
To engage others in faith-based discussion or to extend an invitation to return to prayer and sacraments requires spiritual preparation and most importantly formation. This is precisely why the Legion of Mary system, founded and developed by Frank Duff, is genius.
The system unites lay Catholics, providing formation through prayer, study and work, developing awareness and ability to share our faith with others, thereby witnessing to the Good News through visitation and acts of charity.
The Legion of Mary provides well-established opportunities and occasions for lay Catholics to engage and pray with people through various apostolic works in parishes and communities, visiting homes, hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, rehabilitation centres and homeless services to name but a few.
The system’s advocate is the Mother of God herself, this is simply an effective devotion to Mary lived out through regular prayer and apostolic work.
As each day passes, the need in Ireland for spiritual regeneration accelerates. What modern atheists, non-believers and those who ridicule Christianity and the Catholic Church don’t understand is that God is not in competition with the world or seeking to prohibit our freedom.
The glory of God is a human being fully alive, entirely free and blossoming to his or her full potential.
That full potential starts with the Good News of the Gospel.
*The annual Catholic Youth Conference organised by the Legion of Mary takes place in All Hallows College, Dublin from August 29-30.
The theme is ‘Mary went in haste’ and the emphasis is on the role of Mary and working for the Church in the evangelisation of Irish society. Speakers include Fr John Harris OP and Archbishop Eamon Martin, and there will be workshops, liturgies, testimonies and social activities.
The conference is open to all young Catholic adults aged between 18-40 years.
Contact Declan at 085-8032848 or go to facebook.com/deus.patria for booking form and further details.