Odd times as celebration stays behind a mask

Well, it was a strange St Patrick’s Day for sure – a more sombre and sober one than we’re used to. Maybe, despite Mass cancellations, it was a more spiritual celebration than usual. At least that option was certainly on offer. The media, social and otherwise, played their part by broadcasting streamed religious services across a range of platforms.

One of the religious programmes that caught my attention was a new film, I Am Patrick, that landed on Netflix last Thursday. Regular readers will know I’m not a fan of docudrama (two stools and all that) and this film didn’t cure me of that prejudice. I was glad that the film makers (Christian Broadcasting Network) relied almost exclusively on St Patrick’s own writings, the Confessio and the Epistola, using the translations of Fr Pádraig McCarthy and Thomas O’Loughlin, so there were no snakes scurrying away. The drama sequences were naturalistic for the most part and the visions the saint spoke of were there but rather low key.

Three actors played Patrick at different stages in his life – I was particular impressed by Jonathan Rhys-Davies (Gimli in Lord of the Rings) as the older Patrick. He added a certain gravity to the part, a certain modesty and dignified tiredness as he settled down to write his Confessio, partly to defend himself and his ministry against accusations from Church authorities in Britain.

I’d like to have seen more focus on this role as the rest of the dramatisation was somewhat stilted. The cultural setting was well done and the cinematography succeeded in capturing the rugged Irish landscape – much of it from Clare and Mayo and hardly changed since the saint walked those paths.

I found the documentary sections more engaging, including interviews with Dr Tim Campbell from the St Patrick Centre in Co. Down, Dr Elva Johnston and Dr Charles Doherty from UCD, biographer Thomas O’Loughlin (Discovering St Patrick) and Fr Billy Swan who concentrated on the saint’s close relationship with God following the line of his book The Experience of God in the Writings of St Patrick.

Of course what made it an odd feast day this year was the ongoing coronavirus crisis which dominated news and current affairs programmes during the week. I’ve rarely seen a story where situations changed so quickly.

Last Thursday morning soon after 10am, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was interviewed on Today With Seán O’Rourke (RTÉ Radio 1) explaining the Catholic Bishops’ latest guidelines on dealing with the coronavirus – modest enough proposals about sensible practices at funerals, Baptism and Mass. By 11.30am the axe had fallen on schools, colleges and gatherings of over 100 people indoors, so the bishops had to revise their guidelines when the virtual ink was barely dry on the first lot.

Challenges

It has been useful to keep in touch with media coverage in the UK as well, especially as authorities there were taking a somewhat different approach. Last Saturday morning on the Today programme (BBC Radio 4) there was a sympathetic interview with Cardinal Vincent Nicholls who spoke of the challenges facing priests in the current outbreak, especially as their duties included tending to the sick and dying.

He expected priests would still be able to do those visits to bring comfort and assurance of the afterlife “which awaits us all”, but subject to precautions and norms of nursing homes and except in the most extreme circumstances.  He said that government advice to Churches was mediated through a few experts who understood both Church life and the public health needs. He urged a balance between being determined and not panicking, and cautioned against extremes of fear or selfishness.

At that point the cardinal was preparing for the phase that had already hit the Republic – the cancelling of services. But, he said, he didn’t envisage the closing of churches as these were important spaces.

Later that morning on the Brendan O’Connor programme (RTÉ Radio 1), psychologist Tony Bates emphasised the need for the ordinary and the routine to help get us through calmly, despite the fact that we might have a desire for big gestures – we want guns at high noon, he said, but we get suits at six in those daily briefings.

Fr Brian D’Arcy urged a greater focus on prayer, and urged priests who are or will be celebrating Mass via webcams not just to run through it quickly, but to speak to their new online congregation.

Sound advice.

Pick of the Week

MASS

RTÉ1, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252, Sunday, March 22, 11 am

Mass on the fourth Sunday of Lent, Mothers Day, celebrating the work of Trócaire, with a congregation and choir from the Athlone Franciscian Friary. The celebrant is Fr Gabriel Kinahan.

In Concert: Faure Requiem – Paavo Jarvi and L’Orchestre

EWTN, Monday, March 24, 6 am

The Orchestra of Paris performs Gabriel Faure’s Requiem.

Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul

BBC2, Friday, March 27, 9 pm

Seven celebrities of differing faiths and beliefs tackle the 2,200km Sultans Trail by road and on foot in a modern-day pilgrimage across Europe to the historic city of Istanbul.