·      Letter: The Eighth Amendment and life-limiting conditions

Sir, – I write in response to views expressed by Amy Walsh’s letter on September 29th referencing Breda O’Brien’s article “When ‘fatal foetal’ anomalies are not so fatal” (Opinion & Analysis, September 23rd).

I offer my deepest condolences to Ms Walsh over the loss of her precious daughter but also need to correct her commentary. The care of infants with life-limiting disorders, and their families, is an integral part of neonatal medicine. In addition to being a neonatologist, I also offer medical support to families of children with life-limiting conditions. My commitment is to truth and the best possible care for my patients and their families.

Ms Walsh labels me a “lobbyist”. I am a servant, not a lobbyist, and the literature cited to support my positions is from a variety of authors published in peer-reviewed journals.

Ms Walsh claims I argue that “prenatal testing somehow adversely affects outcomes for babies with these (foetal) conditions” and these arguments are “not only untruthful but harmful”. There is literature on the impact of prenatal diagnosis on subsequent care for infants with life-limiting conditions. My comments are based on these reports. Janvier et al(American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C: Seminars in Medical Genetics 2016) describe the differences in palliative care for infants with a prenatal versus a postnatal diagnosis of trisomy 13 or 18. In all cases physicians recommended only comfort care. In cases of prenatal diagnoses 61 per cent of parents reported they were pressured to terminate the pregnancy. This study reaches two key conclusions. First, the single most important factor related to death of a trisomy baby before going home or before one year of age was a prenatal diagnosis. Second, Janvier et al state, given differences in care offered, “It seems palliative care for children with prenatal diagnosis is directed to a goal of having as short a survival as possible, with medications being prepared even before delivery (Harlos et al 2013 Journal of Pain and Symptom Management). Giving the child an optimal death seemed to be the goal of palliative care after a prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 13 or 18.” So yes, prenatal testing can, via termination pressure and a minimalist palliative care approach, adversely affect the baby.

I fully agree with Ms Walsh that triploidy, and other genetic conditions including trisomy 13 and 18, absolutely have a spectrum of expression.

I do not offer false hope for these conditions but plead for accurate reporting of that spectrum of possible outcomes by healthcare providers.

This variable expression is why these conditions should not be called “fatal”.

Many children with these conditions will not be born alive, but a large number will and they will have variable lengths of life. By definition then these are life-limiting conditions.

Triploidy has a high stillborn rate but some babies are born alive with full triploidy and have lived for months. Into the 1980s being born with Down syndrome and certain cardiac or gastrointestinal anomalies was lethal given the unwillingness of physicians to offer necessary surgical procedures. Not today. Increasing numbers of publications now demonstrate long-term survivals for children with trisomy 13 and 18 of years, despite ongoing descriptions of this life-limiting condition as “lethal”. Infants with anencephaly are missing the cerebral cortex. They have a spectrum of survival as well, with the majority being born alive, but they have as a group perhaps the shortest lives, minutes to days after birth. Do even the shortest of these lives, regularly reported as a blessing by their families, not count as a life? The second question that physicians must answer, in conjunction with families, is what benefit is to be gained by ending the life of these infants in the womb? It surely does not advantage the baby and it deprives the family of the possibility of meeting their child alive, but does it in some way help the mother? Cope et al (Prenatal Diagnosis 2015), surveyed mothers of anencephalic infants who continued their pregnancies and compared them to those who terminated. The results demonstrated that women who terminated their pregnancy reported significantly more despair, avoidance and depression than women who continued the pregnancy.

Physicians caring for mothers and their infants with a life-limiting condition have a duty to put aside personal prejudice to develop care plans based on best evidence with a laser-like focus on the best interests of the mother and baby. In considering the future of the Eighth Amendment, the Oireachtas Committee and the people of Ireland have the opportunity to learn from the tragic errors of other nations. As misguided as it is to consider an expansion of abortion services on the false narrative of “fatal foetal anomalies”, the reality is that there will be an insatiable call for abortion services to continue to expand. I would welcome the opportunity to speak further with Ms Walsh and the Oireachtas Committee in the comprehensive discussions which should occur in considering the future of the Eighth Amendment. – Yours, etc,

MARTIN J McCAFFREY,

MD, Capt USN (Ret),

Professor of Paediatrics,

Division of Neonatal

Perinatal Medicine,

Department of Paediatrics,

University of North Carolina,

School of Medicine,

Chapel Hill,

North Carolina,

United States.

Two session each day, 10am and 8pm.

Blessing with First Class Relic at each session.

If you cannot attend, you can send your petitions to : Redemptorist Community, St. Patrick’s, Esker, Athenry, Co. Galway, or email info@redemptoristsesker.ie, or click here and send it on this website:

All are welcome!

St. Gerard Majella is Patron of Mothers and Expectant Mothers, and of families. May his prayers accompany us all through these days, as we look forward to his feast day on Monday October 16th. 

(New paintings of St. Gerard Majella and Family – artist Séamus Devitt C.Ss.R

A six-day Retreat will be given in Esker Retreat Centre, beginning Sept. 25th, concluding on Saturday Sept. 30th.

Theme:  ’Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29)

Facilitator:  Michael Kelleher C.Ss.R.  Fr. Michael, a Limerick man, was ordained just over 25 years ago. He has worked in ministry in Ireland during those years, and has contributed greatly to the ongoing development of Redemptorist Youth Ministry, in many ways. He was Provincial Superior of the Irish Redemptorists for six years. He brings a great humanity to his preaching of the Word of God, through various media.

Contact:  Secretary, Esker at 091 844007/844549, or email info@redemptoristsesker.ie.

Please hold in prayer the couples who will be in  Esker for their Marriage Preparation Weekend. May they be immensely blessed by God.  Contact 091 844007, or email info@redemptoristsesker.ie

DATES 2018

January  19th- 21st  (Friday 8pm to after lunch on Sunday).

March 2nd -4th:                             ”

April 27th-29th                              ”

October 5th -7th.                           ”

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Cost per Couple is €260

‘A wedding for a day, a marriage is for every day!’

‘I freely recommend this programme and I pray for the couples and priests who present it. May the Lord continue to bless your work in Esker.’ Criost linn, John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert

A Residential Weekend, from Friday evening 8pm to after lunch on Sunday. Sandwiches galore etc. on arrival. Everything supplied. Just bring yourselves!

Feedback from Esker Pre-Marriage Weekend of June 16th-18th, 2017:

• ‘Excellent. Will recommend to others.’
• ‘We found the weekend very rewarding and insightful. We really enjoyed it and would highly recommend to our friends. Thanks to the married couples for their very honest and brave feedback on married life, and thanks to …. for their kindness and knowledge. We’ll be forever grateful.’
• Thank you to everyone who talked…’
• Didn’t know what to expect, loved the weekend and think every couple would benefit from it…’
• ‘We appreciated the honest feedback from all the married couples.’
• ‘Excellent weekend, thanks again for sharing your experiences: we hope to use your advice and tools along the way.’
• ‘Thank you to all the couples for your honest and open accounts of married life’

Feedback from Esker Pre-Marriage Weekend of 30^th March- April 2^nd, 2017.

• Thank you to all involve, the weekend was well structured, on depth and well presented. We have both learned some valuable lessons to help prepare us for married life.
• Really enjoyed the course, we both got so much out of it. It was lovely  being in Esker,-  the accommodation, food and hospitality was excellent.
• Amazing weekend. Very grateful. Thank you.
• Thank you for your generous spirit over the weekend.
• Very enjoyable weekend. Nice and relaxed environment.
• We felt the course was absolutely fantastic. Thank you to the couples…. for being so honest. It makes you realise that some of the things that you go through in a relationship aren’t that disastrous and you can work through them.
• It was lovely to hear from real couples. It really opened up the lines of communication for us and we are much closer and stronger as a result. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences with us.
• Overall, a wonderful weekend, great experience. Will most definitely benefit us in our future. Great food. Well run.
• …Stronger relationship coming out of the weekend. An incredible, life-changing experience I would say. I feel renewed in my own faith and excited about building our relationship with God as a couple. We both thoroughly enjoyed it.
• We found the course to be really great in preparing us for married life ahead. Everyone involved was very open and welcoming and it was great to draw from the experience of the married couples. We will definitely recommend the course to all of our friends.
• Thank you so much for really helping me and N grow more in love and more stronger this weekend. What a magical weekend – we cannot thank you enough.
• This course was amazing. Would highly recommend to people. Team are fantastic and very honest and open which is really nice to be a part of.
• Thank you for your commitment in giving the course. Your dedication really comes through. The course is really well run … Really enjoyed the openness and candour of the speaking couples and the time and technique of writing to each other. Thank you.
• This weekend was the most special thing we have ever done for our relationship. The generosity of spirit of all the w/e team was outstanding, we feel very grateful for having experienced it.
• It brought us closer together and gave us good tools to help us maintain unity through our marriage. We found the course speakers excellent and open. Than you for your time. We highly recommend this course.

Feedback from weekend of Marriage Preparation, January 2017

• ‘V impressed by the weekend. We appreciate the time and openness of the couples who facilitated, and especially as it was done on a volunteer basis.’
• ‘Coming to the course, we were not sure what to expect. For both of us the weekend has been a powerful and emotional path of discovery. It was honest and thought provoking. We enjoyed the experience immensely and will definitely recommend it to friends.’
• ‘It was a beautiful experience for both of us, giving us life-skills and hope, that hopefully one day we will look back and say we are as happy after 30 years as the day we met, through your help and guidance.’
• ‘Excellent all round!’
• ‘Valuable, reflective and thoughtful experience – the honesty and genuineness of the team is hugely motivating and inspiring. Plenty of thinking for our future marriage – highly recommend this! Keep up the excellent work.’
• ‘This was an excellent course – it gave an insight into marriage and how as a couple we can make our marriage work in a loving way and in the presence of God. The time the team gives you is amazing. Thank you.’
• ‘We expect that this weekend will stand to us tremendously in the long run. We appreciated the open and honest approach of the couples, facilitators and team couples. We’re delighted that we came.’
• ‘Great weekend, very helpful on all aspects of married life. Honesty and openness of the teams made the course very relevant to the real life problems or issues that we will face. Lovely atmosphere.’

Click here or go to ‘What we do’ on Homepage, for details about our PreMarriage Courses, and also to read comments from couples who have experienced this course in Esker in 2016.

 Redemptorist Youth Ministry

‘Come apart and rest awhile’ – a time apart, a time away from the rush of life, to get the bigger picture, to be in touch with our humanity, our hungers, questions, and our deeper selves. Journeying to the heart. ‘Where do we begin? Begin with the heart!’  (Meister Eckhart). 

Our Irish Redemptorist Youth Ministry Statement:

“Inspired by Jesus Christ, we engage with young people in exploring faith and life issues, and journey with them in discovering their worth, and their potential to live life in service of others.”

For information about Second-level Retreats in and from Esker, from September 2017- to May 2018, contact us now.

Note: Our new contact details from September 2107 are as follows:

Retreat? A time to Re-Charge! Time out, time away, time alone, time with others. A time to bond with classmates, as you face into a new year of life. ‘Come apart by yourselves, and rest awhile!’  (Mark 6:31)

Click here for photo of Esker Youth Ministry Team, 2015, taken on Sept. 8, 2015.

The following schools have been to Esker between September and December 2015:

St. Mary’s College Rathmines, Clongowes Wood College, Crescent College Comprehensive Limerick, Colaiste Pobal Acla (Achill), Blackrock College Dublin, Holy Child School Killiney, Jesus & Mary Secondary School Salerno Galway, St Columba’s College Stranorlar Co. Donegal, Sacred Heart Secondary School Westport Co. Mayo, Scoil Muire Ballinasloe Co Galway, Our Lady’s School Templeogue Rd Terenure Dublin, St. Joseph’s Secondary School Tulla Co. Clare, Mercy College Sligo, St. David’s Holy Faith Greystones Co. Wicklow, Tuam Youthreach, Portumna Community School Co Galway, Killina Presentation Secondary School Rahan Tullamore Co Offaly,  CBS Boys School Roscommon. Some other groups have come from schools, with their own team, for retreats or for training.

The following schools have bee here in Esker from January 2016 to May 2016:

Themes for each Year Group Retreat:

First Year: Crossing the bridge

Second Year: Friendship

Third Year: Who am I?

TYs: Masks

Fifth Year: Relationships

Sixth Year: Saying Yes to Life.

Bonding days

Self Esteem Programme

Leadership days

(All of the above can be offered as overnight programmes)

As always we listen to the needs of the students and tailor our programme to suit each group that comes to us.   Each retreat will include meditation and mindfulness and students will leave with practical skills on how to de-stress.  Each retreat will have an element of prayer and as we are blessed with the beauty which surrounds us here in Esker we use the opportunity to connect them with nature.  Esker also offers the potential to give retreats to large groups (up to 100) and can cater for overnight groups.

MEITHEAL PROGRAMME: Our second Meitheal Group was commissioned here in Esker on August 28th, 2016: these students have done their Meitheal  Leadership Training in May, and were commissioned to use their skills during the coming school year, with other students. We wish them well. This latest group came from Gort, MountBellew, Athenry, Presentation College Galway, and Ballinasloe. It is an intensive residential training programme based on the values of Justice, Compassion and Humility.  ’Act justly, Love tenderly, Walk humbly with your God’ is their motto.  TY students are trained in communication, planning, leadership and a committee is established and roles given.  Links are maintained with the school and the young people throughout the year.  We hope to offer this programme to more schools next year.

Some schools last year asked us to do bonding days with first and fifth years so we have also developed programmes for this along with a programme on Self Esteem.

You probably like to get some dates on the wall calendar at the beginning of the year before it gets too hectic, so here’s some suggestions on top of the school events.  http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/2015.htm

http://www.liturgy-Ireland.ie/uploads/8/4/2/9/8429650/liturgical_year_2015.pdf

We invite you to take a glance at our programme and facilities here in Esker at the following link http://www.redemptoristsesker.ie/what-we-do/school-retreats/. Should you have any queries about our programmes please do not hesitate to contact us.  We are now accepting bookings for the coming academic year.

There will be other updates during the year so if you would like to hear about news from Esker please email us to that effect.

—————–

We in Esker and the Esker Youth Ministry Team want to wish Lizzie Harrison well, as she leaves her role here in Esker, for personal and family reasons. We will miss her greatly, as she has put great energy and creativity into your role as Youth Ministry Co-ordinator, over these past two years. God bless you, Lizzie, and Thanks a million for your commitment and faith and hard work. 

———–

Planning for retreats for students,- a time for them to be ‘new again’! A time for students to grow together, to bond, to discover ‘the inner sea’ of their own hearts and lives. 

Click here to see our Schools Brochure:

The following schools have been to Esker between September and December 2015:

St. Mary’s College Rathmines, Clongowes Wood College, Crescent College Comprehensive Limerick, Colaiste Pobal Acla (Achill), Blackrock College Dublin, Holy Child School Killiney, Jesus & Mary Secondary School Salerno Galway, St Columba’s College Stranorlar Co. Donegal, Sacred Heart Secondary School Westport Co. Mayo, Scoil Muire Ballinasloe Co Galway, Our Lady’s School Templeogue Rd Terenure Dublin, St. Joseph’s Secondary School Tulla Co. Clare, Mercy College Sligo, St. David’s Holy Faith Greystones Co. Wicklow, Tuam Youthreach, Portumna Community School Co Galway, Killina Presentation Secondary School Rahan Tullamore Co Offaly,  CBS Boys School Roscommon. Some other groups have come from schools, with their own team, for retreats or for training.

———————

ESKER, A SOUL SPACE FOR ALL AGES:

Esker Monastery, Retreat Centre, and Youth Village, outside Athenry in County Galway, is a place of great welcome, a human place, a place where people can relax and experience life and togetherness at a different pace and in a different space.

We offer ‘THE ESKER EXPERIENCE’ for Young People, in our Esker Youth Village, -

A welcome for each person

an opportunity to

• come away together to a quiet place, to enjoy the natural beauty of our walks, the peace and tranquility of the more than 30 acres of woodland and open spaces
• to have fun, activities and reflective time
• to celebrate together their own humanity, and affirm their dignity and self-worth
• to bond with each other in their group
• to voice their questions, doubts and struggles, in a safe place where they are listened to and respected
• to come with no faith or lots of faith,- and anything in between,- and other faith backgrounds also
• to discover and uncover the gift of who they are as young human beings
• to see, if they wish, their own wonder and worth in the face and eyes of Jesus.

The Esker Youth Team offers this ESKER EXPERIENCE , to explore with them prayer, bonding, reflecting about themselves, about God, about the world. We seek to strengthen their skills of awareness, stillness, and being part of something greater.

As a team, we aim to be professional, caring, and in touch with today’s youth.

Growing at our own pace, full of hope...

We use art, music, clay, discussion, ice-breakers, meditation, games, writing, drama, in the course of this time apart.

We offer the opportunity to celebrate forgiveness and reconciliation, and to celebrate Eucharist with joy and energy and involvement.

We believe, with Simone Weil, that ‘You don’t have to go far to find God! Just notice things!’

THE ESKER EXPERIENCE is offered to Primary (6^th Class), Secondary, and Third-level students. It is offered as well to Youth Groups and other groupings of young adults. It can be for single days and for over-nights.  We also travel out to schools, occasionally.

For further information about schools and other retreats and events, contact Esker 091 844007/091 844549,  email info@redemptoristsesker.ie

We are within two hours of Dublin, on the M6, to Exit 16, Kiltullagh: follow signs to Kiltullagh, then from there to Esker Monastery..

Find School Retreats, click here , or find us under What We Do, or click on School Retreats, opposite.

Comments from recent students:

TY’s: ‘Overall, the retreat was amazing. I really benefited from it and I wish we could have done an overnight.’:  ’…the meditation and the group of girls together’: ‘I wished we were there for longer’: ‘I really enjoyed the retreat and would love to go back again.’:

LCerts: ”…It will be one thing from my Leaving Cert that I will always remember.’ :  ’I really, really enjoyed the retreat and it will most likely be the highlight of this whole year for me.!’  ’Bonding with my year and chatting with my friends’. ‘I found the meditation very good and relaxing.’ ‘I loved the walk around the woods’. ‘It was really good fun and a great experience’. ‘I felt there was a right amount of everything…it was great.’ ‘Really enjoyed the experience, will always remember it and will definitely return. Thank you for the experience.’

Themes we explore during these Days Apart: (Click here)

Booking Form:  (Click here)

Photos of the Youth Village in Esker:  (Click here for  Gallery)

Photos of the beautiful grounds of Esker (Click here or see Gallery)

Esker Retreat Centre, Monastery and Church

The following is information about a number of retreats, weekend and 6-days, that are coming up in Esker in the coming months. Please let your friends know about these. Esker is a quiet place away from the noise and the busyness of life, a place apart, a ‘soul-space’ for everyone, of whatever age. ‘Welcome’ is our middle name here in Esker.

‘Come apart and rest awhile’  (Mark 6:31)– a time apart, a time away from the rush of life, to get the bigger picture, to be in touch with our humanity, our hungers, questions, and our deeper selves.

In the quiet walks of the Eskers

November 4,5: Dreams. / Facilitator Brendan O’Rourke C.Ss.R.  ’Dreams have been valued in ancient cultures and religions. They were understood to give guidance, to challenge imbalance in our lives, and to invite us to wholeness. In these two days we will look at dream theory, and at ways to work and play with our dreams.’  Brendan, currently in his sixth year as superior of the Redemptorist Community here in Esker, is a native of Wexford, and is a psychotherapist. He is a man of wide and varied experience and has ministered in many parts of the world, and brings a great depth of understanding and compassion to his ministries.

December 1-3: Advent Retreat. A quiet weekend apart, as we begin our journey towards the mystery that is Christmas. Facilitator: Peter Burns C.Ss.R.

December 15-17:  Healing in the spirit: Weekend of healing and wholeness in body, mind and spirit, based on the word of God and the Sacraments. Facilitator: Jim McManus C.Ss.R.  Contact Secretary Esker 091 844007 or info@redemptoristsesker.ie.

Other important Events in Esker, in Esker Church:

October  9-11  (Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday): Triduum to St. Gerard Majella, the Redemptorist Saint who is patron of Mothers and expectant Mothers. Mass, Petitions, and Blessing with relic of St. Gerard daily 10m and 8pm.

December 4th – 8th : In Esker Church – The Esker Healing Mission: a healing  Eucharistic Mission in preparation for Christmas. Sessions daily: 10am, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm. (This takes place in the public Church in Esker.)

Our annual Cemetery here in St. Patrick’s, Esker, Athenry, will take place on Sunday August 27th, beginning with Mass in the Church at 3pm, followed by a procession to the cemetery, where over 80 Redemptorist priests and brothers are buried. We give thanks for their lives, as family members, and as Redemptorists.

All family members are invited and are most welcome. Please pass the word.

Enquiries to Secretary, Esker  091 844007 or info@redemptoristsesker.ie

Read a short summary of the life of St. Alphonsus de Liguori: click here:

Click here to watch a short video on Youtube about Alphonsus de Liguori:

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ALPHONSUS, A MAN ON FIRE:

“Return Love for Love”

is what he said to do.

When all was said and done, this was his heart’s deep cry,-

‘return love, for love’.

Live in the Birth of Bethlehem,

walk in its stables,

smell its smells,

and then

be filled with speechless wonder

at the One Who Is,

and who is lying in the food-trough of

the beasts.

Live in the Call of Calvary,

Come back again to stand

upon that hill,

don’t run away from the awe-filled

horror as you stand

and gaze at our Messiah,-

Sent by the One who so greatly

loved the World.

Live in the shadow of its radiance.

Live in the ever-lasting gift of Eucharist,

Behold the Man! Behold the Lamb!

Behold your God, given in a wafer:

Drink in the meaning of the Cup.

                                ‘Can you drink the cup that I must drink?’  (Mark 10:38-39)

‘We can…’ said those

                         two Thunder Brothers to their Lord.     (Mark 3:17)

And so can we,- drink of the

 overflowing cup of given life.

Return love for love.

‘Live in my love’, said He.

‘As He (my Father) has loved me, (John 15:9)

that is the very how

my love is now

for you!’

Come, live in it, and drink of it,-

Come, laugh and dance in it

with joy,-

‘so that your joy may be full’. (John 15:11)

If he has so loved us,-

then we

 might live our lives,

returning love for love.

( Memories of visit to Naples-Scala, and of page 47 of Frederick Jones’ book on the writings of Alphonsus Liguori, in Classics of Western Spirituality Series..)

(Séamus.Devitt C.Ss.R)

———–

ALPHONSUS AND HIS TIMES: the 18^th Century, with its writers, music, events:

Alphonsus was born 1696: just eight years after the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688 in England when King James, the Catholic King, was challenged by his son-in-law, the Dutchman, William of Orange. Catholic Ireland was now under Williamite and Protestant Rule from 1691.

1705: Handel’s first Opera, Almira.

1710-11: Russia and the Ottoman Empire at war.

1715: Louis XVI dies, the end of an era.

1718: New Orleans is founded by the French.

1729-1735 Charles and John Wesley begin Methodism in England.

1730-36: Volcanic Eruptions in Lanzarotte, probably experienced in mainland Europe.

1732: Alphonsus de Liguori and his companions begin the Redemptorists, Missionary Preachers to the most abandoned,  in Scala, Italy. Meanwhile, in other parts of Europe and on the N. American continent, ‘The Great Awakening’ was taking place, revivals very similar to the work of Alphonsus and his first ‘Redemptorists’.

1730’s – 1740’: From Wikipedia:  ‘The Great Awakening or First Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival that swept Protestant Europe and British America in the 1730s and 1740s. An evangelical and revitalization movement, it left a permanent impact on American Protestantism. It resulted from powerful preaching that gave listeners a sense of deep personal revelation of their need of salvation by Jesus Christ. (Google ‘The Great Awakening’ for more).

• 1738–1756: Famine across the Sahel; half the population of Timbuktu dies.^[15]

• 1741: Pope Benedict XIV issues Immensa Pastorum principis against slavery. Pope Benedict approved the Rule of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in
• 1745: Second Jacobite rising is begun by Charles Edward Stuart in Scotland.
• 1748: Discovery of the ruins of Pompei.
• 1770: James Cook claims the East Coast of Australia (New South Wales) for Great Britain.
• 1778: James Cook becomes the first European to land on the Hawaiian Islands.
• 1775–1783: American Revolutionary War.
• 1776: American Declaration of Independence.
• 1785: Clement Hofbauer and his companion are the first Redemptorists from Northern Europe, and return to Vienna and then on to Warsaw, to seek to set up the Redemptorists in those places. Alphonsus was aware of them and was delighted.
• 1787: The United States Constitution is written in Philadelphia and submitted to the states for ratification.
• 1787: Death of Alphonsus de Liguori, August 1^st.
• 1789–1799: French Revolution.
• 1792: Polish–Russian War of 1792.
• 1794: Polish revolt.

Musicians of the Century:

Bach, Gluck, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Salieri, Albinoni, Boccherini, Pachalbel., Scarlatti, Stradivari, and Isaac Watts, hymn writer.

Writers of that Century:  Boswell, Goethe, Robbie Burns, Jonathan Swift, Voltaire, Jane Austin, Defoe, Goldsmith, Alexander Pope,

Philosophers of the Century:  George Berkeley, David Hume, Edmund Burke, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Von Schiller, Thomas Paine, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Alphonsus Liguori, Italian bishop, founder of Redemptorists, Saint.

Writings in Europe:

• 1762: Emile: or, On Education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• 1759: Candide by Voltaire
• 1781: Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant (publication of first edition)
• 1759: The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith

Music:

• 1721: Brandenburg concertos by J.S. Bach
• 1723: The Four Seasons, violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, composed
• 1724: St John Passion by J.S. Bach
• 1727: St Matthew Passion composed by J.S. Bach

• 1742: Messiah, oratorio by Handel premiered in Dublin
• 1786: The Marriage of Figaro, opera by Mozart
• 1787: Don Giovanni, opera by Mozart

Through all of that period, Alphonsus first preached popular missions/ renewals in villages and towns throughout Southern Italy. Later, he wrote continuously, against the heresies and severities of Jansenism, and encouraging popular devotion among people, in language that was simple and straightforward. His major work was in the area of moral theology, counteracting the severity found among so many writers. He is the Patron of Moral Theologians. The works he loved most were short ones on prayer, on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His favourite among all his writings was ‘The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ’. He also wrote Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and The Glories of Mary.

Rationalism was rampant through those decades, a ‘rationalism’ that was unreasonable in its myopic vision of human life, and in its own heresy of ‘Nothing Buttery’ – nothing but pure reason. Even philosophers like Kant critiqued this worship of ‘Pure Reason’ – see above, ‘Writings in Europe’.

Alphonsus was a man of profound compassion for humans in all their struggles. He was a man who reached out to the very edges. His love was for Christ in the most abandoned.

Séamus Devitt C.Ss.R. July 31, 2017.

St. Alphonsus Liguori: icon in Esker Redemptorist Community

—————-  ALPHONSUS DID THINGS DIFFERENTLY:  A Reflection.————-

Alphonsus did things differently. Yes, he might be found preaching from a pulpit in some Neapolitan church. But, just as likely, you would find him in the evenings, with his friend Gennaro Sarnelli (another young lawyer), sitting in some tavern or other and teaching the people how to have their own Evening Gatherings, for prayer and for hearing the Gospel. He worked with street urchins, and with people of every walk of life, people working down in the busy docks of Naples, soldiers off-duty, women, men, young people. Everyone was important to him. For Alfonso, God calls everyone to holiness, soldiers as soldiers, labourers as labourers, house-servants as house-servants, and so on. God is ‘pazzo per amore’ towards every human being without exception.

Crib, Cross, Eucharist, Mary:  Alphonsus would look with the people in a tavern at a crib they had fashioned. He would draw out the story of it, the feelings of those involved in it, and the meaning of it for each and all of us. Or, he would have a crucifix with him and show it, and explore it, and then pray with it. So too with the Eucharist in the tabernacle: come, look, think, ponder, pray. And he did the same with images of Mary, Mother of God, which would have been all around them in their beloved city of Naples: look at her, let her look at you!  He was down to earth. He was visual. He loved music and would have them singing songs of faith and joy. He didn’t have to be in a pulpit. He could preach as well – and probably a lot better – just sitting on a stool or bench in the local bar.

Alphonsus took people seriously. He took their lives and their issues and their challenges seriously. He took their consciences seriously, and helped them as best he could, to come to good honest-to-God decisions and choices. And he took their weaknesses seriously. He was a man of compassion. He wasn’t so at first as he began his ministry as priest and preacher. But, early on in his ministry as a priest, when out on the island of Procurus (in the Bay of Naples)giving a Mission,  as he met people and listened to them and to their struggles, he grew in understanding of what went on in their lives, and he grew in his compassion, his feeling for them. What they needed, they told him, was Mercy, not Judgement! It was they who taught him!  He showed the tenderness of God to them in Christ, in varied ways – through his words, through the way he treated them, the way he related to them in language they could immediately understand. The message he conveyed – sometimes even with words! – was of a Christ of Compassion and of a Mother of immense tenderness. He wanted them to be communities of Compassion, communities of  prayer.

Later in his life, when illness prevented him from giving any more Missions, Alfonso wrote a lot. He wrote hymns. He wrote books to help priests as Confessors to people. He wrote books about prayer. His favourite, among all the more-than-one-hundred things he wrote, was ‘The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ’. In this too, as in his various Novenas, he encourages us to gaze prayerfully at the Crib, the Cross, at Eucharist, at Mary. Alphonsus was a People Person.

Redemptorists and their co-workers try to be the same today – passionate about people, about their lives and struggles, about showing them the compassionate face of Christ, about bringing them to Mary, the Mother of the Lord. He wanted people to come and see the ‘Peace-be-with-you!’ face of Jesus.

May we be People-Persons, passionate about each human being as if the only one, and passionate about the One who came among us to lead us back home to our true selves, and to our Maker. May we, like Alfonso, come to know Christ Jesus, and be bursting to let others know about this ‘treasure’ we have found, this ‘pearl’ that we have discovered. We want the world of people to know.

The ‘Treasure’ that he found?  People and the wonder of them.

Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Mary, Son of God, our very human brother and saviour.

God’s love for us – for each and every human.

The Universal call to holiness, to walk with God, to talk with God.

The simplicity and profundity of the Gospel – the crib, Cross, Eucharist, Mary.

The simplicity and profundity of our Sunday Mass: quiet, still, and deep.

Alphonsus’ was filled with the same Holy Spirit as you and me. He responded with great love, with total abandon. Will we?

‘RETURN LOVE FOR LOVE’  – the heart of all his spirituality.

Séamus Devitt C.Ss.R., July 2017.

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From A Message to Redemptorists worldwide, for this Feastday August 1, 2017, from our Superior General, Fr. Michael Brehl C.Ss.R.  He concludes his letter:

‘In communion with the whole Church, guided by the leadership of Pope Francis, we commit ourselves to the theme of this sexennium: WITNESSES OF THE REDEEMER: In Solidarity for Mission to a Wounded World.

May God bless us with the grace as genuine disciples of St. Alphonsus to follow Christ the Redeemer with hearts full of joy. Denying ourselves and always ready to undertake what is demanding, may we share fully in the mystery of Christ and proclaim it Gospel simplicity of life and language, that we may bring to people the gift of plentiful redemption (cf. Cons. 20)

May our Mother of Perpetual Help accompany us always.

Your brother in our Redeemer,

Michael Brehl CSsR

How Timelines cross each other: Henry Tudor and Inigo Lopez,  later Henry VIII and (Saint) Ignatius of Loyola.

1491:  Henry Tudor, later King Henry VIII, was born in Greenwich, Kent.

1491:  Inigo Lopez was born in Loyola, in Spain. Later known as Ignatius of Loyola, and later Saint.

Athenry 1524:  Three hundred and sixty Dominicans gather in Athenry for a Chapter Meeting: their hosts were Miler and Honoria de Bermingham. Nobody suspected the ‘sunami’ that was coming down the road for Ireland in terms of the Henry VIII and his Reformation.

1524:  Barcelona:  Inigo begins studies in Barcelona.

1527:  Henry begins to pursue ‘the King’s great matter’, the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, and seeking a divorce from her.

1531: Henry VIII became ‘head of the Church in England and Wales as far as the word of God allows.’

1531: The English Church submits to Henry as its Head. Henry breaks with Rome.

1533: Anne Boleyn was pregnant, and Henry married her in January. She was crowned Queen on May 31st, 1533. Elizabeth is born in September.

1533: An Act of Parliament forbids all appeals to Rome on any matters: The Act in Restraint of Appeals.

1534:  The Pope refuses Henry’s claims for a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

1534:  Cart-loads of Observant Friars were drawn through the streets of London and hanged, drawn and quartered. Days later, a group of Carthusian Friars suffered the same death, as a warning to the public. Henry would brook no disobedience to his claims and his marriage to Anne Boleyn.

1534:  Henry VIII has Parliament proclaim him Supreme Head of the Church in England: the Act of Supremacy. Parliament also passes the Treasons Act, forbidding any person to write or speak against the King’s claims.

1534:  Ignatius and his six companions (only one of them a priest) take their first vows, solemn vows for their life-long work. One of these was Francis Xavier..

1537: Silken Thomas(Fitzgerald) and his five uncles were hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn, for rebellion against the King, on February 3^rd. This a warning to the rebellious Irish.

1537: The Irish Parliament declares Henry as Supreme Head of the Church in Ireland

1538:  Companions (Ignatius and others) all gather in Rome

1539, with Saint Peter Faber and Saint Francis Xavier, Ignatius formed the Society of Jesus, which was approved in 1540 by Pope Paul III.

1540:  Society of Jesus approved.

1540, July 28^th:  Henry marries Katherine Howard, his fifth wife.

1542:  February 13^th: Henry executes his wife Katherine Howard; she is buried at St. Peter ad Vincula.

1546:  Luther dies.

1547:  27^th January:  Henry summons his confessor and takes Holy Communion.

1547:  28^th January:  Henry dies at Whitehall Palace, aged 55. The new king, Edward VI (aged 9)  pardons all prisoners in the Tower, including the Duke of Norfolk, due to execution the next day.

1556: July 31^st, Ignatius dies in Rome.

The motto adopted by Ignatius and his Companions:  ’AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM’ –  ”FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD’.

We give thanks today for the work of Jesuits through the years, and for Pope Francis, himself a Jesuit, and the first Jesuit to become Pope.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

(Notes by Séamus Devitt C.Ss.R.)

Esker Pitch and Putt is a great facility in the Athenry/Kiltullagh area. 

Recently, two groups of Seniors from Athenry Golf Club came and played our course, one a group of the Senior Men, and, a week later, a Women’s Group.  One of the Senior men even got a hole-in-one! They were thrilled with the visit, and a great few hours was had by all involved. Thanks to them for coming.

Opening Times: During Office Hours, please come to the Monastery Reception, –  between 9am and 5pm  Monday to Friday,  between 10 and 3pm on Saturdays. Outside of those hours, and also on Sundays, go directly to the Office near the Pitch and Putt.

Green Fees 2017:

Adult:      €7,               Under 18:    €5

Membership (Year):  Individual  €90:    Family €150:      Student & Under-18yrs: €60

Membership Cards must be carried when playing.

Apply during Office Hours,  9am-5pm Monday to Friday,  10am -3pm Saturdays.