ROBERT NUGENT’S EXPERIENCE OF ASH WEDNESDAY IN MEXICO.
PAT SAYS
I was very struck by Roberts video of his Ash Wednesday experience in Mexico.
He reflects on:
1. Older church buildings versus newer church buildings
2. The absence of priests at Ash Wednesday ceremony of ashes.
BUILDINGS
I think I too prefer older church buildings to newer ones.
I feel more of a sense of sacredness in the old buildings.
And I feel I pray better in the older buildings.
There are some newer church buildings that do convey a sense of sacredness and in which I can pray.
One of those newer buildings is quite near to me in Carnlough on the Antrim coast above Larne.
Another is St Aengus’ at Burt in Donegal.
THE TIN CHURCH I ATTENDED AS A CHILD AND IN WHICH I CELEBRATED MY FIRST MASS AND DID MY DAD’S FUNERAL.
The Tin Church on the left is the one I attended. I always found it peaceful and prayerful.
THE ABSENCE OF PRIESTS ON ASH WEDNESDAY
Robert describes his visit to the modern Jesuit Church at Polanco with ashes left on tables to serve yourself.
Jesuits live in communities of 3 plus.
I cannot not understand why a priest was not available to distribute Blessed ashes on an important day of the Church calender.
Is it carelessness? It it laziness?
The Polanco Jesuits do a lot of community work but they are priests first and social workers second.
I think many priests these days are neglecting their primary duties.
In the second church Robert went to there were 4 Augustinian priests standing around chatting while lay people distributed ashes.
A FEW QUOTES FROM FORMER RETREAT MASTERS:
“He went out to do GOOD and he did WELL”.
“He worked so hard for God that he forgot the God for whom he worked”.
“You think it a miracle when God does what the priests ask. I think it’s a far greater miracle when the priests do what God asks”.
“There was a time in Ireland when the priests were made of gold and the chalices were made of wood. Nowadays the chalices are made of gold and the priests are made of wood”.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 