Irish can live by St Patrick’s example by being torchbearers in promoting peace – Bishop Leahy

IRISH people can be “proactive pilgrims” of promoting peace, justice and truth in a tumultuous time for the world, Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy said in his St Patrick’s Day homily.

Addressing St Patrick’s Day Mass, Limerick, Bishop Leahy said that just as the patron Saint himself led by example in promoting a new way of living, we too now need to lead by example, particularly in how we go about our lives, including how we welcome difference and new cultures.

Among those in the large attendance at St John’s Cathedral were Mayor of Limerick John Moran, Oireachtas members, representatives of the Defence forces, Gardaí, and also representatives from Third Level Colleges and other civic agencies.

“St Patrick brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us, he showed us there is an alternative way of living together, one that actively engages in overcoming oppositions and enmity, falsehood and warfare. And for all of us, that can make committing ourselves to the daily micro-projects of peace as we care for our family, go about our work, engage in business and politics, welcome migrants,” he said.

Bishop Leahy said that this year it is even more important that we live out St Patrick’s example as it is Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Hope.

“We can certainly draw inspiration from St Patrick. His spiritual stamina and endurance in the face of adversity, hardship and trauma make of him an apostle of hope,” he said.

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“How often we hear people say we are living in a tumultuous time. People are fearful. What does the future hope for our world, for those who are now children? Indeed, the social, cultural and political landscape of the world around us today could be described as a landscape of a ‘cry’. Individuals and peoples, nations and our planet are crying out on so many levels.

“With a ‘piecemeal third world war’, as Pope Francis puts it, unfolding before our eyes, many cry out in fear and bewilderment at the growing polarisations, scepticism and conflicts. Sadly, the cry of those who suffer assaults on the dignity of their life at its most vulnerable stages – early life and end of life – so often goes unheard.

So, yes, we need to pray for hope, for spiritual stamina, that we will keep going, earnestly seeking, like St Patrick, to strive for truth and goodness, fairness and justice, but above all, for peace. It is in hope that we unite on this St Patrick’s Day in prayer for peace in our world, especially in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and Sudan,” he said.

St Patrick, he continued, knew that hope isn’t just a gift, a consolation in time of desolation. “It is also a task. It is a call to action. It is what drives us to work for a better world, a more united world, a world where universal siblinghood and social friendship win out.”

St Patrick was not by any means passive or afraid to speak up, as evidenced by his harsh rebuke of Roman soldiers for their raids on Ireland as he “condemned their human trafficking, their enslaving of many and their murderous activity.”

He added: “For a country that honours St Patrick, we are to be prophetic promoters of peace and human dignity, highlighting the value of international law, supporting the noble ends of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, valuing life at all stages, and committing ourselves to peacekeeping and humanitarian relief. We commit ourselves to be on the side of peace, of outreach to the needy and vulnerable, of promoting human dignity and striving to engender social friendship among nations.”