MASS ON THE OCCASION OF THE PILGRIMAGE OF THE TORCH OF SAINT BENEDICT
Homily Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin
Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, 6th March 2015
Introduction
This afternoon we welcome here to Dublin a pilgrimage with the Torch of Saint Benedict, a torch whose light represents the unity of the peoples of Europe. We greet the Arch Abbot of Montecassino, the Mayors of Cassino, Subicao and Norcia, all cities associated with Saint Benedict, co-Patron of Europe. We greet the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown.
Do il benvenuto a tutti coloro che sono associati a questo pellegrinaggio e a questa iniziativa per onorare San Benedetto da Norcia, co-Patrono d’Europa, soprattutto l’Arciabate di Montecassino ed i Sindaci di Cassino, di Subiaco e di Norcia e il coro di Subiaco. Saluto inoltre il Nunzio Apostolico in Irlanda. Sua Eccellena Mons. Charles Brown.
Si tratta di una iniziativa che ci chiama a riflettere sui valori che dovrebbero ispirare l’Europa di oggi e di domani. Accogliamo questa Torcia di San Benedetto come un simbolo di pace, di speranza e di unità dei popoli europei.
Vi do il benvenuto a Dublino, capitale d’Irlanda, di un popolo che sente di avere una vera vocazione europea. Dublino è una città che in questi anni è diventata cosmopolita, con la presenza di cittadini da varie parti d’Europa.
Si sente di avere una vocazione europea anche a causa della lunga tradizione di monachesimo missionario irlandese in tutto il continente Europeo. Ricordiamo i celebri Santi Colombano, Gallo, Cataldo e tanti altri.
Ricordiamo anche San Laurence O’Toole, monaco e abate di Glendalough e successivamente Arcivescovo di Dublino, grande promotore di pace in tempi difficili in questa città, morto in missione di pace presso il Re normanno e sepolto nella città di Eu in Francia dove è tuttora venerato, e le cui reliquie sono conservate qui in questa Chiesa cattedrale.
Homily
We gather to honour Saint Benedict as co-Patron of Europe and to reflect on those fundamental values which work to build a relationship of peace between the peoples and the nations of Europe.
The life and teaching of Saint Benedict remind us of how our modern Europe draws its roots from something which goes beyond the political and economic, the social and cultural bonds which link the people of Europe. Saint Benedict challenges us to recall those Christian values and that Christian culture which must be at the heart of Europe: the unique dignity of each human person created in the image and likeness of God, the unity of the human family created by God, and the integrity of the creation which has been given to us as our common home.
The history of our continent is a history of tensions and conflicts and rivalries which have been ignited when individual or groups, nations or alliances of nations, have forgotten their authentic Christian roots and have allowed sentiments of power or corruption or dominance to prevail and when Christian leadership failed in its calling.
Such a history, which sadly saw Christian people and pitted against Christian people, is something which we Christians of Europe must never forget and must daily strengthen our resolve that such division should never again emerge.
The Torch of Saint Benedict is a symbol of that deeper Christian presence in Europe: that search for peace and hope and unity – also through prayer and interiority – which must always mark the vision of European Christians, the aspiration of European Christians and the task which all European Christian must set for themselves.
The Gospel reading reminds us that there is no such thing as a Christian individual or a Christian people which seeks just its own celebrity and status. It belongs to the very nature of the Christian vocation to go out and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. That Good News is a message of self-giving love. We spread the Good News without any desire for self-advancement. When self-advancement or a search for power begins to dominate, the message we bring is no longer the Good News brought by Jesus Christ. The Good News of Jesus Christ is different from that of any political movement or any even enlightened economic mechanism or social strategy in which, even when the motivation is of doing good, in some a hidden way becomes subordinated to self-interest or group interest.
Pope Francis reminds us of the need to set aside any understanding of the Church which is self-referential. The Good News is something that we can never think as if it belongs in a preferential way to us. The Good News is a gift that we receive and it is what we have received that we pass on, not our own version of the Good News.
Europe needs renewal. Europe needs new vision. Right across Europe one finds signs of a lack of confidence and trust in leaders, in institution and in political parties. As European Christians we feel the call to play our part in that renewal, by re-discovering the concept of politics and culture as a vocation of disinterested service. We need to challenge our younger generations to rise above pure pragmatism – much less cynicism – and seek what is best and what is good and what is truthful and what is of service to all, especially the weakest, those exploited those who are marginalized and are the victims of indifference.
L’Europa ha bisogno di rinnovamento. L’Europa ha bisogno di nuova visione. Ovunque in Europa si riscontra un certo senso di sfiducia nei leader, nelle istituzioni, nei partiti politici – e forse anche nelle Chiese.
Come cristiani europei sentiamo la chiamata di fare parte di questo rinnovamento, riscoprendo il concetto della politica e della cultura come vocazione al servizio disinteressato.
Bisogna porre i nostri giovani di fronte alla sfida di respingere il pragmatismo puro – tantomeno il cinismo – e di cercare il bene, ed il vero, e ciò che è veramente al servziuo di tutti, soprattuto coloro che sono i piu deboli, che sono le vittime dello sfruttamento e dell’indifferenza.
May this encounter of European Christians be part of that inspiration of renewal as we in Ireland remember our missionary past and as we honour Saint Benedict and the great saints of Europe who call us to renewal.”
ENDS
