February Messenger: Women of Courage and Faith

What is God like? What important day falls on 2 February? and who is Saint Gobnait? These are some of the topics and themes featured in this months February Messenger.

Patrick Carberry SJ reminds us of the Pope’s intention for the month of February, that “The ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.” Fr Carberry comments that “Against the background of a barrage of negative commentary on the Church, the good will and generosity of those who consider a call to priesthood and religious life needs to be acknowledged.”

Donal Neary SJ, editor of the Messenger reminds us of an “Important day”. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated on 2 February this year, it is one of the principal feasts of the church and Donal says that it is often forgotten. He explains that forty days after Christmas marks something important – Jesus going home. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, the temple would be a symbol of home for Jesus, it is now not just a building but a place where we find God.

Father John Cullen is a priest of the Diocese of Elphin, he currently works among the homeless in London. In his piece ‘What is God like?’ he explores the places, people and things on earth that can give us a glimpse of God. He says “God is like a rainbow, vivid and full of colour, a dazzling reminder of promise and hope for all people after the storm of the flood” and “God is like a gardener, patient and nurturing, God plants, waters and weeds, prunes, fertilises and cultivates the earth until everything on it searches for the nourishing sun to grow, blossom and flourish.”

Father Gerard Condon is the Director for Mission and Ministry in the Diocese of Cloyne and parish priest of Killavullen. In his article ‘Saint Gobnait’s Day’, he tells us that in the Church’s liturgical calendar the 11 of February celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of Prayer for the Sick, but in Ballyvourney a Gaeltacht parish in mid Cork, the 11 of February is better know as Saint Gobnait’s day. He explains that according to tradition in 5AD, St Gobnait built a convent in Ballyvourney and became a skilled beekeeper, her association with honey gave her a reputation as a healer and she also chased away invaders and robbers by setting her hive of bees on them. She is now known as the patron Saint of Beekeepers. Pilgrims will travel to a wooded Glen in Ballyvourney to Saint Gobnaits shrine, they recite the rosary while making clockwise rounds at the site which includes her house, a roofless church dating from the twelfth century, her grave and a holy well.

Readers can also learn more about Saint Brigid in Bishop Michael Router’s piece ‘Saint Brigid: Woman of Courage and Deep Faith’. He notes that Saint Brigid was motivated at a young age by the radical message of Jesus and life-giving and progressive power of the Christian faith. He says that the “Vibrancy of our faith and Church in the future depends on the continued involvement of women, and in order for that to happen, we must fully acknowledge the gifts and graces that women bring to life of the Church, just like Saint Brigid.

The Messenger has all its regular features as well, – reflections, scripture, cookery, crosswords, children’s pages, nature focus, and RE:LINK.