There seemed to be a suicide-victim’s funeral Mass every day of the week in mid-April – and this was ‘getting to’ local priest Father Paddy Byrne.
The element of tragedy for the Portlaoise region and surrounding areas was bad enough – but what unsettled him was the fear that he himself might become de-sensitized, that he would accept this as the ‘new normal’ – and not question the causes.
Rather than attribute what was happening to any falling-off in ‘religion’ (as might be expected of a priest), Paddy Byrne holds that one of the main causes here is a falling-off in ‘spirituality’ – taken in the widest sense of that term.
“I think we are losing our wonder and awe”, he told Peter Murtagh (Irish Times). “I think there is a crisis of spirituality – of embracing a positive vision of Self, of Other – of seeing beyond the moment that is now – of valuing the innate gift of Who I Am”.
This is reflected, he says, in the growing inability of people to look towards the simple things of life in their search for pleasure, for comfort – and even for meaning.
I understand him to imply that ‘hyped up’ or ‘manufactured’ pleasures are becoming, for more and more people, the exclusive sources of human satisfaction and fulfilment.
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However, “people in Ireland remain very spiritual” (he has observed elsewhere). “They’re looking for opportunities and occasions to facilitate that hunger”. And he identifies “traditional Irish music, fun, prayer” as being equally “all the ingredients of our spiritual identity”.
PILGRIMAGE BEFORE DAWN
It was this conviction which prompted him, one Easter eve, to lead 4,000 people from the Bagenalstown area to a pre-dawn climb of Mount Leinster. There was music in the air, as well as a sense of “hospitality and welcome all night long”.
As morning broke, he was not let down. “There was splendid sunshine for the early dawn” – which helped “to celebrate the Resurrection in breathtaking surroundings”. (It was at dawn that the early Christians used celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb).
The idea of going beyond our everyday horizons, resonates with people – especially “those who may be climbing a mountain of their own – in terms of unemployment, sickness, debt and uncertainty”.
His ambition was that, at the summit, pilgrims would be able “to sing a new song of hope”, and “that – when you’re up there, looking on to five counties – hope becomes nourished”.
In his approach, Paddy Byrne stands out as a ‘spiritual leader’ from first to last. He is present to his people when there’s darkness in their lives. But next he looks for the most familiar things which will immediately begin to lift their spirits.
And finally – for those with a religious sense – he can draw this whole movement of spirit into a Christian setting.
He assures us that – in whatever way we understand the deep yearnings of the human soul – “even in difficult times, we can embrace our faith”.
OPENING-UP SPACE FOR THE ‘SPIRIT’
And indeed if the solution to the human tragedies stalking our land today, lies in the nation opening itself up once more to the ‘things of the spirit’ – then the actual ground-plan of the parish community centre set-up in Portlaoise is perhaps, in its design, itself a mirror of everything that is needed.
A hospitable reception-desk helps with all kinds of information in a friendly way – and has on offer a range of small gifts, cards, religious items, incense-sticks and candles. Then there is a bright semi-circular space with comfortable lounging-chairs, as well as coffee-tables and chairs – often used by whole families. Function-rooms are upstairs.
Finally come two features not to be overlooked; A ‘spirituality room’ where one may go simply to sit and think and six little ‘listening rooms’ with table and two chairs, where one is guaranteed non-judgmental counselling.
The facilities run the whole gamut : from children’s play spaces – through areas for chat and relaxation – all the way to corners for spiritual reflection and life-conversations.
Somewhere within this model can be found, I believe, the elements of a cure for the spiralling of today’s suicide-rates. There is the opportunity here to take time off, to stand back from the rush, to enjoy the company of others – and to experience one’s humanity in a way that is tuned-in to the dimension of ‘spirit’.
And at the same time there is no pressure – one can tune-in at one’s own level. This ‘exposure’ to the spirit-dimension may of course lead one further – into meditating or praying or finding ‘a listening ear’; however, any of this will happen only at a person’s own pace.
It comes down, one could say, to : re-claiming one’s humanity – to allowing oneself to be fully human at all levels.
