The Joy of Pilgrimage

A few weeks ago, I stood at the top of Croagh Patrick with my son Conor. It’s often called Ireland’s holiest mountain and is associated with St. Patrick, who is believed to have made the ascent in 441 AD and spent 40 days in prayer and fasting as he considered how best to reach the Irish people with the love of God.

It’s quite a climb to the top and many pilgrims were making their way up on that Saturday morning. There were people from many nationalities, young and old, people of all shapes and sizes and fitness levels. It’s known as the ‘Reek’ and, each year on the last Sunday in July, extra numbers make the climb on what is known as ‘Reek Sunday.’

There is a well worn path to the top and in places it is quite steep. The views over Clew Bay, in Co. Mayo, are stunning. The climb begins in the village of Erris in Co.Mayo and, as the car park was full, we parked out on the road and began the climb, which took close to 2 hours. At the top is a Catholic church and masses were celebrated throughout the day.

Although I had heard about the mountain, a few things surprised me about the experience of climbing it. The first was the number of people undertaking the climb. There was a steady stream going up and down right throughout the day.

I loved the way people encouraged one another. There were sections that were steeper and more challenging, particularly in the final ascent. As I puffed and panted my way up, and there are sections where it is so steep you are almost on your knees, strangers would pat you on the back and encourage you to keep going that you were nearly there.

As a first timer, those words are more powerful than you think. When you are tired and hot and wondering if you can make it, sometimes a quiet word of encouragement is all that’s needed to keep going.

I became aware that I’m getting older as we made our way up. It’s now my son who gets me through the challenging bits, rather than the other way around. “Lock in, Dad” he told me with all the assurance that you have when you are 15 years old. “If you stay locked in we will be up in another 15 minutes,” and he was right! He offered me advice about the best way to go down in order to keep your balance and stay focussed as many were losing their footing. Again, his advice was spot on, and I told him to go on ahead so I wouldn’t slow him down. He would periodically wait and check that the old man was getting on ok behind him!

There were some devotional practices people were observing on the journey, reciting the Lord’s Prayer, saying other prayers at the top, some were observing the tradition of making the climb barefoot. A team of volunteers at the top respectfully invited people if they wanted to come and join in the religious services. At the bottom, I took part in an audio visual experience using a high tech headset and goggles that shared the message and experience of St. Patrick. It was a really interesting thing to do.

One of the things I noticed at the top was the way people brought their county flag and felt a real sense of pride and connection in their county.

Back in 1951, Mayo celebrated their third victory in the All Ireland Gaelic football final. As they made their way home with the cup, they passed through the village of Foxford where a funeral was taking place. The priest thought the team was not observing the solemnity of the occasion in the midst of their celebrations and placed a curse, according to legend, on the team, that the county would never win an all Ireland final while any of the panel of that 1951 team were still alive. 2 years ago the last surviving member of that panel died at the age of 93 .

While the county had competed in 11 finals since 1951, they lost each one until last Sunday when they defeated Kerry by 1.20 – 1.17.

There were extraordinary scenes of jubilation and joy as the 75 year drought was ended. When the captain, Jack Coyle, lifted the cup after a most stirring speech, he dedicated the victory to everyone in the county and all who were part of the diaspora and had emigrated across the world. Everyone who had Mayo ancestry were jubilant, from former US President, Joe Biden, to rock stars Noel and Liam Gallagher.

Many were in tears, who had made many pilgrimages to Croke Park in search of this elusive victory.

It’s good to have people to share our pilgrimage with, and that’s why the community of faith is so important.

Please keep in your prayers the families of Margaret Hutchinson and Phyllis Best whose funerals will take place in the next week. Margaret ‘s service will be on Thursday in Douglas’s Funeral Home in Ballynahinch at 11am, and Phyllis’s funeral will be in St. Finnian’s next Monday at 2pm.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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