I love your tales and photos of Ireland's religious sites and relics, but feel obliged to point out that Christians along with Muslims are being slaughtered in Gaza with our connivance by the Zionist state, in a second Nakba. You MUST take a position on this, as Ireland has notably done at the UN, by demanding an immediate ceasefire.
I really like the idea that the entire pagan realm can be taken up into Christianity; that the old gods and faeries and other beings of that sort are not demonic or evil, but rather open to alignment with Jesus Christ. Yeats says in his collection of Irish folklore that according to the locals, the faeries are among the third of the angels who remained neutral in the war in Heaven. Point being, I think it's great for a Christian well to have once been pagan—not a problem in the least.
The Old Timers knew we cant solve our problems on our own. We must appeal to our God and his angels for intervention. All the talk about the problems in the world in the media and no one ever mentions God. Ninevah was spared because they repented, but no one is repenting today, we just keep getting further and further deranged and hateful. Jesus said it was to our benefit that he leaves us so that the Holy Spirit can come and tell us what we need to know. Need to take heed to that and repent and ask for guidance at the well or wherever we can find Him.
I don't have to "take a position" on the horrors in Gaze. I must remain connected to The-Universe (God) and help the ones in need nearby. News articles describing the horror serve to pull me away. Writings from The Abbey of Misrule reconnect me and perhaps will help me find my own Holly Wells.
Beautiful. This comes to mind, from Rabbi Abraham Herschel, for all people:
“The Search for reason ends at the known; on the immense expanse beyond it only the sense of the ineffable can glide... We do not leave the shore of the known in search of adventure or suspense or because of the failure of reason to answer our questions. We sail because our mind is like a fantastic seashell, and when applying our ear to its lips we hear a perpetual murmur from the waves beyond the shore.”
I absolutely loved this particular. Well, I don't know if it was because I've always had a fascination about St. Bridget or not, but when I saw all the offerings when I saw the grotto, the little waterfall that brings such beautiful soothing water to the area, the whole layout of it. I absolutely loved it ‼️
Paul, I wonder, have you been to Sliabh Liag, up in Donegal? They are Europe's highest sea cliffs and quite spectacular and, blessedly, not touristy at all. You must get there if you've never been. Lots of holy wells on the way, too!
You touch on something increasingly significant- what IS lost when small rituals such as this are gone from the background- whether it is millions of grandmothers in black at the back of churches with their rosaries or thousands of monks and nuns with their prayer ropes, millions of schoolchildren saying prayers before each class, parents kneeling to say prayers with their children at bedtime, grace before meals, even the desperate supplication at the end of a life lived in defiance of a God that one secretly knew existed. Was there really some unspeakable darkness being held at bay by these things that gradually lessened to the point where the younger generations can no longer recall them even in memory? We may be going to find out, and soon. Those of us who can need to get better at these things. Thanks for these eloquent reminders.
I visited the Cliffs of Moher 21 years ago and I don't recall it being the tourist trap described above back then. That's shame they've marred it so badly. It truly is a beautiful spot. Such fond memories of Ireland and how I wish to return.
I read through all the comments. Thank you, Paul, for your words on staying on the topic of the post. My comment - saints, holy wells, pagan realms/gods transmuted into the Christian realm, pagan places being Christianized - and as an aside speaking of pagan places getting Christianized - Lithuania, last pagan state, during the Middle Ages was subjected to repeated crusades under direction of the church using orders of warrior monks/knights. Finally the ruling Lithuanian elite to make peace “converted” and over the years the population was Christianized. I find in all this discussion and in other posts little grappling with the spirituality of Jesus which pictured in the Gospels was, with an assist from the Holy Spirit, God the Father centered. I think Christ came so we too may have the same relationship he had with the Father in the here and now as gift. He said to Mary Magdalene after the resurrection “I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God”.
Bridget and the Eel
Dear Paul,
I love your tales and photos of Ireland's religious sites and relics, but feel obliged to point out that Christians along with Muslims are being slaughtered in Gaza with our connivance by the Zionist state, in a second Nakba. You MUST take a position on this, as Ireland has notably done at the UN, by demanding an immediate ceasefire.
I really like the idea that the entire pagan realm can be taken up into Christianity; that the old gods and faeries and other beings of that sort are not demonic or evil, but rather open to alignment with Jesus Christ. Yeats says in his collection of Irish folklore that according to the locals, the faeries are among the third of the angels who remained neutral in the war in Heaven. Point being, I think it's great for a Christian well to have once been pagan—not a problem in the least.
The Old Timers knew we cant solve our problems on our own. We must appeal to our God and his angels for intervention. All the talk about the problems in the world in the media and no one ever mentions God. Ninevah was spared because they repented, but no one is repenting today, we just keep getting further and further deranged and hateful. Jesus said it was to our benefit that he leaves us so that the Holy Spirit can come and tell us what we need to know. Need to take heed to that and repent and ask for guidance at the well or wherever we can find Him.
I don't have to "take a position" on the horrors in Gaze. I must remain connected to The-Universe (God) and help the ones in need nearby. News articles describing the horror serve to pull me away. Writings from The Abbey of Misrule reconnect me and perhaps will help me find my own Holly Wells.
Beautiful. This comes to mind, from Rabbi Abraham Herschel, for all people:
“The Search for reason ends at the known; on the immense expanse beyond it only the sense of the ineffable can glide... We do not leave the shore of the known in search of adventure or suspense or because of the failure of reason to answer our questions. We sail because our mind is like a fantastic seashell, and when applying our ear to its lips we hear a perpetual murmur from the waves beyond the shore.”
I absolutely loved this particular. Well, I don't know if it was because I've always had a fascination about St. Bridget or not, but when I saw all the offerings when I saw the grotto, the little waterfall that brings such beautiful soothing water to the area, the whole layout of it. I absolutely loved it ‼️
Thank you, Paul
I subscribed for the wells. It’s nice to read about them after Liturgy; thanks.
Paul, I wonder, have you been to Sliabh Liag, up in Donegal? They are Europe's highest sea cliffs and quite spectacular and, blessedly, not touristy at all. You must get there if you've never been. Lots of holy wells on the way, too!
You touch on something increasingly significant- what IS lost when small rituals such as this are gone from the background- whether it is millions of grandmothers in black at the back of churches with their rosaries or thousands of monks and nuns with their prayer ropes, millions of schoolchildren saying prayers before each class, parents kneeling to say prayers with their children at bedtime, grace before meals, even the desperate supplication at the end of a life lived in defiance of a God that one secretly knew existed. Was there really some unspeakable darkness being held at bay by these things that gradually lessened to the point where the younger generations can no longer recall them even in memory? We may be going to find out, and soon. Those of us who can need to get better at these things. Thanks for these eloquent reminders.
I am enjoying this series. Short and sweet, not too heavy. A nice respite from the crazy I generally end up reading on the internet.
Wonderful "All that is tangled will be unraveled." and the prayer is lovely too!
May Jesus salute you, O Holy Brigid!
May Mary salute you and may I salute you myself!
Even through the internet, this well feels a bit different from the others. Vaguely, like a portal to another world.
I visited the Cliffs of Moher 21 years ago and I don't recall it being the tourist trap described above back then. That's shame they've marred it so badly. It truly is a beautiful spot. Such fond memories of Ireland and how I wish to return.
I love the stones with our names on them.
so many stones! each of us has our name there by odds.
i'm touched, unworthy, and touched.
thank you friend for holding more than I can with all of this. I will calm and quiet down God grant.
forgive me;
-mb
I read through all the comments. Thank you, Paul, for your words on staying on the topic of the post. My comment - saints, holy wells, pagan realms/gods transmuted into the Christian realm, pagan places being Christianized - and as an aside speaking of pagan places getting Christianized - Lithuania, last pagan state, during the Middle Ages was subjected to repeated crusades under direction of the church using orders of warrior monks/knights. Finally the ruling Lithuanian elite to make peace “converted” and over the years the population was Christianized. I find in all this discussion and in other posts little grappling with the spirituality of Jesus which pictured in the Gospels was, with an assist from the Holy Spirit, God the Father centered. I think Christ came so we too may have the same relationship he had with the Father in the here and now as gift. He said to Mary Magdalene after the resurrection “I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God”.