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Post by shane on Apr 12, 2010 23:34:28 GMT
Am I the only one really dreading the Eucharistic Congress scheduled for Dublin in 2012? Given that the Eucharistic Congress in 1932 was such a pivotal movement in the nascent state's history, it will almost certainly furnish a powerful contrast for the history books....Catholic VS Post-Catholic Ireland. The splendour and ceremonial of the liturgies and processions will be pityful and embarrassing in comparison, as will the devotions. Cardinal Martini, of all people, is charged with its organization. Given the historical aura surrounding the event, it seems certain that it will attact angry demonstrators protesting clerical abuse. Compare the 2012 logo with the 1932 one.... With the abuse revelations certain to continue the event could not have been more inopportunely timed. I hope it's cancelled.
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Post by Michael O'Donovan on Apr 13, 2010 21:45:15 GMT
I agree. Quite apart from the fact that, as you say, it will be a paltry and embarrassing event if it is left to our gifted ageing but still dominant "liturgists", it will be an opportunity for our now rampant atheists to make demonstrations which will get prominence in the news media.
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Post by Beinidict Ó Niaidh on Apr 14, 2010 8:58:34 GMT
If there is one thing that strikes me about Papal events (and I assume the Eucharistic Congress to be in the same category) is that the turnout is usually much higher than anticipated and the turnout at the demonstrations is correspondingly lower. I know 2012 will not compare to 1932, but I despaired of the attitude of the Irish bishops not to invite JPII back as they did not want something which would pale in comparison with 1979. The same holds true of the Eucharistic Congress.
It could be argued that the faithful in Ireland need a rallying point and this could provide. By God, the total chaos to which the Irish Church has been reduced so quickly demonstrates how weak it was previously.
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Post by Askel McThurkill on Apr 14, 2010 9:44:23 GMT
There are probably dozens of good reasons why not to have the next Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. Fear of hyperactive homegrown secularists is not one of them. I think the Irish Church'es worst enemies are within - and they are also not a crowd to pander to.
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Post by hibernicus on Apr 14, 2010 12:06:53 GMT
Cancelling the congress because of the secularists amounts to giving them a veto. Considering that the same gentry are pretty much demanding the abolition of the Church and certainly its severance from Rome, this is a bad idea. Back to the massrocks, and (to borrow a slogan from our Protestant brethren ) remember Gideon's chosen few!
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Post by stephentlig on May 1, 2010 18:00:59 GMT
What happens at the Eucharistic congress? whats the program? Is it for all Catholic lay people to attend? or is it just for the clergy? *confused*
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Post by hibernicus on May 5, 2010 11:49:30 GMT
It would involve significant lay participation and certainly is not just for the clergy. The 1932 one may have been more liturgically focussed than the current one, but I'm really not sure. Here's Wikipedia on eucharistic Congresses. The links may be helpful. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharistic_Congress
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