Ceremony of Light marks start of ‘Creation Matters’ Lent series, Cork

The Shine a Light on Climate Justice Initiative was launched at the National Ecumenical Prayer Service, in the presence of President Michael D Higgins, hosted by Eco-congregation Ireland, Trocaire and Christian Aid, in November 2015.  Inspired by this initiative, the Faith in Action Group of the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Ballineaspaig, Cork, designed a Ceremony of Light to begin their ‘Creation Matters’ series of Lenten talks.

The objective was to involve those attending the talk in the construction of the display.  We felt that, by doing this, it would be much more memorable and through the imagery used would turn a moment of Prayer into a moment of Grace.

Introduction

The Wood of the Cross (This was the only part set up beforehand).

Fundamental to all Christians is the symbol of the Cross. The Tau Cross is mainly associated today with St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan Order.  The Tau Cross was first associated with the Coptic Church in Egypt and there are a number of ancient stone Tau Crosses in Ireland e.g. Killinaboy Co. Clare and Tory Island.  Using this form of the Cross we are linked to Celtic spirituality and heritage.

The Bowl of Water

Water is essential for life.  Our bowl of water was filled from our recently installed water butt.  What did you use water for today? So many of us have too much water, with flooding, while so many others have a shortage. Many parts of the world suffer from deforestation, drought and desertification, with the result that they are losing soil, also changing patterns of rainfall make the timing of planting unpredictable. The outcome is the total inability of families to support themselves.  Other low-lying areas around the world are at great risk of flooding due to rising sea-levels.

The Glory of Creation: This time of year is the time of planting.

As John O’Donohue so aptly wrote in his Blessing “In Praise of the Earth”

The wonder of a garden
Trusting the first warmth of spring
Until its black infinity of cells
Becomes charged with dream;
Then the silent, slow nurture
Of the seed’s self, coaxing it
To trust the act of death.

To represent this image we have some seed potatoes that were traditionally planted for St. Patrick’s Day.  The potato fed us as a nation for generations and is the symbol of our own famine. We are only two steps of memory away from that frightening episode of our history. For many of us the grandparents of the grandparents we knew as children, survived the horrors of the famine.

A growing Basil plant represents all crops through which we feed ourselves and our animals.

Some flowering Narcissi represent all the Beauty of God’s Creation, its Joy and its Hope for the future.

Lighting the Seven Candles   Let us awaken!

“It is better to light the candle than to curse the darkness.”

By lighting the candles we are opening our minds and becoming aware of our past history and the Global problems that we are now facing.  As a result we will awaken a sense of responsibility for future generations.

There are Seven Candles.  In Jewish and Christian traditions the number seven holds a special significance. In Jewish tradition you find the Memorah, the seven branched candlestick designed by God and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses in the wilderness and 300 years later in the Temple in Jerusalem.

In Christian tradition we have the Seven Deadly Sins and during this Year of Mercy the seven candles remind us that we too can be dispensers of God’s Mercy through the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy and the Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy:

Corporal works of Mercy:

1. To feed the hungry;
2. To give drink to the thirsty;
3. To clothe the naked;
4. To harbour the harbourless;
5. To visit the sick;
6. To ransom the captive;
7. To bury the dead.

Spiritual works of Mercy:

1. To instruct the ignorant;
2. To counsel the doubtful;
3. To admonish sinners;
4. To bear wrongs patiently;
5. To forgive offences willingly;
6. To comfort the afflicted;
7. To pray for the living and the dead.