We’ve gone to the Hill, over the Hill, and over the Cliff!
Now airborne (with the Reverend,”Praise the Lord!” : – ) we get a dove’s eye view of the ’emerald isle’
But before we continue our journey let’s momentarily return to Downpatrick where we went two blogs ago.
Hilary just recalled that Downpatrick is a 22 mile journey from Belfast – Sons of light! She used to make this trip daily, before graduating from Down High 52 years ago….. the same number of days it took Nehemiah to come full circle in rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
This place also happens to be where St. Patrick began and ended his ministry in Ireland.
Captured as a youth from Britain by Irish pirates, he escaped from slavery in Ireland, but was subsequently called back in a dream to bring the gospel to the Irish. He landed on his return at the Quoile River where, as a youth, Hilary had played at the yacht club, and after spending his life effectively spreading the faith throughout the land was reputedly laid to rest in the grounds of nearby Downpatrick Cathedral, where as a girl Hilary also played on his gravestone! Her home was in English Street that lead up to the Cathedral.
So this was the site where, like Hilary, Patrick had come “full circle.”
Even before we gathered in Donegal for Tabernacles, The Vision, variously ascribed to Patrick, Bridgit and even Columba (of Donegal) …the Irish ‘Trinity of saints’, had come to the fore from many directions.
Years earlier it had been my inspiration for the song “O Ireland”.
The visionary’s Dove’s Eye View of Ireland, saw the ’emerald isle’ on fire….with the love and light of God….for so it it was in their day. But then the fire died down and the island became ashen. Heartbroken, the visionary asked if this was to be the fate of the country. Directed to look once again, the flames appeared to be rekindled, starting in the north, but spreading to once more engulf the whole island with the fire and light reaching out to touch the world.
A few years ago Father orchestrated an invitation for me to share at the Presbyterian and then the Catholic churches in Ashland, Wisconsin on the southern coast of Lake Superior. I felt I should sing the “O Ireland” song, but changed the words to “O Ashland.” I explained the vision, and was subsequently told by the Tribal Chairman of the local Bad River Reservation that this vision was consistent with their Anishinabe tribe’s creation story. Sitting at a table in a local restaurant Mike took a paper napkin and began drawing Lake Superior. The outline revealed the form of a bird….like the dove I had just sung about, that ‘now hovers o’er your head.” He pointed out where Ashland was on the map. We were sitting….directly under the wings of the dove!
Just before leaving Minneapolis in September I happened to pick up a book that had been left in our house recording George Washington’s vision for America….again his vision for America bore an uncanny resemblance to Patrick’s vision for Ireland!
During the trip to Ireland I seemed to be followed by the US ‘quarter’ pictured above. As we switched back and forth between British Pounds and Irish Euros that coin uncannily kept showing up in my hand or falling our of my pocket or appearing in a book! I asked Father, “What is the meaning of this?” and realized it was a ‘George Washington Sign.“ 25 (cents) is the number for blessing….. for it is time for the blessing seen at the end of Washington’s vision to come to America even as it is time for the blessing of Patrick’s to come to Ireland….as God’s light disperses the current darkness.
During our retreat I recalled the map above showing the results from the 2018 Irish ‘abortion’ referendum. Notice how the only county to vote ‘NO’ to abortion, was Donegal in the north….where we had now been lead to gather. Every county in ‘the emerald isle’ is GREEN except for the ashen GREY six counties of Northern Ireland where abortion is still not allowed. Interestingly the BBC chose to color Donegal fiery RED……..like the embers in Patrick’s vision….. being rekindled in the north!!!
Timing is everything, and once again I wondered if Father had gathered us to sing the song, ‘O Ireland’ once more in this place as an “AMEN!”on earth to what has been decreed in heaven….because the time has come for the vision to be fulfilled – beginning here?
The next morning Paul McAree knocked on our bedroom door. “I’d like you to hear something Paul.” He said. “ This is what is currently being broadcast world wide on EWTN“(EWTN is the largest Christian and Catholic radio network in the world)…….It was a program that Paul had produced. “We had to fill in some time at the end of the service.” Paul told me. Then the host of the show spoke:
…… “And now we conclude this program with Irish singer songwriter Paul Kyle singing, “O Ireland”
The perfect timing of that song being broadcast at that moment worldwide….confirmed to me it was the time!
So that afternoon we gathered again and as I plucked the guitar strings one of our company saw an arrow in a bow being drawn back. Morag rose again to dance and everyone else entered into the spirit of prayer, I began to sing the lament for the land,
“O Ireland, emerald isle in Crystal sea
O Ireland no one bears the mark of Cain like thee……”
Finally we came to the proclamation of the last verse;
“O Ireland from whence the gospel light was shed
O Ireland the dove now hovers o’er your head.
Only in Jesus could you ever be
One in heart completely free
And once again God’s love proclaim
A burning heart in Jesus name.”
We felt the arrow being released with a thrust out from the bow……..
P.S. One thousand words.