On the Journey… Wednesday of Holy Week

On our drive from Dingle to Doolin, we stopped in the small village of Quin, County Clare, Ireland. While there, we came across the ruins of a Franciscan Friary, “Quin Abbey”. The church had been established in 1350 and was built from the ruins of a Norman castle. The Franciscan Friars were given the church in 1433 and they established the Friary/Abbey at that point. The Friars lived, worshiped, and served the community from this home base for many years. The first hint of trouble for the Friars came in 1541 when the forces of King Henry VIII suppressed and confiscated the abbey property for the crown.  Friars were, however, allowed to continue to live in the ruins (good thing they took a vow of poverty, I guess). There was a brief resurgence when the Abbey was partially rebuilt and at one point served as a university. Friars returned and continued to serve the people of the area until the army of Oliver Cromwell destroyed it once again and killed all the Friars in 1651. The persistent Franciscans returned once more in 1667 but the Abbey never quite recovered its former status. After a few more expulsions, the Franciscans returned for one last “stand” in 1691. In 1760 the Friars were expelled a final time and the abbey was left in ruins. One lone Friar, Father John Hogan, remained in the ruins and was supported by the townspeople until his death in 1820. (source – http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/quininterest.htm) The picture above is the final resting place of Father John.

The fellow who was working at the Abbey as a combination security guard and tour guide told Denise and me all about the history of the Abbey and especially about Father John. The amazing thing to us was the way the fellow talked about Father John as if he had known him personally. And what caught my heart about his tale was the way the local people cared for Father John and came to him for spiritual care and counsel. Even in the midst of ruins with such a tragic history, God continued to work through a broken vessel like Father John.

This story came back to my mind today while I was reflecting on the Psalm reading for Wednesday of Holy Week. Psalm 70 is only five verses long, but it says a lot in those few verses.

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me, O Lord, make haste to help me!

Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life.

Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me.

Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!” turn back because of their shame.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.

Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”

But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!

You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

I wonder if Father John, in his daily praying of the Psalms, thought of his brothers who had been murdered in the Abbey or who had been forced to flee by the enemy as he prayed Psalm 70. As a Franciscan he would of course have known and admitted he was poor and needy. Did he ever long for the Lord to deliver he and his fellow Friars from such a tragic end? Did he continue to pray that prayer as the last Friar in Quin? Oh Lord, make haste to help me!

In the context of Holy Week, I wonder what went through Jesus’ mind as he perhaps prayed these words himself. Oh Lord, make haste to help me! Was that sentiment a part of his passionate prayer in the garden of Gethsemane? Lord, did you long for those who opposed you to be confused and put to shame? Did you want the ones who desired to hurt you to be turned back and brought to dishonor? Lord Jesus, did you ultimately recognize after the struggle that God was your help and your deliverer? Did you finally lift up your heart and soul and plead, “O Lord, do not delay”?

Lord, help me when I find myself in times of frustration, trial, or despair… help me to lift my voice and my heart to you in prayer. O Lord, make hast to help me! Be pleased, O God, to deliver me! May this prayer be yours as well, dear reader, when you find yourself in times of trouble and struggle. May you know that God is your help and your deliverer!

This statue near the new  Friary in Quin shows Saint Francis looking down with love to at the little child while holding one of his beloved birds. Just as Francis looks with love towards the little child, so too does our Lord look with love towards you… no matter the struggle… the Lord is your help and your deliverer!