June 2004

Some Thoughts on the Recent Celebration of the

Feast of Blessed Edmund, 2004:

In Blessed Edmund’s native Ireland, his Feast day (5 May) is included in the National Ordo as an optional memoria for all parishes nationwide. It is celebrated as a feast in most centres where the Christian or Presentation Brothers are involved in the local schools or other ministries. Word has reached me in Rome in only dribs and drabs of some memorable celebrations both in Ireland and elsewhere. Of other celebrations I only hear by sheer accident. Maybe the local promoters could supply me with a fuller list of the celebrations for each region throughout the world? In addition, as an aid to establishing a central collection of Edmund Rice-based liturgies, etc., copies of the various leaflets, booklets used could be sent to me at the following address:

Br Donal Blake,

Fratelli Cristiani,

Via Marcantonio Colonna 9,

00192 Roma, Italy.

It would be useful evidence to convince the Vatican of the widespread devotion to Blessed Edmund.

Some Recent Celebrations in Ireland

In Westcourt, Callan, where Edmund Rice was born, each night of the novena was celebrated by one of nine neighbouring parishes, each providing its Parish Priest as the celebrant of one of the Masses. Br Phil O’Reilly was the chief organiser. At Mount Sion, Waterford, Br Danny Horan organised the novena in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where rest the remains of Blessed Edmund. There were daily Masses each day at 11.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m. The final Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Olden, former President of Maynooth Seminary, who preached a memorable sermon. There was standing room only at all the Masses.

In Edmund Rice House, North Richmond Street, Dublin, where Edmund resided 1831-1838, Br Christy O’Carroll organised a special Novena and Mass in which the neighbours participated with the Brothers’ community. Out in Baldoyle, the Good Shepherd Centre was full for the Edmund Rice Mass celebrated by Fr Dan O’Connor , well-known to many Brothers in Ireland. He also preached a very inspiring homily. Br Xavier Leonard was the chief organiser. In Oatlands, Mount Merrion, the intrepid Br Frank Keane organised a special Mass, Frank himself giving the homily. In Wexford, the Edmund Rice Mass was celebrated by Fr Michael O’Shea, former Christian Brother/Principal of the local school.

Also linked with the Edmund Rice celebrations this year was the book launch at Marino, Dublin, of ‘Sharper Than a Two-Edged Sword: Jerome Colm Keating (1928-1999), Christian Brother Extraordinary’ . The book was written by yours truly and is a record of the life of the 12^th successor of Blessed Edmund as Superior General of the Christian Brothers, a man who in modern times possessed all that was best in the virtues of Blessed Edmund. Maybe we should pray to him also.

Novena for Quincy

Something in the area of the sacred appears to be happening in the case of little Quincy for whom we made the recent Novena in honour of Edmund Rice. Please pray that the grace of God may continue to operate in the life of this little child. His relatives are very grateful for all the prayers and ask you to continue to intercede with the Lord through the intercession of Blessed Edmund. Quincy’s grand-dad, Br Mike LaFrance, communicated the following good news from Chicago (11 May 2004):

Prayer works! Quincy has not had a seizure since Monday, April 26, 2004,the day before the official start of the Edmund Rice Novena.  Since last September, Quincy had experienced between 2 to 400 seizures per day. They each would last from seconds to 50 minutes.

About a week before Easter, the notice of the novena was distributed to most of the communities and many communities joined in the prayers.  Since the beginning of April, his seizure frequency reduced considerably, yet continued daily to Easter. He had a brief seizure on April 11th, Easter, and then no seizure activity until April 26, when he had another seizure. The
Novena started April 27th.

He first experienced a seizure when about 6 months old.  Despite the seizures, he walked, talked, and played with toys until September 2003. He has not been able to walk, talk, or play with toys since then.  In fact, since last September, he has had to re-learn to hold his head up, to sit up, to use his hand, etc. He is now very aware of his surroundings, and crawls a lot. Since last September, he lacked much awareness. He now can push buttons on toys, and makes pleasant sounds, but not yet talking. In a swimming pool, he can now walk a bit with a ring float about him.

He will be three in late August, 2004.   We know it will take as many years remaining seizure free before he is considered healed or "insurable", yet we remain hopeful and very grateful for the prayers and novena. Quincy's parents and brother are really enjoying life without seizures.  They went out to dinner to celebrate Edmund's feast day and the healing experienced in Quincy.

Thank you for the prayers. We ask your continued prayers for Quincy and the children with situations like Quincy.  Please pass this on in whatever format desired to the CLT and communities participating in the Novena. Heart Blessings, Mike LaFrance.

Our hearts go out to Quincy and his family and friends. Please continue to pray to Blessed Edmund Rice, a family man who experienced tragedies in his own family circle, that little Quincy’s improvement will be tangible and lasting. Let us all cast our family problems at the feet of Blessed Edmund and pray for his intercession before the Throne of God on our behalf. Blessed Edmund Rice, intercede for us!

Donal Blake CFC,

Postulator

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