Day 5: Friday, Sept 20, 2019 Killarney

Day 5: This morning after your final castle breakfast, we will be heading to Killarney. Stopping on

the way at the infamousRock of Cashel to see the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century. Then on to Cobh to visit the Heritage Centre. This museum has wonderful artifacts from many lost ships that sailed from this port before their final demise.

Continuing on to Blarney where you will visit the BlarneyCastle and have the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone. On the way to Killarney, you will have the opportunity to stop in Ballyvourney to visit Gobnait’s Well before heading into Killarney for the night. Dinner and overnight in Killarney at Scott’s Hotel.

REFLECTION 

Gobnait’s Well and Monastic Site

Several miracles are attributed to Gobnait, and these were performed in service to the people of Ballyvourney. A band of cattle thieves attempted to steal the cattle of the neighborhood, but Gobnait let loose a swarm of bees and the robbers abandoned their rustling in terror. Another time an enemy began to build a defense on a high rock, intending to control the vicinity and its people by armed power. The legend says that Gobnait hurled her heavy, agate bowl at the edifice, boomerang-like, and reduced it to rubble. Again and again she repeated her attack every time the enemy attempted to rebuild; until finally he abandoned his effort in dismay and left the territory. The bowl or bulla is kept sealed in a cavity in the south corner of the west gable of her church and is one of the places where pilgrims stop to pray during their “making of the rounds.” On another occasion, Gobnait is credited with stopping the plague through her prayer and fasting. 

(Praying With Celtic Holy Women (2003) Bridget Mary Meehan and Regina Madonna Oliver, p. 75.) 

Celebrating Saint Gobnait’s Gifts to Our Lives

Saint Gobnait has indeed come to symbolize the power of enduring faith and also the larger-than-life function of faith as the foundation of a community. Gobnait was not a shy, retiring type of religious, but a stout defender of her people in good times and bad. We celebrate her as a healer, faith-seeker, and pursuer of justice.

PRAYER

Saint Gobnait, pursuer of justice for people
who were oppressed by the powerful,
inspire us to speak out when people suffer neglect
and abuse in our society.

Give us courage to act justly and work collaboratively
to change systems that keep people poor
and marginalized in our world today.
May we realize that we can do all things
by the power of the Spirit working in us.

Scripture

“Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to God? 

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke;
to let the oppressed go free
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor
into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly.”
Isaiah 58:5–8

Litany 

The people of Ballyvourney span the expanse of time since Gobnait’s death, and come to her shrine so as to visit a present, caring friend.

Can we, in simple faith, span the years and greet Gobnait as a dear friend? Use the pilgrim’s prayer with simplicity of faith, and ask God humbly, through the intercession of this holy woman, for blessings for people you know who are in need.

V. For people who are homeless, hungry, sick, lonely, in prison, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

V. For all justice advocates, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

V. For people who face oppression, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

V. For transformation of structures that cause injustice, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

V. For two-thirds of the world who suffer from disease and poverty, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

V. For an awareness of our call to be activists for justice, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

V. For an integration of contemplation and action in our lives, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

V. For women and men in our time who have given their lives for the needs of people who suffer injustice, especially Maura Clark, Ita Ford, Jean Donovan, Dorothy Kazel, and Bishop Oscar Romero, we pray.
R. Saint Gobnait, intercede for us.

Closing Prayer

Saint Gobnait, open our eyes to the needs of people who face hunger, homelessness, poverty, and oppressive domination. Pray for us that we may have the courage and strength we need to lighten the load that our sisters and brothers carry. For we are the hands and feet of God on earth. Amen.

Blessing

May God, Mary, and Holy Gobnait be with us now and stay with us always. May they greet us warmly when we reach our heavenly home. Then, in the company of all the angels and saints, we will clap our hands and sing for joy with all God’s family, free and whole at last from suffering and injustice. “Thank God, we are free at last!” May it be so! May it be so!

(Praying With Celtic Holy Women (2003) Bridget Mary Meehan and Regina Madonna Oliver, page 78-81)


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