From the archives: Pope Pius XII granted Plenary Indulgence to Reek pilgrims

Ahead of Reek Sunday this weekend, Tom Gillespie has been having a look through the archives of The Connaught Telegraph at stories around pilgrimages to Croagh Patrick in years past...

PLENARY Indulgence was granted to pilgrims visting Croagh Patrick back in the late 1950s.

The news was delivered at Mass in Westport after a meeting with Pope Pius XII in Rome.

Preaching at the midday Mass in Westport Parish Church on Sunday, December 29, 1957, the Archbishop of Tuam, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Walsh, told parishioners: “I was in Rome during the month of October. This is the first opportunity I have got of telling you about my visit. A bishop is bound to go to Rome every five years in order to make a full report on his diocese.

“I had a special audience with Our Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, and you will be interested to know that His Holiness is in very good health, better in fact than he has been for some years.

“He was very kind and gracious, and deeply interested in Ireland and in our problems. He asked me to convey his kindest wishes and affection to the people of the diocese.

“In addition, he granted me a special privilege - to give the Papal Blessing to the parishes. So today, at the conclusion of the Mass. It will be a great privilege and a great pleasure to give the Papal Blessing which carries with it a Plenary Indulgence on the usual condition.

“The Holy Father very kindly granted another privilege, which has a special interest to all of you. The privilege concerns Croagh Patrick. Every pilgrim who ascends the mountain during the months of June, July, August and September, or within the Octave or any day, and prays in the oratory for the intentions of Our Holy Father, may gain Plenary Indulgence on the usual conditions.

“Let me examine the conditions of this Plenary Indulgence. First of all you will observe the Indulgence is not confined to the last Sunday of July - the day on which the big annual pilgrimage takes place from all over Ireland.

“For the future the Indulgence may be gained on March 17 or within 10 days Octave, or any day during the four months already referred to. As a necessary condition the pilgrim must go to Confession and Holy Communion, but kindly note the Confession may be made within the eight days preceding the ascent of the mountain or on any day within the Octave.

“Again Holy Communion may be received on the day previous to the ascent of the mountain, or on the day itself, or on one of the even days following.”

Archbishop Walsh went on: “In regard to visiting the oratory on the summit and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, it is laid down that if the number of pilgrims is so large that only some of them can get into the oratory, then all the others who form part of the crowd of pilgrims need not go into the oratory. They may offer the prayers for the intentions of the Pope just where they are on the mountain top.

“It is necessary for me to point out the importance of the pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick. The pilgrim who ascends the holy mountain has the privilege of ‘walking where Patrick walked; kneeling where Patrick knelt, and praying where Patrick prayed’.

“As Professor Bury of Canterbury said: ‘The confined space on its summit is the one spot where we feel some assurance that we can stand literally in Patrick’s footsteps and realise that … we are viewing a scene on which Patrick for many days looked with the bodily eye’.

“In all probability, from the days of the saint himself pilgrims began to do penance on the holy mountain. It is recorded that in the year 1113, on the night of March 17, 30 of the pilgrims perished on the summit.

“The pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick is distinguished not only by its antiquity but by its penitential character. It is a real pilgrimage; a work of penance and prayer.

“The pilgrim who carries out the exercise has the satisfaction of feeling that he has done something of real value and that he has the privilege of praying for Ireland and for the Church on the very spot where our National Apostle poured forth his fervent prayer during a whole Lent some 1,500 years ago (as in 1958).”

The Archbishop continued: “In view of the character of the pilgrimage and the special concessions given by Rome, I hope that large numbers will come to Croagh Patrick during the summer months.

“There is no reason why various societies and sodalities, not only from the west, but from all over Ireland, should not come to the holy mountain, which is the symbol of Ireland’s enduring faith and Ireland’s nationhood - a treasure that, with God’s blessing, nothing will ever destroy.”

The Archbishop congratulated ‘your excellent Administrator, Fr. Cummins, on the zeal and courage which inspired him to undertake the repair of the church and the oratory on Croagh Patrick’.