President Mary McAleese spends a number of days cloistered away in prayer each year with an enclosed religious order, she revealed yesterday.Mrs McAleese was in Ennis yesterday to launch the Poor Clares' Golden Jubilee Celebrations marking 50 years of the order in the town.
During a speech she reflected on the time she has spent each year with the nuns since becoming President in 1997.
Addressing the nuns in the monastery yesterday, Mrs McAleese wished "a very happy birthday to all the Poor Clares for 50 wonderful years and I particularly thank you for 11 of those years".
Remarking that the monastery "has never looked better", Mrs McAleese told the nuns: "You are great custodians of the traditions of Clare, great friends, great sisters, great friends to so many people. I know from my time here that any time the phone rings, any time the bell goes -- people come to ask you to go."
She went on: "You can't take the burden of sorrow from them and people do come in great sorrow, but you can go on a journey of light with them and that matters; the courage, the faith, the hope your prayers give them. That little bit of energy to keep them focused for tomorrow -- that is so important to bring the joy of Clare and the joy of Christ into their lives."
The Poor Clares established their enclosed monastery in Ennis in 1958 and today they number 17. The nuns dedicate their lives to God through the vows of enclosure, chastity, obedience and poverty.
Commenting on the nuns' relationship with Mrs McAleese, Abbess of the order, Sister Barnardine, said: "The President is a close personal friend of ours and she comes to us every year for her retreat and we find her an inspiration and also a challenge to us.
"It is like welcoming a friend in here today, so it was fitting that we would mark this special occasion -- the start of our celebrations -- with the President's visit."
A photograph of Mrs McAleese hangs on the wall of the main corridor in the monastery and is signed by her, "Much love to my dearest sisters, Mary". +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: IE)