An altar used by newly beatified Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman has been uncovered in Clarina, Co Limerick.
The Cardinal celebrated Mass on the altar when he stayed for a time
at Tervoe House near the village in 1852 as a guest of a close friend,
landowner and politician William Monsell.
Since then the altar has had a
chequered history; about fifty years ago it was moved from Tervoe House
when the Monsells donated it to Ballybrown Church where it was erected
as an altar of repose.
Some years later again, it was moved out to a shed at the curate’s house because it was regarded as taking up too much space.
A local family subsequently decided it could be damaged there and
took it on themselves to take it to their own home for safekeeping.
Now, the altar is looked after by yet another local family, but is used on special occasions in the parish according to Fr Muiris O’Connor, parish priest of Patrickswell/Ballybrown.
Now, the altar is looked after by yet another local family, but is used on special occasions in the parish according to Fr Muiris O’Connor, parish priest of Patrickswell/Ballybrown.
“We bring it out for the Corpus Christi procession, Holy Thursday and various other occasions like that,” he explained.
As the famous cleric and educationalist was beatified last weekend by Pope Benedict, a Limerick academic and biographer of William Monsell said the discovery of the altar was potentially very significant.
As the famous cleric and educationalist was beatified last weekend by Pope Benedict, a Limerick academic and biographer of William Monsell said the discovery of the altar was potentially very significant.
Dr Matthew
Potter, lecturer in history at Mary Immaculate College, said, “if and
when Newman is canonised, Limerick will have a genuine relic of a
recognised saint, one of the greatest and most venerated people ever to
visit our shore.”
SIC: CIN/IE