"The Church's response to those who suffer from addiction must always be rooted in mercy, meeting people where they are, affirming their dignity, and speaking honestly about harm while challenging the social and cultural norms that contribute to it."
Today, Sunday, 15 February,
the Church in Ireland marks Temperance Sunday, a Day of Prayer that
invites reflection on our relationship with alcohol, drugs, and all
substances or behaviours that can diminish human dignity and freedom.
Temperance
Sunday is a time to pray for those who struggle with addiction, to
support families and communities affected by its consequences and to
renew our commitment to building a culture of care and moderation.
Addiction,
in its many forms, continues to exact a devastating toll on
individuals, families, and communities. The human cost, seen in
suffering, broken relationships, mental and physical health problems,
criminality, and social upheaval, is beyond calculation. Yet the Gospel
calls us away from despair and condemnation to compassion and
accompaniment.
Central to the mission of the Irish Bishop's Drugs
Initiative is the conviction that prevention and early intervention are
as vital as treatment and recovery. Education and formation, especially
of young people, are essential if we are to respond meaningfully to
substance misuse. In this context, I warmly welcome the rewording of the
Confirmation Pledge to explicitly include vaping and cigarette smoking,
alongside alcohol and illicit drugs. This development reflects a
thoughtful and prayerful response to the lived realities of young people
today. Vaping has become widespread and is often presented in ways that
obscure its risks and normalise dependency. By naming these realities
clearly, the Church affirms her commitment to truth and to the wellbeing
of young people.
The renewed Confirmation Pledge ensures that
this long-standing tradition remains relevant and meaningful. It offers
young people a moral framework and spiritual support as they navigate
adolescence, while situating personal choice within the wider context of
family, faith and community. Addiction thrives in isolation. By
involving families, schools, parishes, and the wider faith community,
the pledge becomes a shared commitment to support and hope.
When to take the Pledge
The
Pledge may be taken either during the Confirmation ceremony itself, or
at the Ceremony of Light, depending on local pastoral practice and in
consultation between priests, parents, and schools. The IBDI encourages
dioceses, parishes, and schools to consider these options as they
prepare for Confirmation celebrations in 2026. The inclusion in the
Ceremony of Light option of a prayer spoken by parents and guardians,
inviting them to reflect honestly on their own choices and to renew
their commitment to being good examples of moderation, is significant
and important.
On this year's Day of Prayer for Temperance, we
hold in our hearts all who suffer from addiction, and their families who
often carry hidden burdens. We also give thanks for those who work
tirelessly in treatment, recovery, education, pastoral care, and
community support. The Church's response must always be rooted in mercy,
meeting people where they are, affirming their dignity, and speaking
honestly about harm while challenging the social and cultural norms that
contribute to it.
As a society, Ireland continues to suffer the
far-reaching consequences of drug and alcohol abuse, with costs felt
across health services, workplaces, communities, and public life. These
realities call for a collective response that will be honest and
effective.
In praying for the grace of temperance, we turn to the
intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to our own national example
of the power of prayer to overcome addiction, Venerable Matt Talbot,
whose life bears powerful witness to the possibility of transformation
and hope. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we become a people who
choose and protect life, caring for both body and soul, so that everyone
may grow and flourish.