‘Renewal of faith’ promoted at our penal-era Mass rocks
A MASS recently celebrated at the secluded Mass Rock at Masshill in the Ox Mountains was part of a nationwide campaign to promote “a renewal of faith” in Ireland.
The celebrant, Charlestown parish priest Fr Tommy Johnston, said: “It was a unique privilege to stand at a place made sacred by our ancestors who had stood there all those years ago giving voice to their faith in presence and prayer conscious of the ever-present danger to life and livelihood.”
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Ireland invited priests in each of the 26 dioceses of Ireland, to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at a Mass Rock in their diocese.
The Mass rocks are places of historical worship where countless Irish Martyrs and their companions risked their lives to celebrate the Mass.
Between 1534 and 1714 millions of ordinary Irish men, women and children were living in difficult times such as poverty, famine and enduring many horrific hardships as a result of anti-Catholic persecution, under the Penal Laws. Fr Johnston who celebrated the Mass at Masshill, which is in the Achonry diocese, described the Mass Rock as a “huge boulder with an uneven surface offering no indication that it could possibly be used for such a sacred purpose”. He said: “Perhaps that is why it was chosen. It did not warrant a second glance. It was above suspicion. Its location nestled on the hillside provided a clear commanding view of the surrounding area, so, lookouts, at the first hints of danger, could easily alert those gathered for Mass.”
Fr Jim Murray also participated in Aid to the Church in Need’s campaign at the Mass rock at Tobernalt holy well in Carraroe.
ACN Ireland supports persecuted Christians in 149 countries around the globe and is Ireland’s leading Catholic charity for protecting the rights of Christians.
For further information on the ACN Ireland Mass Rock Campaign or details of all the Mass Rock Masses, visit www. acnireland.org/mass-rocks/.