Last month we watched, with interest, the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America.
There was of course a lot of coverage of everything that was said and done that day and in the day’s after. However, much of the controversy came from an unexpected source.
At a service to pray for the new president on the day after the inauguration, Bishop Marianne Edgar Budde of the Episcopalian Church, called on President Trump to show mercy and to have compassion on those who were most vulnerable in society – people whom she claimed where scared.
It was a forthright and courageous sermon to give, but it was also in many ways a standard sermon about the basic Christian principles of loving one’s neighbour and about being charitable and generous in our dealings with those less fortunate.
What was remarkable, however, was the reaction to what was said. Bishop Budde was referred to as “nasty”, and one member of the House of Representatives even called for the bishop, a native of New Jersey, to be put on the list for deportation.
It is amazing the negativity that a simple, sincere statement of Christian beliefs can engender. It is a wake-up call to all of us on the challenges inherent in trying to live out our Christian faith in today’s fractured world.
Saint Brigid, whose feast we celebrated on February 1, is a figure revered for her profound charity, mercy, and dedication to justice, a reverence that transcends generations. Her name is synonymous with healing and care, and her charitable deeds were marked by an innate understanding of human suffering. She sought to alleviate it wherever she could.
The beautiful, newly commissioned icon of Saint Brigid (blessed on Saturday in the Shrine of Saint Brigid at her birthplace in Faughart, Co Louth), includes a statement of the principles that underscored Brigid’s life: to care for the poor, to lighten everyone’s burden, to comfort the suffering.
It is amazing the negativity that a simple, sincere statement of Christian beliefs can engender. It is a wake-up call to all of us on the challenges inherent in trying to live out our Christian faith in today’s fractured world
— Bishop Michael Router
The accounts of people leaving strips of cloth for her blessing, believing in their healing properties, symbolises the hope and faith she inspired in others that healing was possible. Brigid and her community took it upon themselves to care for the sick and destitute, embodying Christ-like mercy in their actions.
Brigid’s approach to healing was inseparable from her sense of justice. She did not merely tend to wounds, or weakness, but sought to address the inequalities that left people vulnerable in the first place. Her acts of charity and service echoed Christ’s call in the scripture to love our neighbours as ourselves.
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This integrated view of compassion and justice is a striking contrast to the normal situation, in the past and even in the present in many societies, where vulnerable people often face neglect or sometimes even hostility.
In the Republic of Ireland last week, the political parties and the independent TDs in the coalition outlined their programme for government including their healthcare and social policies. The aspirations it contained such as reducing healthcare waiting times, expanding mental health services, and enhancing care for older adults and individuals with disabilities, certainly align with a holistic approach to care.
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However, the gap between policy and practice often reveals a shortfall in compassion. The Government of Ireland’s promises, though well-intentioned, require consistent effort and accountability to ensure they achieve their intended outcomes.
Saint Brigid’s life reminds us that true compassion demands not just aspirations but action. Her legacy challenges modern governance to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that policies address the root causes of inequality.
For instance, addiction to drugs and alcohol is a serious problem now on this island, but unfortunately many families are left in fear and isolation to deal with the issue alone without the support and treatment interventions that are necessary to resolve their difficulties.
Saint Brigid’s care for those in need was not just about alleviating immediate suffering but about affirming the inherent dignity of those who sought her help.
Modern society must adopt a similar approach, recognising that working for justice is an essential element of true compassion. Faith communities, in parishes, can play a pivotal role in this.
By advocating for policies that reflect the values of mercy and inclusivity, we can help ensure that society begins to mirror the love exemplified by Saint Brigid. Furthermore, we ourselves are called to embody these values in our daily lives, fostering a culture of kindness that transcends political and social divisions.
As we celebrate Saint Brigid’s legacy, may we be inspired to act with the same courage and conviction, ensuring that the vulnerable are not forgotten but cherished and supported.
In doing so, we honour not only the memory of Saint Brigid, but also the divine call to love one another as God loves us.
Bishop Michael Router is Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh. He was speaking on Saint Brigid’s Day, February 1, at the Shrine of Saint Brigid at her birthplace in Faughart, Co Louth
