Gemma O’Doherty: I’m going to introduce Bishop Athanasius Schneider to you now, Your Excellency. Thank you so much for joining me this afternoon. You’re joining me from Astana in Kazakhstan, where you are the auxiliary bishop. It’s evening time there, right?
Bishop Schneider: It’s evening time, yes.
Gemma O’Doherty: So it’s not too late, though, I hope. Well, as I say, Bishop, you have so many people who love you, who love your work here in Ireland, and Ireland has become a desert when it comes to bishops who will provide moral guidance to the vast majority of Irish people who still call themselves Catholic and Christian. We have been looking to you, but I know you’ve been following events in Ireland, and you’re particularly concerned about what is happening here. Can you let us know?
Bishop Schneider: Yes, it is, for me, a unique situation. To my knowledge, the total repression of the Holy Mass in Ireland, in the most Catholic country, is unprecedented. The enemies of the Church succeeded in forbidding the public cult, the Catholic liturgy, and the Holy Mass. It is completely without proportion to the so-called health safety measures. It is now becoming evident that under their pretext, as long as people can gather and go to stores, buy things, and travel on public transportation, this total prohibition of the Catholic Mass for the public is a measure comparable to those taken by totalitarian regimes or anti-Catholic persecutions, as it was in the first centuries in the Roman Empire, and especially in Ireland and then in England during the penal times, where celebrating Holy Mass publicly was a crime.
And now it is almost the same situation in Ireland today. We are in a historical moment. Ireland is again in a historical moment. I think that Irish Catholics and Irish priests, and of course the bishops in the first place, are called to stand up and defend the right to celebrate the Holy Mass. Of course, provided the necessary sanitary safety measures are in place, the Church can provide these and still celebrate public Mass. The Irish Church has to stand up and defend Christ and the rights of the faithful and not yield or be intimidated in any case. It is a chance for Ireland to profess Christ again.
Gemma O’Doherty: And Bishop, you understand all about totalitarianism. You might tell us a little bit about your own childhood. You grew up in the USSR, and your parents were German. You’re obviously Catholics, and you understand what it is like to live under an atheist, Marxist regime. Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood?
Bishop Schneider: Yes, in those times, the Holy Mass was only allowed with the permission of the government and only in those places where the government had registered them. There were very few in the Soviet Union. The government allowed only those priests who were considered loyal to the regime. Priests who were categorically against the atheistic dictatorship and did not submit to any collaboration or total control of the priesthood had to live underground. They visited the people even in places where there were no priests or registered places to celebrate Mass, and there were plenty of such places. In my childhood in Kyrgyzstan, there were no priests and no officially registered places. Only later, when we left that place, did we encounter registered churches. In my childhood, priests came secretly to some houses and celebrated Holy Mass quietly. Even in these secret circumstances, it was always a solemn occasion. It was a feast, even if calm and secret, because Christ was present. We felt Jesus with us in the Holy Mass and in Holy Communion. These clandestine visits of priests were always a silent but great feast.
My parents lived in even stricter circumstances when they were deported to the Ural Mountains after the Second World War. It was even worse there, but they managed to organize a kind of clandestine church among the German Catholics. They met privately and secretly for prayers. When there was no priest, they prayed together, reciting all the prayers, the crossway stations, the rosary, litanies, and acts of spiritual devotion. They even celebrated weddings clandestinely in the presence of witnesses. Children were baptized secretly by grandmothers or mothers because there was no priest, and the children could have died. The Church allows that in such cases, lay people can baptize. Occasionally, a priest came secretly and celebrated Mass, as I mentioned in my book, especially the blessed martyr priest Alexis Zaritsky. He was totally dedicated to these people, traveling all around the Soviet Union to assist the faithful. These experiences bore fruit, and the faith of the people in these difficult circumstances became stronger. My parents told me their own faith became stronger, and they transmitted this stronger faith to their children. I am so grateful that God gave me these parents, and I could receive their strong faith.
Gemma O’Doherty: That’s such a lovely story, and I do think maybe history is repeating itself now. We were talking, Bishop, before we came on live, and I was explaining to you how in Ireland, we were spoiled as Catholics. Every Sunday, there were probably ten Masses you could choose from at any hour of the day. We had numerous churches, and we never had to worry about getting Mass. Mass was always there, and we have the most beautiful churches. But I think traditional Catholics like me were starting to really see the dumbing down of the faith. You would go to Mass, especially in the last few years, and the sermon would be about climate change or immigration. It wasn’t about the gospel. The lovely hymns we learned as children were no longer being sung, and they were becoming very new age.
Now, this is really what many people know you for: that you have stood up against this modernism, and in particular, the infiltration of the Catholic Church. You wrote the foreword to this fantastic book by Taylor Marshall, and in that, you explain how it is your belief that rather than attacking the Church from outside, this long process of infiltration of the monasteries and diocesan churches has led to what we have now: bishops who, sadly, do not believe in the word of God, they are not Christian. I don’t want to be harsh, but can you explain your position?
Bishop Schneider: Well, you mentioned that Ireland was blessed with so many churches and Masses, and now you are deprived of them, and in some other places also, due to the COVID-19 sanitary measures. I think it may also be a kind of punishment from God, because in the last decades, as you mentioned, the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Mass were not venerated as they should have been. There were so many abuses during the Mass, and maybe now God is giving this punishment. I am not saying this is only about Ireland, but in other places.
Now, God may be allowing a similar situation to what happened in the Old Testament, when the Jewish people were deprived of the temple in Jerusalem and had to go into Babylonian captivity. For seventy years, they had no temple. I hope it will not last seventy years for us, but I mention it as a possible parallel. It should awaken us, and these measures should impel us to repentance, especially the shepherds, the bishops, and the priests, to examine how they treated the Eucharist and Holy Mass in past decades. Now it is a chance to repent and start again with humility and confidence in God. God will help us.
Gemma O’Doherty: I agree, Bishop, and I think that because we’re now being denied the faith, people live in such a material world that they see there is only so much stuff they can buy, only so much food they can eat, only so much filth on television they can watch, and it brings them zero happiness. They are yearning for something more, but they don’t know that it is God, or maybe they do know, and you will explain this. You see so many parents in Ireland today who think they can raise their children without God. When their children turn to drugs or end up in disastrous marriages or relationships, the parents wonder why. My generation grew up with the love of Christ. We were told we had a God who adored us, to whom we could entrust all our worries, and He would look after them. That’s why a lot of my generation have held on to the faith. Many have abandoned it, but when we look at the bishops in Ireland, for example, we had to travel to Northern Ireland to get Mass for Easter just gone. The bishop who sits in the seat of the Catholic Church in Ireland, in Armagh, County Armagh, refused to give me communion on the tongue when I went up as normal. He just said no. This is Bishop Michael Router. He did the same to several others and insisted that it be given in the hand. How do you feel about that?
Bishop Schneider: For me, this is an abuse of power. A bishop should not do this. He should be happy that people are kneeling before his Lord. A bishop should be happy to see that people are kneeling and venerating Our Lord. For me, this is an expression of clericalism and abuse of power, and God will never bless us when we diminish veneration of Him. It is a pretext, pretending to be sanitary health safety measures, to receive in the hand. It is not proven that receiving directly in the hand is safer. Scientists say it may be even more dangerous, because hands and fingers touch so many objects, like pews, and your face. There are many bacteria. So receiving in the hand is not safer. It is a pretext. Even if this is an epidemic, we can use reasonable safety measures and still receive on the tongue. It is possible and safer to give Holy Communion on the tongue while observing sanitary safety measures.
Gemma O’Doherty: I suppose, Bishop, this is an indication of their belief or lack of belief in the divinity of the Eucharist in the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, which is a fundamental tenet of Catholicism. What do we do in this situation? I spoke to that bishop afterwards for about an hour and expressed my concerns that as a Catholic based in the Republic of Ireland,d I had to travel into the so-called United Kingdom to get Mass because the bishops in the south were banning Mass and not allowing their priests to give Holy Mass to the people. One of the things he said to me during this conversation was that we have to consider other faiths. It was in reference to another angle we were discussing. I said Other faiths, there is only one faith. This is what you touch on when you talk about infiltration. When you speak about infiltration, this is the Freemasonic idea that there are many different concepts. It is the brotherhood of man. It is live and let live. Jesus is not really God. He was just another prophet. This is the dumbing down of our faith, which bishops are now promoting.
Bishop Schneider: Yes, this is a development of the last decades after the council. It is very widespread not only in Ireland. In the case you mentioned it is spread among many bishops and also in the Vatican. They promote interreligious meetings where Our Lord Jesus Christ is relativized. It is the relativization of the uniqueness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. They must begin again to proclaim the uniqueness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one faith. We must be respectful to other people, and we are, but we must proclaim that Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only one.
Gemma O’Doherty: Yes, and when you talk about Vatican Council Two and Freemasonry in particular, because it is such a secretive society, people in Ireland do not really understand what it is about. It has a benign outward reputation, but you tackle it directly. You say that the agenda we are seeing is run by Freemasons. Can you expand on that?
Bishop Schneider: This is not a mystery and not a secret. Representatives of Freemasonry publicly proclaim this themselves. They say all religions should be equal and on the same level. Everyone can choose, and no religion is higher or more important than another. This total relativization of religions is their stated aim. They openly confess this. They also say that the true religion is the religion of man. Man becomes a kind of god and determines what is good and what is evil. This is the new world they want to build. These are their official aims. Any Freemason will tell you this.
Gemma O’Doherty: It is an anti-Christian agenda. I have been told that there are only two words that cannot be mentioned in a Freemason lodge, and they are Jesus Christ.
Bishop Schneider: Jesus Christ is God incarnate. They will never proclaim this. Their aim is to build a religion centered on man. This is the essence of Freemasonry. Its official ideology is openly proclaimed and spread. It is anti-Church and completely antagonistic to what Christ taught and what the Church has taught for two thousand years. Freemasonry seeks brotherhood without Christ. True brotherhood can only exist through Christ in Christ and with Christ. This is the greatest contrast on Earth between communities and organizations. The Catholic Church and Freemasonry.
Gemma O’Doherty: That is one of the wonderful things about Catholicism. Our churches have always had open doors. There is no secrecy. Anyone can come in. You can sit in the front pew if you wish, whether you are a beggar or anyone else. There is no hierarchy within the congregation, obviously, clerically there is, but not among the people. In Protestant churches, it is quite a closed shop. I am very concerned in Ireland at the moment that we are being driven underground. Many Catholics feel that because they are still able to receive the Eucharist on Sunday through personal connections, we are now lacking evangelization of other people who desperately need God and are missing out because they are not in the know.
I know I have probably been criticized for saying this, but it is not good enough for priests to just look after the regulars. They have to go out. If that means being arrested or fined, they must say Mass will continue. We will not close our doors. Do your worst. One priest who is keeping his doors open said Jesus was crucified for us. It is the least we can do for Him.
Bishop Schneider: You can say that priests who do this are following what Pope Francis says to go to the peripheries. They are going out to those who do not believe and proclaiming Christ there. In any case, missionary zeal is necessary. I also think that in our time of huge apostasy in the world and even in the Church, God is building a smaller community. The future of the Church will be smaller in size. As Our Lord said in the Gospel, you are the salt of the earth. Salt is small. The Church will be smaller in worldly power and wealth but stronger in faith. It will be a purer Church, a chaste Church, and a truly free Church.
The Church must be free from the government. Ideally, there should be harmony between Church and state, but in the current situation, we are facing materialistic, atheistic governments, and to some extent neo-Marxist tendencies in many countries. From these new forms of dictatorship, the Church must be free. Only then will the Church be strong in faith and missionary zeal.
Gemma O’Doherty: Yes, that is so true. In Ireland, we have had a debate pushed by the media over the last thirty years about the separation of Church and state. They have tried to rewrite our history to give an impression of an Ireland that did not exist, at least not the Ireland I grew up in. I had a wonderful experience growing up, educated by Dominican nuns and raised by parents with a profound faith, as were their parents before them. It was a faith rooted in humility, service, vocation, and basic decency.
What the media have done to Irish people is gaslight them and make them feel that Catholic Ireland was incredibly repressive and that nobody was allowed to do anything. They say single motherhood was shunned. I do not remember it that way. I know the nuns assisted young mothers who were thrown out by their families and had nowhere to go. They found refuge in convents. I understand not every nun was perfect, but the media have labeled mother and baby homes as scandals. In many cases, the alleged abuses were completely different from what was claimed or did not happen as described. The media have lied about an Ireland that did not exist.
I am not saying there was no clerical abuse in schools, particularly boys’ schools. You have been outspoken about clerical abuse scandals, but you have also explained how this was part of the infiltration process. You have spoken about communists like Bella Dodd, who exposed this strategy, how pedophiles were placed into monasteries to corrupt them, and how this led to the abuse of children.
Bishop Schneider: Well, it is not only the enemies of the Church who infiltrated immoral people into seminaries and monasteries, but the process of screening and controlling candidates was also insufficient. This was an omission by Church leadership. They admitted immoral people to the priesthood, especially those engaged in homosexual activity. This was not responsible. The lack of spiritual life in formation in monasteries and seminaries in the last decades contributed as well. There was a lack of penance, corporal mortification, fasting, and the fundamental rules of spiritual life. In such a lax atmosphere, unchaste life grew.
I repeat, admitting people who were clearly homosexual or engaged in homosexual acts was a serious omission. The Church must rethink and begin serious formation of the priesthood. It is better to have fewer priests who are psychologically and morally healthy than many who are not. Admission of candidates must be stricter. We must work for a new generation of chaste priests, men of God, with spiritual life and apostolic zeal. Even if there are fewer priests, they will irradiate spiritual life, and their work will bear more fruit. This is the future of the Church. They will also support Catholic families, who will, in turn, produce new vocations to the priesthood.
Gemma O’Doherty: It is very difficult, especially in Ireland, but I imagine it is the same in other Catholic countries for young men with vocations because they are not getting into seminaries. I know of many cases of men who tried to get into Maynooth who clearly had vocations, and they were told that the gay mafia was in control. They said they would be persecuted if they had a true vocation. I know several who left. Many of these men are heading into schismatic religions such as Born Again Christianity, which is starting to thrive in Ireland, both north and south. I know former Catholics who were very committed to their faith who have now walked away and become born-again. What would you say to them, Bishop?
Bishop Schneider: For me, this demonstrates the legacy of ecclesiastical liberalism in liturgy and spiritual life. It created a void almost empty of the supernatural, focused only on earthly, temporal, and anthropocentric realities. It is understandable that souls who strive for a deeper spiritual life do not find it in their parish or seminary. They turn to movements where they believe they will have a deeper spiritual experience, like charismatic or Born Again groups. This is a phenomenon of Pentecostalism, whether Protestant or even Catholic Pentecostalism.
These movements overemphasize feelings. Religious life becomes unstable because it is carried only by emotions. Of course, there are committed people in charismatic movements who pray and fast, and there are serious people in new Protestant evangelical communities living moral and prayerful lives, but this is not fully Catholic. Catholic life should combine prayer, morality, asceticism, and the fullness of doctrine and liturgy, transmitted by the Church in a balanced manner. Traditional liturgy provides both spiritual depth and appealing sensory experiences, like beautiful Masses, incense, Gregorian chant, and processions. These enrich the soul in a balanced way, where feelings accompany but do not dominate.
We must restore the beauty of the Catholic liturgy, traditional exercises of piety, and devotion. This will give people a way to encounter God more deeply than in Pentecostal or charismatic movements.
Gemma O’Doherty: That’s very well explained. I think what is lacking now is the awe and wonder of God, and how we should behave in front of the Eucharist or when we are praying. When I went to this new world order Cathedral in Armagh for Easter, I knew what was going to happen at the end, and it did. The bishop asked for a round of applause. That is just anti-Catholic. In the presence of God, to start clapping and making all this noise is wrong. We were always trained by the Dominicans that in the presence of Christ, you are silent and respectful. You could see how this trend has taken over in singing, clapping, and noise. Priests no longer whisper in churches. All of this has taken away from the awe of the Real Presence of Jesus with us. It is sad, but perhaps it must reach its nadir to build up again.
Your relationship with Pope Francis, Bishop, how is that, and what would you say to people struggling with his lack of leadership, his globalist approach, climate change, and so on?
Bishop Schneider: I met him personally two years ago during my ad limina visit in Rome, and I had the occasion to speak with him directly. I took this opportunity to express my fraternal correction with respect and clarity. He was very kind, listened, and answered me in a fraternal manner. He also responded personally twice in letters. I asked him to proclaim to the world that Christ is the only way to salvation because of the Abu Dhabi document, which relativizes our Lord Jesus Christ. I asked him both orally and in writing. He responded, but it had no effect. Unfortunately, he continued relativizing Christ and the true Catholic way.
We have to pray for him. We cannot depose him. We must maintain a supernatural perspective. Otherwise, we fall into dangerous tendencies, like attempting to remove the pope or create new theories not in Church history. The Church is a supernatural mystery. Our Lord gave the parable of the field, where wheat grows together with bad plants. Sometimes there are fewer bad plants, sometimes more. In our time, the field is almost full of bad plants. But the Lord is the master of the field, not us. We cannot depose anyone. Our task is to admonish, proclaim the truth, pray, do penance, and implore God’s intervention.
Saint Catherine of Siena is an example. She admonished popes in harsh words, once writing that if the pope did not convert, it would be better for him to resign. Yet she continued to pray for him and recognized him as the true Vicar of Christ. We must pray for Pope Francis. We cannot follow him when he pursues relativistic or earthly aims, but when he speaks the truth, we follow. For example, the Year of St Joseph is beautiful. He honored St Joseph as the patron of the Church and wrote meaningful documents. We must implore St Joseph to help God intervene and provide stronger shepherds of the Church in Rome and the world.
Gemma O’Doherty: Bishop, of course, you remember from living under communist rule in Russia, and obviously in Poland, being a profoundly Catholic country, we saw so many great priests stand up during that phase in history, priests who were willing to die for their faith. They didn’t think twice about it. Sadly, that seems to have gone by the wayside now. What would you say to priests in Ireland who are saying, “My bishop says I cannot have Mass, I cannot open my doors. There’s going to be a little bit of a release, but I think they’re going to do another lockdown soon enough.”?
Bishop Schneider: In this case, the bishop is abusing his authority. He was not given the power to forbid Holy Mass or the sacraments, which are God’s sacraments. They are not the private property of any bishop. In this case, he is exceeding his powers. The priest can, with a good conscience, celebrate Holy Mass, even secretly, praying for the bishop and mentioning him, while observing the necessary sanitary measures.
Yes, they’re doing virtual Mass. I don’t think that counts as Mass. Mass requires physical presence. They are allowed to say Mass, but not with anyone present. We need them to open their doors. What’s the worst thing that can happen? One of them might be arrested, but I don’t think the police in Ireland will do that. It would bring so many people back to the faith. These priests live in fear of losing their presbyteries, their lifestyle, and maybe a few fines. I can’t understand it.
Gemma O’Doherty: I understand, but perhaps they can find another way. Maybe not officially in the public Church, if the government or bishop prohibits it, but they can be inventive. They could visit some families privately and celebrate Mass, or celebrate in the open air. I think that is not forbidden by the government. Just as in the penal times, Mass was celebrated on rocks, in caves, or in forests. Why not try in cabins or stables?
Bishop Schneider: But that is happening. I do know priests who say, “Why should we?” Our churches should be open. I know you wanted to mention the book about Ireland’s devotion to the Mass. I think you have it there.
I would recommend to all good Irish Catholics to read again this beautiful book by Father Augustine, a priest who wrote in 1833, titled Ireland’s Loyalty to the Mass. I would like to quote some passages, if you allow me. Father Augustine even reports the observations of some Protestant writers, who noted that while Catholics were impoverished, harassed, and hunted for conscience’s sake, the prelates of the established Anglican Church were gorged with wealth and sunk in indolence. Despite the storm of persecution from the Reformation to the late 18th century, the Irish Catholic Church preserved an unbroken line of bishops and priests.
This shows the desire to maintain the Mass, which was central to all the efforts of Catholics and priests during penal times. Another testimony comes from the illustrious Count Montalembert, published in Paris in 1829. He described what he had seen:
“Often on Sundays, when entering an Irish town, I have seen the streets filled with kneeling laboring men, all turning their gaze toward some low doorway or obscure lane, which led to the Catholic chapel built behind houses during times of persecution. The immense crowd trying to enter the chapel prevented two-thirds of the faithful from approaching, but they knew that Mass was being said, and they knelt in all the surrounding streets, joining themselves in spirit to the priest. Very often, I mixed with them and enjoyed their looks of astonishment when they saw a stranger, a man not poor like themselves, taking the holy water with them and bowing before the altar.
“From the gallery reserved for women, I watched as the priest preached to the people. There were no seats; the population crowded in floods, pushed against the altar rails, and packed so tightly that they could not move. Long groans and deep sighs became audible. Some dried their eyes, some beat their breasts. Every gesture of the preacher was understood instantly, and a cry of love or grief answered each of his entreaties.
“In a country district about six miles from the city of Cork, I witnessed the first Mass I heard in a country chapel. On ascending a hill, I saw a man kneeling at the foot of a fir tree, several others visible in succession. At the top, I saw a poorly built stone chapel with a thatched roof. Around it knelt a crowd of robust men, uncovered despite the rain, in profound silence. The priest was saying Mass. I reached the door at the moment of the elevation, and all the assembly had prostrated themselves. There were no seats, no decorations, no pavement; the floor was damp earth, the roof dilapidated, and tallow candles burned on the altar.
“The priest announced in Irish, the language of the people, that he would go to a certain cabin to administer the sacraments and receive offerings from his flock. When the holy sacrifice ended, the priest mounted his horse and rode away. Each worshiper rose and went slowly homeward, some asking hospitality at nearby cottages, others riding with their families to distant homes. Many remained for a long time in prayer, kneeling in the silent enclosure chosen by the faithful during the time of ancient persecutions.”
This is a quotation from Ireland’s Loyalty to Holy Mass. I wish the Irish people could again restore this fidelity and loyalty to the Holy Mass. There is also a beautiful image of these secret Masses during penal times in a home. Perhaps you know this image?
Gemma O’Doherty: Yes, just hold it up a little bit closer to your camera. A little more. That’s it. Yes. And that is in the beautiful book Ireland’s Loyalty to the Mass.
Bishop Schneider: It may not be in that specific book, but it is a very beautiful and widely known image. This may be the future of the Irish Church, and not only the Irish Church, but also other countries as persecution increases. It shows the Mass centered on God, the true Mass of all ages. It is written behind it, Mass in Connemara in Ireland, a cabin during penal times, painted by Aloysius O’Kelly.
Gemma O’Doherty: In Connemara. It is a beautiful picture, and it is happening. History is repeating itself. There are many homes across Ireland now where Mass is being said privately and small groups are coming together. The faith continues in Ireland. It is very sad, Bishop, that given our rich heritage and the fight we endured for nearly a millennium to protect the Catholic faith, so many Irish people have abandoned it. But they will come back. I pray they will because there is no truer happiness. That is the beauty of Catholicism. It is the route to happiness on this earth and in eternity. Sometimes we have to lose what we love most to truly appreciate it.
Finally, I will let you go. There has been much discussion among Christians, especially Protestant groups, asking if we are in the end times. Is the vaccine the mark of the beast? Is the Book of Revelation unfolding now? In Knock, it is said Our Lady appeared with Saint John the Evangelist holding the Book of Revelation open on a certain page. Do you think we are in a period of illumination of conscience? Is Jesus going to return in person? I am sorry to ask because it is not really a Catholic approach, but many people want clarity.
Bishop Schneider: We cannot know this because Our Lord said we must be watchful and vigilant because we do not know the hour or the day. We cannot know when the Lord will come. He gave us signs in the Gospel and in the Apocalypse. There are signs today that can be understood as apocalyptic, but we do not know how long this period will last. It may be long. It may be short.
It is my personal opinion that before the Lord returns, the Church will experience a time of renewal and holiness. Our Lady of Fatima said her Immaculate Heart will triumph. This may be that time of triumph before the end. Even the angels do not know when the end will come. The signs today may point in that direction, but we must remain vigilant and entrust ourselves especially to Our Lady of Fatima and pray for the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.
Gemma O’Doherty: As we enter the month of May, devotion to Our Lady should be stronger and part of our daily prayers. It is a very important time. The Rosary is making a comeback in Ireland, and as Our Lady said, it is the greatest weapon. Many of us now understand this. Thank you so much, Bishop, for joining me today. I hope you will come back again. Perhaps you could finish our conversation with a prayer.
Bishop Schneider: Before I finish, I want to say to my dear Irish Catholics that I deeply love a little saint in Ireland, the little Eucharistic flower known as Little Nelly of Holy God from Cork. She died over one hundred years ago at the age of four. She had a profound love and reverence for the Holy Eucharist. May she be your intercessor and protector. God loves to use the smallest ones for His victories. Invoke the many saints of Ireland and these little ones also. Let us greet Our Lady, and then I will give you the blessing.
Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum, Benedicta tu in mulieribus, Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus. Sancta Maria Mater Dei, Ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen
Gloria Patri et Filio Et Spiritui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, Et in saecula saeculorum Amen
Dominus vobiscum, et cum, spiritu tuo. Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti descendant, super vos et maneat semper
Gemma O’Doherty: Thank you so much for that wonderful blessing, Bishop. We will remember it and reflect on your words. I have no doubt we are heading into a brighter period. All we have to do is remember who is in charge. Thank you for the time you have given me this evening. God willing, we will speak again. Take care, and God bless you.