Dear Friends

Ignatius holds the Pope’s hand

In my forty years as a priest I have met some unique people. They were vivid one-offs. In Leeds I met Ignatius and Mary Rolfe, who were both Irish and proud of it. This couple were full of the Holy Spirit and laughter. Mary could reduce the prayer group to hysterics without even trying. The incident when she described how Ignatius got to hold the Pope’s hand at Phoenix Park is a good example.

They were seated at the back of the stadium when Ignatius said, “I would like to hold the dear man’s hand.”  Mary scolded him and said, “As a Christian you should take the lowest place.” But secretly she started saying the rosary asking God to grant Ignatius his wish. Ignatius was then hailed by a friend, who was one of the stewards and invited to a front row.

As the bullet proof Pope-mobile drew nearer, the lady beside him asked if Ignatius would hold her blind son on his shoulders so that the Pope might see him. Ignatius then started to bellow repeatedly, “Holiness, bless the blind child... Holiness, bless the blind child…”

Wonder of wonders, as the Pope-mobile drew near, the Pope told the driver to cross the track to where Ignatius and the child were. The Pope placed his hand on the blind child to bless him and Ignatius, not being one to miss the chance of a life-time, clung on to the Pope’s hand and said, “I love you, I love you, I absolutely love you!”

When the Pope raises his hand in blessing it includes both Catholics and non-Catholics, and I hope it is the signal of many minor miracles like the one above.

DON’T KEEP THE FAITH. GIVE IT AWAY.

Every Blessing

David Broome