'St Oliver's influence needed to bring peace to the world today'

Archbishop of Armagh celebrates martyr's anniversaries

Last Sunday week, Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin celebrated Mass to mark the 400th anniversary of the birth of St Oliver Plunkett, a predecessor as Archbishop of Armagh, and 50 years since the canonisation of the martyred saint, in 1975, by Pope Paul VI.

During his homily Archbishop Martin said: "I am praying these days through the intercession of St Oliver Plunkett for success of the Middle East's fragile peace agreement, that hostages can be released and Gazans can return home safely; in these troubled times of war and violence, as opinions become polarised, the world seems to prefer putting up walls to building bridges and peace; for harmony and peace to Ireland, to address the painful legacy of conflict, and the ‘unfinished work of peace’ to build meaningful reconciliation.

Fifty years ago, when he canonised St Oliver Plunkett, Pope Paul VI offered Oliver to the world as a model of peace and reconciliation, Archbishop Martin continued.

"As soon as Oliver came to Ireland, as Archbishop in 1670, he quickly got a reputation for being a mediator and a peace maker. Wherever he went, he was determined to settle disputes and divisions and tried to bring order and harmony. He built positive relationships with the Protestant Archbishop and clergy and one of his major achievements was to broker a peace agreement between the notorious ‘Raparees’ and the authorities of his time.

"But, within four years, the political tide was turning against the practice of Catholicism; this didn’t stop Archbishop Oliver. Despite growing opposition and threats to his health and life, he remained completely committed to his episcopal ministry. By 1678 he was a fugitive, with so many people hunting for him that he was certain he would be captured. In one of his letters at that time he wrote, 'whatever the danger, I will stay with my flock. I will not abandon them.'

"Eventually, however, Oliver was arrested, and imprisoned on account of malicious charges against him. He was unjustly condemned to death, and after being dragged through the crowded streets of London, Oliver was publicly executed in a gruesome manner at Tyburn Cross. But even at the gallows, he never lost his hope in the Risen Lord. Records show that Oliver died asking forgiveness for his own faults, and publicly forgiving all those who had plotted to take away his life.

"No wonder then, at Oliver’s canonisation in 1975, Pope Paul VI described him as a man of pardon and peace 'who chose to die rather than betray the faith or his people.' He added, 'Saint Oliver, was an "advocate of justice" and a "friend of the oppressed". He would not compromise with truth or condone violence: he would not substitute another gospel for the Gospel of peace. … what a model of reconciliation: a sure guide for our day."

"Now, 50 years later, we need St Oliver Plunkett more than ever to inspire us in these troubled times of war and violence; when opinions are becoming more and more polarised; and the world seems to prefer putting up walls and barriers to building bridges of trust and peace.

"I am praying these days through the intercession of Saint Oliver for the success of the fragile peace agreement in the Middle East: that the hostages can be released back to their families, the people of Gaza can return to their towns and villages to begin the long process of rebuilding their homes and livelihoods; that a flood of humanitarian aid and international effort can allowed to pour into the shell of Gaza to renew hope and dispel despair.

“Today, I am also asking St Oliver Plunkett to bring increased harmony and peace to Ireland. We still have much to do to address the painful legacy of our conflict. The ‘unfinished work of peace’ is to build meaningful reconciliation in our communities, and that is a long and difficult journey. But in Saint Oliver‘s name, we cannot allow ourselves to be ‘robbed of hope’.

“I like to think that Saint Oliver has always been blessing our peace efforts. The late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich used to recall that the Irish War of Independence ended on the feast of Blessed Oliver in 1921. And it is also true that, after the Good Friday Agreement, the first meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly took place on St Oliver’s feast, 1st July 1998. In 1979, when Pope John Paul II came to Ireland, he visited and prayed at the relics of St Oliver in Drogheda, and was inspired afterwards to make a powerful appeal for an end to violence in our land."