An extract - Homily at the Visitation Mass,
given by Martin Coffey CP, January 2003

After the Synod in Korea and reflecting on the dream of St Paul of the Cross, I believe that an essential part of our charism and mission is to be teachers of prayer. We sued to fulfil this mission by leading the people in meditating on the Passion during retreats and other preaching ministries. The origins of this practice in the life of our founder clearly show that he wanted to give something to people that would stay with them long after the end of a retreat. A spirit of prayer was to be one of the lasting fruits of our preaching. I have no doubt that our mssion is to help people to develop a strong relationship with God. However, like so much else, this part of our mission has been largely lost sight of and we need to do more to re-focus our energies on this central aspect of our mission.

The Constitutions refer to our houses as 'schools of prayer'. This title implies a lot. Is it possible fo rus to take that seriously and make it part o four mission to 'teach people to pray' as St Paul of the Cross wanted. Could a Passionist house become a centre of Christian meditation? It is my dream that our communities would reflect on the challenge and privilege entailed by the title 'school of prayer' and look for the best ways of fostering the prayer life of each man, of finding suitable ways of praying together, and as a beautiful apostolate inviting people to share our prayer that preserves and respects the hidden mystery and depth of God.

Sometimes it's easier for us to put something on for the people while leaving ourselves undernourished or neglected. To be a fruitful school of prayer for the people we need to value prayer in our own lives. I don't have any particular form of prayer in mind but simply that we each give attention to our personal relationship with the Lord in prayer as well as our common witness and encouragement of the same. We all know from experience that in our busy apostolic lives prayer is an early casualty. It is always a pity to discover that in the name of God's work we end up neglecting our relationship with the God we claim to be serving. In truth, the best we can offer people is a glimpse of God's presence and action in our lives.

To refound from the ground up is a big task. But if it comes from God and is supported by his Spirit it is not impossible. I invite you to pray with me for the Spirit to inspire the courage we need to take on this task and to live in hope, knowing that the God who called us once never ceases to call and that he can and will lead us forward into a country we do not know but where he promises to be with us still.

Holiness
Surely the imperative to be Holy as your Father is Holy still holds good. Holiness is central because it puts God at the centre and affirms our total dependence on Him. Holiness recognises that God takes the initiative and that our efforts and achievements are always his gift. Holiness seeks God's will first and puts us at his disposal. Holiness is about sharing in the life of God and that includes his love and concern for his people and indeed for the whole world.

We are immersed in a culture that is totally obsesses with self-promotion and self-fulfilment. Unfortunately in its cruder forms this is achieved without the slightest regard for others. Elements of this have found their way into religious life. Jesus invites us to take a different path. He emptied himself. We too are asked to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to let go of our pre-occupations, our schemes and all the ways we have of promoting, defending, preserving ourselves. It is the path of humility and detachment. This is not something we can achieve for ourselves or of ourselves. We must ask and wait for God to achieve it in us. That's what makes it so difficult. It takes a long time to learn to let go, to stop trying to make it on our own, to surrender to God and to allow him to take us into his hands and to make of us what he will.

Perfect loves casts out fear. As we move into the uncertain future I hope we will be able to hand ourselves over to God and ask him to re-mould and re-shape us according to his mind and heart. For this we will need great faith and great freedom and even these are his gifts. So there is no way forward without total openness and total trust in God. I think that's another way of describing holiness. That's why I go along with Iris Murdoch and say that at this time we need a little of the prophet and a lot of the saint. God inspire and guide us.