Queen Elizabeth, President Obama and preaching

This appears in today's INM Irish regional newspapers.

By Michael Commane
The week following the royal wedding in Westminster Abbey and the beatification ceremony in Rome I wrote a column in this newspaper which might have been somewhat critical of both events.

And then Queen Elizabeth comes to Ireland and by the end of the week I am close to being rated as a royal junkie. Queen Elizabeth is no sooner gone and President Barack Obama helicopters in to Moneygall and there I am again, back at the junkie behaviour - turning on the television the minute I come in from school.

I had less than 90 minutes to prepare and eat a meal, go for a quick run with the dog and pack my bag and yet I made it my business to watch Obama in Moneygall.
I have been trying to analyse it all and why I reacted as I did. But I have a sneaky feeling I behaved in a similar way to tens of thousands of Irish people.

The royal visit has been analysed and every detail of it parsed down to the smallest pixel on the screen. Most of the commentators have argued that her visit was the last part of the jigsaw in normalising relations between our two islands. And certainly that was a significant part of the visit.

Both President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth’s speeches at Dublin Castle were cleverly crafted documents.

Everything Queen Elizabeth did in Ireland evoked positive rational and emotive responses. She seemed as if she really enjoying herself in Ireland.

The commentators kept on saying that this was an encounter between equals.

It was a brilliantly choreographed visit and full marks to all involved in making it such a success.

And the same goes for President Obama's eight-hour whirlwind visit.
Anyone who watched the beatification ceremony in Rome will also say that it was a moving experience.
Whether or not to curtsey to the Queen? And it was interesting to observe those who did? I was puzzled as to why non-UK citizens would do such a thing.

And then the pieces in the newspaper as to how one should address Queen Elizabeth and what is the correct protocol when shaking hands. The newspapers explained it all and no doubt many readers read it with interest.

Hold on a sec. Is this not exactly the same brouhaha the Irish went on with in the 30s, 40s 50s when it came to addressing and greeting bishops, archbishops and cardinals?
And how we rightly laugh at that nonsense now. But just as we have grown up vis-a-vis our relationship with church 'dignitaries' we are falling over one another in learning the 'correct' royal protocol.

Is it that we simply need people to adulate, is it in our bones to offer incense at all sorts of human shrines?

Maybe it has something to do with what both Queen Elizabeth and President Obama had to say in their speeches.

Queen Elizabeth, President Obama and President McAleese spoke words that were respectful and dignified. I certainly found myself feeling as if we were being taken seriously and that Queen Elizabeth and President Obama were enjoying themselves in Ireland. Maybe they also believed what they were saying.

It made me think of the possibility of what seriously good preaching could mean.
Meaningful words, well crafted will always find listeners.

When people wonder and analyse why there has been such a fall off in church attendance in Ireland has anyone ever thought of examining the quality of preaching and liturgical celebration?

It is a complex issue but far too many people have simply grown tired of listening to dull and boring sermons.

And such a pity as it could be so different.

In the column I wrote some weeks ago I quoted the line from the Bishop of London who quoted St Catherine of Siena.

"Be what God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire".

The Gospel is never boring or outdated. It's we priests who mush it up and make a bags of it.
When were you last at the edge of your seat listening in real enthusiasm to what was being said at Mass.

I can still remember listening to a priest in Dublin over 30 years ago. He celebrated Mass in a most dignified and reverent manner and he had people listening to him.

Of course it can be done but it means hard work and genuine faith too.