As I see it, Ireland's biggest problem today is not England, or Northern Ireland but the rather extreme brand of nationalism that has taken hold of the people. As loyalty to the monarch was eroded we began to see the rise of a form of state worship. It must be said in all honesty though that many English monarchs provoked this disloyalty through anti-Catholic persecution. However, God commands us to obey "not only the good and the gentle, but also the harsh". Here is one of the most difficult strengths of character demanded of Christians, that we must follow the example of Jesus who was innocent in every way and was hated but did not hate in return. We are reminded of the story of young David and King Saul. The King was finally forced to see David's holiness and told the boy, "Thou art more righteous than I, for you have repaid me kindness whereas I have repaid you with cruelty".
It is also true that many Irish were not disloyal to the "Crown" but did have severe problems with those who occupied the throne. They fought stoutly as in any war of liberation during the Elizabethan Persecutions to defend the legitimate Royal House of Stuart and to restore the openly Catholic King James II to the British throne. The famous Irishman, the Abbot of Maredsous, Belgium, Dom Columba Marmion, OSB wrote in 1921 during the Anglo-Irish War, "Poor Ireland is in a sad plight; & unless God gives us very special help & light, I don't see any way out. England will never give us a republic as long as she has a soldier to carry a gun; & Ireland won't be satisfied with anything less. I am not for separation from England, nor for a republic; but I desire a very large measure of "self-determination", such as you have in Australia." This is what any God-fearing Irish Catholic would have supported: no treason or disloyalty from those God had placed over them, simply freedom from persecution and autonomy in local matters of Ireland.
It should be remembered that the first English incursion into Ireland came with both local and spiritual sanction. Pope Hadrian IV (the only English pope) gave the rights to Ireland to England's King Henry II (though some have questioned the authenticity of the document), however King Henry's entrance was also invited by Diarmuid Mac Murchada, the deposed King of Leinster in an effort to ensure civil order and ensure ecclesiastical reform in a time when Ireland was in need of both. This does not excuse the atrocities that were committed in the years after, but nonetheless it is worthy of note, that if Ireland had been united, with a monarch as capable as the earlier High King Brian Boru, the invasion of the English may never have happened and the country could have developed as the free Catholic kingdom it had once been. It all adds up to one basic point: Ireland was wronged, anyone can see that, and everyone knows that, but to continue to play the historical blame-game is the height of foolishness.
American-Irish might be surprised to know that during the American Revolution a great many Irishmen fought for King George III. The very first St Patrick's Day Parade in New York City was actually held on March 17, 1779 by the Catholic Volunteers of Ireland, a Loyalist regiment commanded by Lord Rawdon. However, the evident pride these men had in their Faith was the primary factor, which obviously led them to forget themselves and do what God has commanded of all peoples: keep the king's commandment in regard of the oath of God. |
