The Morgans Go European

May 30, 2018 Ennis, Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, Ennis Friary, Franciscan Church of the Immaculate Conception

We made another trip to Ennis to see the religious sites.

The sanctuary.

The organ with a person practicing.

Video: https://youtu.be/4kSVJXzAWYs

Above the sanctuary and ceiling.

St. Patrick. Tradition says he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity to the pagan Irish in the 5th century.

The Blessed Sacrament.

"Only after the last tree has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." Cree Indian Prophecy

St Brigid is my Confirmation Saint.

These hands were outside the Cathedral.

The Ennis Friary. Founded by the O'Brians, this 13th century Franciscan friary had a tremendous history. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and brought to friary to life for us.

What the friary would have looked like in it's hay day.

The great east window of the Chancel. All churches were built with the altar facing east because the sun rises in the east and the Son will rise in the east.

Five years before he became Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger wrote:

The common turning toward the east was not a “celebration toward the wall;” it did not mean that the priest “had his back to the people.” . . . For just as the congregation in the synagogue looked together toward Jerusalem, so in the Christian liturgy the congregation looked together “toward the Lord.” . . . They did not close themselves into a circle; they did not gaze at one another; but as the pilgrim People of God they set off for the Oriens, for the Christ who comes to meet us.

The chancel.

Our guide.

Stairs that lead to the bell tower.

Beautiful windows.

View from the grave yard.

I loved the wild flowers growing in the cracks of the tower.

St. Francis. He was covered with plaster during the time the Church of Ireland took over the church beginning in 1534 and uncovered when the ruins returned to the Church in the early 1800's.

The sacristy, where the priests prepared for Mass. Rod and the kids are reading tombs and filling out a quiz given to them by the tour guide.

The cloister. This is a courtyard on the center of the friary. Along the wall, would have been a covered walk (cloister). In the middle are graves of friars.