Fr La’s weekly ‘Pause and Ponder’ from along the Pilgrim Path at Lough Derg. This week’s reflection – ‘What’s in a Name?’
What’s in a Name?
Pilgrimage and place are always near aligned.
On the medieval maps, Ireland sat
at the edge of the world, and St Patrick’s Purgatory,
that sacred cave, was named upon them all.
More locally you heard the name of St Davog.
From Seedavog, his mountain seat to the south,
he still looks down on the island that once
was home to his monks and hostel to pilgrims.
The ancient road reached the shore at Portcreevy,
the branchy harbour where Brigid has her well.
And today the Path begins in Ballymacavanney
where some long-lost Son of Avenney made his home.
When your name and mine have long since been forgotten
will pilgrims, I wonder, still pass this way?
Fr La Flynn, Prior
27 September 2021
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