Published by A Eucharistic Congress is held every three years. It brings thousands of Catholic clergy and pilgrims together to study and celebrate the Eucharist. In 1932 the Eucharistic Congress was held in Dublin and had a major impact on the newly formed Irish Free State. In this essay I intend on describing the main events of the Eucharistic Congress, the involvement of Fianna Fail and the Irish people, and finally, assess it’s impact on the Irish Free state as a Catholic Country and a new republic.
In 1929 Cosgrave’s government established diplomatic relations with the Vatican. That helped them persuade the pope to have the 1932 Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. Cosgrave gave the task of organising the congress to Eoin O’Duffy. For over a year plans were made. Parishes around the country prepared by holding meetings and discussions on the Eucharist. The election of 1932 was moved to February to avoid it clashing with the Congress, however to Cosgrave’s surprise he lost and Eamon de Valera and Fianna Fail basked in the Congress’ glory.
The congress was to begin on 20th June 1932 with the arrival of the popes representative the Papal Legate. Pilgrims poured into the country. Catholic groups from Holland, France, and other parts of Europe arrived. US pilgrims arrived, as most were Irish American whose parents or grandparents had emigrated in the previous century. Clergy including 200 bishops and 8 cardinals arrived from all over the world. When the Congress began on Monday June 2oth the streets were packed full of eager Catholics awaiting the arrival of the Papal Legate, Cardinal Lauri.
The congress lasted a week and each day there was different activities. There was a huge garden party in Blackrock Collage and a big reception in Dublin Castle. Visiting speakers gave lectures on the Eucharist and the Catholic Doctrine. Masses were said in city churches and in the Phoenix park. The climax of the week came on Sunday with mass in the Phoenix Park. Loudspeakers were used to ensure the masses could hear, also the mass would be broadcast on radio, and a broadcast from the Pope would feature.
On Saturday night and Sunday morning people flooded into Dublin from all over Ireland. The Irish Times reported it as a “mighty invasion”. An enormous crowd gathered in Phoenix Park. The mass recalled three things in particular. The first was St Patrick’s Bell, over a thousand years old, it had been lent by the national museum. The second was the hymn Panis Angelicus sung by Irelands most famous tenor, John McCormack. The third was the voice of the Pope successfully broadcast from Rome. After mass, the Eucharist was carried in procession from the Park to O’Connell Bridge where Benediction was given from a special alter.
The congress was agreed to have been a great success and people felt proud to be a part of Ireland, as the newly formed Irish State had shown that it could organise a big international event. People also pointed out too, that the huge turnout and devotion of the people was proof that Christian faith was still strong in Ireland. The Fianna Fail leaders played a prominent part in the Congress. This helped bury the memory of their excommunication and communist accusations. It also provided an opportunity to show their commitment to the Catholic church and its doctrines. After the Congress, enforcement of Catholicism occurred, as contraception’s were banned and divorce was against the constitution.
After the Congress, the power of Catholic Bishops increased. John Charles McQuaid, headmaster of Blackrock Collage encouraged de Valera to give the Catholic church a privileged position in the 1937 constitution. In 1941 de Valera urged the Pope to appoint John McQuaid Archbishop of Dublin. McQuaid used this new found power to discourage contacts between Catholics and people of different faiths, and resist change. This had a profound effect on the role of religion in the Irish Free State.
After the Congress was over, Ireland was seen as a key Catholic state within Europe which improved relations between the Vatican and the republic. The Church was given a more dominant role in society and church/state relations improved. Catholic Bishops were given a divine statues and this resulted in a more impressive parish involvement. Under the rule of Archbishop McQuaid, the Catholic church exercised far more power in the south than any time before or since.
