by John Finnerty, who has returned from an Easter pilgrimmage to Ireland

There are no snakes in Ireland. Legend has it that this is because St Patrick threw all the snakes from the top of the sacred mountain known ever since as Croagh Patrick.

On Holy Saturday a party of young students from the Holy Family School who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation climbed Croagh Patrick as part of a pilgrimage which included visiting the Marian shrine at Knock.

The climb up the mountain is always strenuous and demanding, but last Saturday brought the additional hazards of sudden clouds of wind-whipped snow and bursts of skin-stinging hailstone.

Nevertheless, these teen-agers progressed up the mountain as far as the physical ability of each would allow and a group of 25 ensured that the large wooden cross, which has been carried by successive parties of Keighley Confirm-ation candidates, was in place at the summit for prayers.

Fortunately, the harsh weather was punctuated by short spells of brilliant sunshine revealing the magnificent view over Clew Bay with its 365 islands (one for evey day of the year).

The splendour and beauty of this scene, appearing suddenly as the clouds rose, brought to mind the hymn, 'O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder...'

But it was not only in order to inspire a sense of wonder that these young people were encouraged to make this pilgrimage with its gruelling mountain climb.

Neither was it to regale them with legends about snakes and contests with druids. Histor-ical records tell us that St Patrick did spend time on the mountain in fasting and prayer just as Our Lord did in the desert; and our confirmation candidates needed time out of their usual environment to take stock and 'recharge their spiritual batteries' before the great commitment they are soon to make.

If these young Christians are to continue to proclaim the light of Christ in their lives, from time to time they will need to recharge those batteries. Perhaps time and money will make participation in pilgrimages difficult but times of quiet prayer for a short "booster charge" are always available to all of us.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.