If you love me feed me
Clothe me hold me shelter me
Let me know the warmth of home
Lay me down to sleep
Help me grow develop
Help me find my way
And when I leave you all behind
I’ll come back some day
I had a happy home
A happy family
But it was blown apart
The church came stealing me
I felt the loss of family
I had lost my own dear home
I withdrew from all around me
I kept myself alone
But in the end I found myself
Restored into the world
I met a girl who loved me
Now at last I’m heard
No more of ‘Father Fahy’
The man all dressed in black
My heart restored so naturally
I got my own life back
Brian Fahy
17 July 2022
+ I was persuaded away from home at the age of 11 into a seminary. I effectively lost my home and family ties from that point on. I withdrew psychologically from the world to protect my lonely heart.
Listening to talks by Gabor Mate, an Hungarian/Canadian psychologist, has illuminated for me what we all do to protect ourselves when going through trauma. My real self was hidden away. My public persona adjusted to fit in and follow the requirements of the catholic priesthood system.
The gospel of Martha and Mary shows us how to love one another fully. We take care of all our physical needs for food and warmth and shelter, and we also listen heart to heart to one another, to discover, to come to know who we really are.
Erris Poetry 