Eucharist in the life of Blessed Edmund Rice

The image to the left is that of an Icon of Edmund Rice created by the Irish artist Desmond Kyne, which was unveiled in Liverpool, England, in 1986. Edmund is depicted 'in prayer before the living God. The Star of David and the descending triangle of the Deity direct the viewer towards him, showing Edmund in adoration before the Eucharist, represented in imagery that is both muted and powerful'.

Blessed Edmund Rice (1762–1844) was a Kilkenny man from the Callan district. Over the course of his life he was a businessman, husband, widower, father of a child with disabilities, advocate for the poor, and the founder of two religious congregations devoted to education: the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers.

I had the good fortune to be educated at a Christian Brothers' school in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, from 1968 to 1974. Although vocations to the Brothers had begun to decline from the mid‑1960s and, as with other religious orders, there was a significant departure of members from religious life, I was taught by four different Brothers during my schooling.

Two years ago, while engaged in a political campaign, I had occasion to visit the Christian Brothers’ house at Westcourt, outside Callan. We were warmly welcomed by the Brothers and invited to join one of their members in prayer in the very room where Blessed Edmund had been born in 1762. His mother’s name was Margaret (née Tierney).

In more recent times, the Christian Brothers have attracted adverse publicity because of cases of abuse and cruelty. Many people have testified to this, and many lives have been deeply scarred as a result. I must say that, in my own personal experience, I never experienced or witnessed physical abuse of any kind during my six years at a Christian Brothers’ school. My experience was a positive one, and I remain deeply grateful for the good example, patience, and generosity of most of the teachers I encountered—both lay and religious. At the same time, I fully acknowledge that my experience was my own and was not shared by everyone who passed through secondary schooling during that period.

In an article by David Blake, Blessed Edmund was described as someone whose “forward‑looking principles of the French Revolution, if not its crude methods,” appealed to his generous heart. The ideals of “liberty, fraternity and equality”—but with a distinctly Christian overlay—were aspirations Edmund deeply desired for his oppressed fellow Catholics in Ireland (see Blake’s commentary on the Mass readings for 5 May).

There is no evidence that Blessed Edmund wrote extensively on the Eucharist. However, it is clear from what we know of his life that he lived the Eucharistic mystery to the full—through prayer, service, trust in God’s providence, and humility. Here are some documented quotations from his writings.

The following has been said of Blessed Edmund;

In his vocation, the Eucharist held a central place. It was his preferred setting for remembering people in prayer. There he was united to Christ’s love and, through Christ, to the people for whom he prayed. Edmund regarded the Eucharist as an affective and relational space where he held the Brothers before God and prayed for them with deep solicitude.

Blessed Edmund Rice was beatified in 1996.

Left: Blessed Edmund's home place near Callan.  Right: An image of Blessed Edmund with his wife, Mary, who died tragically in 1789.  Their one child, Mary, who had special needs was cared for by family until her death circa 1859.