One of the most beautiful jewels of Győr Cathedral, the icon of Our Lady of Tears, which was placed in our city with the help of the Irish Bishop Walter Lynch, who fled from Cromwell's campaign against Ireland and Scotland, is also very popular among the Irish visiting Hungary. Bishop János Püsky of Győr invited him to Győr, where he lived for the rest of his life and bequeathed the image known as the Weeping Madonna to the city in 1663.

The pictures were taken after the restoration of the church in the autumn of 2023, with Brother Leo, a member of the Alexian community in Hungary.

 

Saint Alexius, man of God, you are our support, our model and our patron as we carry out our ministry to the sick, the poor and the elderly. Ask our Lord to send sufficient vocations to our congregation so that we may continue our legacy of service among those in need. Amen.

A selection of photos from the chapel of St. Bernadette of the Alexian Monastery in Győrújbarát, Western Hungary.

 

During the General Chapter in Kleve, Germany, in May 2016, participants visited the statue of Karl Leisner during a tour of the city. He was a Roman Catholic priest interned in the Dachau concentration camp. He died shortly after being liberated by the Allied forces. He has been declared a martyr and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1996.

Brother Barry and the American and German Brothers
in front of the martyr's statue

Mural of Saint Alexius in the chapel of a building formerly used as a hospice, Le Vigan, France.

Saint Alexius,

Saint of humble service, patron saint of the homeless, pilgrims and the Alexian Brothers, we pray to you at the beginning of the new week. Help us to live according to your example every day of the week. Give us strength to overcome difficulties, patience to endure trials, and wisdom to make the right choices. Guide us on the path of love and mercy to help those in need and to live by Your example. Bless our work, our sercive, our family, and all our loved ones. Be with us every moment and guide us in Your light.

Amen.

Our Almighty God,

thank you for the restful weekend you have given us. We are away from our daily worries and have gained peace of mind and physical strength. We thank you for the peace, the recharging, the time with our loved ones, the quiet moments in which we were able to draw closer to You and to each other. Help us to use the strength we gained this weekend in our daily lives, in service, in love, and in following Your example.

Amen.

Winter Memories - Knock

Like Hungary, Ireland is also experiencing mild winters these days. One time we really had the chance to wander around in "real" beautiful snowy weather. We have selected some of the pictures taken at the time, which include the local Alexian Monastery, the shrine and its surroundings, and the local cemetery where witnesses to the apparition of Our Lady in 1879 are buried.

Caccini Giovan Battista, Statue of St Alexius in the niche in the façade of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Florence, 1594. The first image is a sketch of the original, undamaged statue.

Snowy Knock

Winter is approaching, with a selection of last year's snowy images of the Alexian Monastery and the Knock Shrine.

 

As a self-sacrificing symbol of Christian love, the pelican that feeds its young with its own blood, as seen in the Alexian coat of arms, adorns the dining room of the Irish Alexian monastery.

Almighty God, our loving Father,

We humbly ask You to bless the Alexian Brothers throughout the world. Fill them with the spirit of Saint Alexius, with the spirit of service and humility. Grant them strength and perseverance in their arduous work to alleviate suffering and help those in need through their loving care.

Guide them in the path of wisdom and mercy, so that they may recognize the dignity of those in need and serve them in a worthy manner. Bless their vocation, strengthen their commitment and give them wisdom to make difficult decisions.

Grant them health, peace and hope to work tirelessly and lovingly in their ministry. Protect them from all danger and harm and guide them in the way of your justice and love.

Bless their communities so that they may live in love and unity and inspire the world by their example.

Amen.

Pictures from the past

In 2016, the General Chapter of the Alexian Brothers took place from 6 to 14 May in Kleve, Germany. The meeting was attended by three Irish Alexian Brothers, Brother Dermot, Brother Barry and Brother Dominic.

Statue of St Alexius, parish church of St George, Großkleinb, Austria.

Brother Sean in front of a tree dressed in Christmas lights in Knock.

Alexian ring with the coat of arms of the Order.

Bags from the past used in Alexian institutions. Except for the bottom left bag, which is Hungarian, they were used in the American Alexian mission.

A little guest in the wooden aviary in the garden of the Alexian Monastery in Knock.

 

Heavenly Father, we thank you with a grateful heart for this weekend that is before us. We thank you for the opportunity to rest and recharge, to get away from the worries and burdens of everyday life. Give us strength and peace in our hearts so that we may spend this time in fellowship with our loved ones and for Your glory. Bless our rest and help us to return to our daily lives recharged. Amen.

Brother Barry during a stay in Dublin.

Prayer for vocations.

Brother Sean and a guest of the Irish Alexian monastery in front of the basilica in Knock.

Relic of Saint Alexius, silver, 1804, France.

Saint Alexius,

patron of the homeless, the travelers, and those seeking refuge, we give thanks for the peaceful and restorative weekend. We thank you for the respite from the daily pressures of life, for the opportunity to rest our bodies and refresh our spirits.

We offer our gratitude for the physical recovery we have experienced, for the easing of aches and pains, and for the renewed strength and energy we feel. We thank you for the quiet moments of reflection, for the chance to reconnect with our inner selves and draw closer to God.

We ask for your continued blessing, Saint Alexius, that this renewed strength and peace may sustain us throughout the coming week. Help us to carry the spirit of rest and rejuvenation into our daily lives, and to approach our tasks with renewed purpose and compassion. Guide us always on the path of humility and service to others, as you so faithfully demonstrated.

Amen.

Coffee set with the crest of the Alexian Brothers.

Sheila, a frequent guest of the Irish Alexian community and Brother Barry.

Old postcard of the shrine in the village of Knock, near which stands the monastery and guest house of the Irish Alexian Brothers.

Engraved icon of Saint Alexius which adorns the monastery of the Irish Alexian Brothers.

In Bakonybél, next to the country house, there is a retro museum from the communist period of the 1950s, which displays old children's toys, means of transport, motorbikes, cars, utensils, vinyl records, home furnishings, etc. We visited this museum with Brother Barry during his visit to Hungary.

A bone relic of Saint Alexius in the chapel of St Bernadette in the Alexian Monastery in Hungary. The crocheted figure of Saint Alexius is the work of the Hungarian artist SYLVEE'S CROCHET.

Brother Barry in front the Alexian Monastery in the village of Győrújbarát, Hungary.

Saint Alexius,

our merciful patron saint, who, having abandoned earthly riches, lived your life in poverty and humility, and who is patron of the homeless, pilgrims and the Alexian Brothers, pray for us! At the beginning of this week, help us to turn with open hearts and love to those in need. Give us the strength to recognize the dignity of those living in poverty and to help them overcome their difficulties. Guide us on the path of love and mercy, so that we may also demonstrate faith and love by our actions. Please protect the homeless, give them shelter and warmth, food and hope. Accompany the pilgrims on their journey, protect them from danger and guide them to their destination. Bless the Alexian Brothers, give them strength and endurance in their service, so that they may alleviate suffering by their loving care.

Help us to follow your example, to live our lives with humility and love, always remembering that the greatest riches are love and devotion to God and to our fellow human beings.

Amen.

Photo: the cross with two doves on the roof of
the chapel of St Bernadette in the Alexian Monastery in Hungary.

Eternal God,

on All Souls' Day, we remember with love and sorrow those who have died and await the promise of resurrection. We pray for the souls of all the faithful departed, especially, whose earthly lives are ended but whose memory lives on in our hearts. We commend them to your merciful care, knowing that death does not end our relationship with them, but rather transforms it. Grant them, O Lord, the light of your countenance and the peace of your kingdom. Forgive their sins and failings, and welcome them into the joy of your eternal embrace. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. We pray also for those who mourn their loss, that they may find comfort in your love and strength in their grief. Grant them patience, hope, and the assurance of your abiding presence.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Almighty God,

on this All Saints' Day, we celebrate the communion of saints, the vast and glorious company of those who have gone before us in faith and now rejoice in your presence. We give thanks for their lives, their witness, and their prayers. We remember with love and gratitude those we have known who have died in the hope of resurrection. May they rest in peace and light. We also remember all the saints known and unknown, whose names are written in the book of life. Their lives, though diverse, were united by their love for you and their dedication to your service. May their example inspire us to live lives of holiness and faith. Grant us, O Lord, the grace to follow in their footsteps, to live lives pleasing to you, and to one day join them in your eternal glory.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.