Sunday 15 February, is a Day of Prayer for Temperance, a day which offers us an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with alcohol and a day on which we can take time to pray for those who suffer from addiction.
Sermon notes of Bishop Michael Router for Temperance Sunday delivered at 11.00am Mass in Saint Patrick’s Church, Dundalk, Archdiocese of Armagh
The first reading today from the Book of Ecclesiasticus proclaims “He has set fire and water before you; put out your hand to whichever you prefer. Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better will be given him.” These are strong words, but they are also hopeful words, because they tell us something profound about the relationship God has with us. God gives us a choice. God trusts us with freedom. God believes that, with his grace, we are capable of choosing life.
Temperance Sunday invites us to reflect on how we use that freedom, particularly in relation to alcohol, drugs and other behaviours that can quietly, or sometimes very publicly, take away our freedom. Addiction is not simply about substances it is about what happens when something takes an unhealthy control of us and when our freedom to make choices disappears.
Ecclesiasticus reminds us that God is never the author of our destruction. God is always on the side of life and dignity. When we see the harm caused by addiction in our families, parishes and communities, we are not seeing God’s will at work. We are seeing the consequences of human choices influenced and shaped by pain, trauma, poverty, or pressure. And that is why our response must never be judgment, but always compassion; never resignation but hope that things may change for the better.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus moves the focus from outward actions to inward attitudes. It is not only murder that matters, he says, but anger that destroys relationships. It is not only adultery that matters, but the lust that can reduce another person to an object of desire. It is not only swearing false oaths that matter, but careless or dishonest speech. Again and again, Jesus brings us back to the heart.
This teaching of Jesus is important on Temperance Sunday, because addiction often begins in the heart: with stress, with loneliness, with a desire to belong, to escape, or to numb pain. Jesus does not speak these hard words to condemn us, but to heal us. He wants our hearts to be free and full of the goodness and purity that leads to good choices in life. Temperance, therefore, is not about being mean spirited or joyless. It is about learning how to live well. It is about knowing when to say yes and when to say no.
This is especially important for our young people. Today, many of them are navigating a world very different from the one their parents grew up in. Illicit substances are more available, pressures are more intense and new dangers such as vaping are often presented as harmless or even fashionable. That is why the Church’s renewed emphasis this year on the Confirmation pledge is so important. It is not about control but is about genuine care and concern. It is about giving young people clear information, spiritual support and the support of a community that wants them to thrive.
Temperance Sunday is for all of us. Each of us is invited today to look honestly at our own habits and attitudes. We also remember those who struggle with addiction and their families who often carry heavy burdens in silence. To anyone who is fighting this battle be aware that you are not alone, you are not without hope and you are not forgotten by God. The Church in its prayer ministry and through its sacraments of healing stands with you as do so many dedicated people working in support, treatment and recovery. Choosing life sometimes begins with the smallest step and by daring to believe that change is possible.
As we pray today, we place ourselves under the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who shows us what it means to say yes to God even when the road ahead is uncertain. And we look to our own Irish witness of temperance, Venerable Matt Talbot, whose life reminds us that no one is trapped in addiction forever and that grace can transform even the most difficult story.
So today and in the days and weeks ahead, may we choose life and freedom not only in words, but in the quiet, daily decisions that shape our hearts, our families and our communities. May the Lord give us the strength, courage and joy to live that choice each day. Amen.
Prayers of the Faithful
Gathered as a community in the name of Jesus Christ, who places before us life and death and invites us to choose life, we bring our prayers before the Father with confidence and hope.
1. We pray for Pope Leo, for our bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful who serve the Church in leadership locally and nationally. May they proclaim with courage and compassion the Gospel that calls us to freedom of heart and trust in God’s grace. Lord, hear us.
2. We pray for all young people, especially those preparing for Confirmation and those making important decisions about their future. In a world of many pressures and mixed messages, may they find in Christ the strength to say “yes” to life and “no” to whatever may harms body or soul and may they be supported by loving families and faith-filled communities. Lord, hear us.
3. We pray for all who struggle with addiction to alcohol, drugs, vaping, gambling, pornography or any harmful dependency. May the Lord heal their hearts, restore their freedom and give them the courage to seek help. May they know they are not alone and never forgotten by God. Lord, hear us.
4. We pray for families who carry the hidden pain of addiction and for all who work in treatment, recovery, counselling, pastoral care and community support. May they be strengthened in patience, compassion and hope as they accompany others on the path to freedom. Lord, hear us.
5. We pray for members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Movement and all temperance initiatives. May their witness inspire our nation to build a culture of moderation, responsibility and care, where every person’s dignity is protected. Lord, hear us.
6. We pray for all who have died, especially those whose lives were marked by struggle or addiction. May they rest in the peace and fullness of God’s mercy and may their families be consoled in hope. Lord, hear us.
God our Father, through your Son, Jesus, heal our hearts, strengthen our freedom and guide our choices. With the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the example of Venerable Matt Talbot, may we walk each day in truth, courage and hope. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord.
Amen
ENDS
- Bishop Michael Router is the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh, and the Bishops’ Conference Liaison Bishop with the Irish Bishop’s Drug’s Initiative.