Andrew J's comment in the last post has alerted me to the fact that it is about time I came clean. In January I suffered a breakdown, and since then have been unable to celebrate any but the quietest Masses, and certainly no Sunday public celebrations. I have been put on a variety of medications and doses, but the illness has been susceptible to none of them. Time alone can do the stuff, and I am getting there, but it is dreadfully slow in working.
Please keep me in your prayers. I will think about posting more in the future about this business and how it all came to pass.
61 comments:
Father,
I have always enjoyed reading your blog. May the Lord grant you a speedy and complete recovery.
Dear Reverend Father, having been somewhere near where you are now, I empathise, sympathise and pray you will recover fully and quickly.
Dear Reverend Father,
Godspeed in your recovery. Please bear in mind that 1 in 5 people suffer from some form of mental illness. We love our priest when they have high blood pressure, and when they have diabetes...we should love them and support them when they are suffering the ills of the mind. Peace and my prayers.
Father: I have quietly read and enjoyed your blog for years. I hope you get to feeling better soon! I will be happy to pray for you.
My father is suffering from something that sounds similar. I would appreciate it if you would say a prayer for him too. Bless you for your kindness and important priestly work.
-fjg
Heartfelt prayers for you, dear Father, from a fellow nut case.
Sorry to hear this news PIV. Very brave of you to come 'public' with it too. Something like 30% of the adult population suffers some form of mental ill health during their life so you are in good company, including myself who had the delights of psychodynamic group therapy this afternoon.
Time really does heal and things really do get better. This is impossible to see during the 'dark' times but they do. Just keep going and you will come out of it all, eventually.
Thanks for posting this though please don't even joke about using the term "nut case". I have suffered severe depression & breakdowns - it took a long time for recovery but I believe I'm there now - completely - & better than before for having gone through the deep darkness. My prayers are with you - go easy on yourself.I found Jean Vanier's "Seeing Beyond Depression" helpful....
Dear Father, I too will keep you in my prayers. Very sorry to learn of your illness. I have often visited your blog, which I like very much. I look forward to reading your future posts, when you feel up to it. No pressure.
God bless.
Dorothy B
With very all my prayerful support.
Steven
Prayers for you Father Seán.
Prayers from the Brothers in San Diego.
Father, you ought to tell your brethren when you are sick so we can pray for you! After this gentle admonition, let me say I feel for you and hope for a speedy recovery!
I love your blog, and am sorry you are/have been unwell - it's horrible I imagine. God speed.
Dear Father,
I knew you were under stress from a friend who lives near to you.
Please be assured of my prayers.
Remember Christ's boundless love for his priests. In His heart you will find healing.
In filial love,
Jane
Prayers promised, Father.
It is brave - and valuable - to blog about this. Too often such issues are left in the shadows and not talked about. But when a few people are brave enough to be open about them, it gives courage to, and heartens, others; and ultimately that reduces the stigma attached to things deemed undiscussable.
Dear Father,
As someone who, in the past, has been where you are now, you are in my prayers. But things do get better...
We will keep you in our family prayers every night. Children's prayers are very powerful. My husband remembers with great fondness your time together in Banstead Scouts.
Amanda, thank you. I too have seen the power of children's prayers. I have to say that I'm very intrigued as to who your husband is. 10th Banstead was a great thing.
Tea lights and prayers are being issued in your general direction.
Philip Molloy. A few years younger than you but benefitted from your kind company in book shops when no-one else would go, so I understand. Or maybe you liked them as much as he did? He's still the same but I am not quite as indulgent. We have 6 little ones who are great little prayers. I am a GP, so if ever I can help feel free to e-mail.
God's blessings on you.
Bookshops is me, certainly. This is an association worth renewing. Is Philip John's brother?
Yes, that's him! John was more your age. He is very unwell these days with MS and can't work the last few years. He's still in Sutton & goes to St Ann's in Banstead. We are in Horsham. Philip would LOVE to do some book shops with you! ;)
As a recent convert whose first experience of the Mass was at St. Peter's and someone who has missed your excellent blog of late...
Be assured that my prayers, too, are with you, Father.
God bless you, and be assured of my poor prayers also.
Prayers going out for you, Father. People don’t always realize the challenges and stresses of the priestly life and even the saints struggled with the ‘dark night of the soul’. Do take all the time necessary to care for yourself and recover completely. It is always the darkest just before the dawn.
And if some light blogging helps the process, be assured we’ll be here to support you!
Continuing prayers for you Father.
I echo what GOR writes. Priests give so much of their time to others that I fear they leave no time to look after themselves. I remember my PP admitting one evening that he had forgotten to eat that day.
May God bless you and return you to full health.
I'm very sorry to read this, Fr., and trust & pray that healing comes sooner rather than later. There is a selfish element in this, as I value the interest & insights of your blog posts and hope you will feel able to resume them soon.
Get well soon Father. I suffered from depression for several years (and still have anxiety issues) and know exactly how debilitating it can be.
Father,
With prayers for you - and all priests who are being sorely tested in these times.
I finally 'caved in' to illness a few months ago, not realising how severe it was until trying to recover - it is a long low process and can't be rushed. I thought i was well enough to celebrate Sunday Mass and realised I shouldn't have when it took two days to recover!
Oremus pro invicem.
Good to see all this support for you. Add my prayers too. "God works for good...." I really believe this. Looking back I can also say that I must have got very close to this kind of suffering some years ago. I was glad of all the support I got then. You know who your friends are when you are in that place.
Fr to realise you are appreciated and important to others as the comments show hopefully encourages you and affirms the importance of your life for others. We are often more connected than we realise. My prayers for a full recovery and the patience required.
Be assured of the prayers of this brother priest in the Philippines. I have never remotely experienced what you're going through but listening to friends who have I have some idea.
God be with you.
Be assured of the prayers of this priest in the Philippines. I've never experienced even remotely what you're going through but have some idea from listening to friends who have.
Fraternally
Fr Sean Coyle
Thank you for posting about this. Of course you are not alone, but.walking in union with all who experience suffering.
Prayers for your recovery, Father.
After sitting at you feet on Thursday last, I take my hat off to you for your courage facing such an audience for the first time for a while. Your talk was so stimulating and inspiring it laid the foundation for a great day. Sorry that you had to leave early - I hope the experience will be something for you to build on.
My thoughts and prayers.
More tea lights and prayers. May God and Our Lady be with you in your distress.
Get well soon!
Father, God IS with you! I was wondering where you were of late, and am saddened to hear what is up, but am glad you are "working" on the issues at hand! I pray you are able to pray on it and give your issues up to God! You are in my prayers!
Friar Don, OBR
exposeyourblog.com
Father, my prayers will be with you. I have not suffered in this way but a close family member has and I know how wearing this illness can be. Try to believe that you will get better and when you find the medication which will help you improvement will surely come. Don't attempt to rush your recovery it will happen in Godd's time but it will happen.
God bless
Sharon
Keep going, my friend, you are a great man and God is using you in more ways than you can imagine.
I have been praying for your recovery.
My best wishes and prayers for a full recovery, Father.
Dear Fr. Sean,
You, and this blog, are real highlights of the day for me, and I think also for many others, as shown by the comments here. Keep persevering in your efforts to recover, and know that you are very valuable and much loved, if I may dare say so, by many.
You were a special favorite of my late son, Davy, during the Thomas More in England Summer Session of about 1999, and I am sure he is interceding for you now.
With all best wishes.
praying for you, Father ... don't push yourself too hard.
I have only just seen this Fr. We will certainly be praying for you. Very sorry to hear of this. Do get in touch if there is anything we can do.
Caroline, Robin & family
Sad tidings indeed. May the broken parts mend and become whole again.
IN JESUS NAME
Dear Father, Just to say I am adding my prayers and good wishes for your wellbeing.
I miss your posts ever so much. They bring a profound addition and erudition to the Catholic blogosphere.
The dark night will end. God wills it, but in His own time.
Dear Fr Sean
I was sorry to learn that you're unwell. Please be assured of my prayers for your recovery.
I would be grateful for your prayers too. My diaconate is now imminent (25 July) and priesthood is not far behind (1 Feb). Its been a long wait and I hope that you will feel sufficiently recovered to come to either of the ordinations.
Br Richard
Dear Fr Sean
I was sorry to learn that you are unwell. Please be assured of my prayers for a return to health.
If you're well enough to come to either of my ordinations (Diaconate 25 July; Priesthood 1 Feb), it would be lovely to see you, but I will understand if you're not able to make it. Do keep me in your prayers.
Br Richard
Father, you are in my prayers. I can relate to what you are going through.
Ww sometimes take our Priests for granted Father. May Our Blessed Lady hold you very close, as only a Mother can. I agg my prayers for your return to full health.
God bless you, Father. I will remember you in my prayers.
Dear Father,
I ought to add a little word. You have my prayers and empathy, whether you suffer from something within you or because of the institutional Church.
I too have many questions about my own direction in life, and all I can think about is a long voyage in a boat. The thought of it with all the long-term preparation is stimulating. Perhaps in a couple of years with all the stuff I need to learn...
Perhaps a rupture and a new direction are necessary. They may be for me...
Dear Fr Sean. I believe we're related. Your mother and my father are 1st cousins IIRC. She came from Corofin, right? We're from Ennis. I'm now an OSB at Glenstal. Prayers for you as you work your way through the murky path of illness. May the God at whose altar you celebrate renew in you the joy he gave to your youth.
Martin OSB
Dom Martin,
How very kind of you. Yes indeed, my grandmother was Agnes Browne from Ennis.
I knew of you, but had no idea how to get in touch, and so am very glad you did.
If you could give me an email address here (I won't post it up) we could be in touch a bit more easily.
S
So very sorry, Father. I will pray for you, and hope that you soon recover.
A prayer from a regular reader.
Thank you for sharing this. You are the 2nd priest I have heard of recently who has suffered in this kind of way: the first is another faithful priest whom I believe has been the victim of spiritual oppresion. He had to leave his parish during Holy Week due to the severity of his depression, but I trust he will be left in peace soon. Prayer and patience, Father! And you will know better than any of us how precious a gift suffering is. I too will pray for you.
KFCA
Dear Father,
I will also keep you in my prayers and wish you a speedy recovery. I remember reading your posts on Ireland and France with great pleasure - you are needed on the blogosphere Father!
All the very best,
Ian
Hi Fr Sean
This is an inexcusably late response to the news I had heard via a grapevine that you had not been well. Rest assured that I have been praying for you. I have not been the best of blog followers and have checked other blogs rarely. I am so glad that you are getting back to normal. I considered contacting you when I was in the UK this summer but was too busy with family and other commitments. Be assured of my continued prayers for your health and well being.
Fraternally in Christ.
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