It was St Valentine’s Day 2004. Roses were in the shops and chocolates everywhere for those who wanted to say something of their love. That morning I stood at the graveside of a young man of 17 who had hung himself at home a few days earlier. It was awful. There were not any words to fill the gap of understanding or ointment to soothe the pain. It was as dark as Calvary. Worse was to follow on this Valentine’s Day.  

That afternoon the best friend of the young man we had buried that morning climbed the scaffolding of the Holy Cross Monastery Church and hung himself from the pinnacle of this imposing building in the heart of North Belfast. The church was celebrating 100 years and was undergoing extensive restoration work. I climbed the scaffolding – ladder after ladder and not daring to look down – until finally I saw the slight body of a young man hanging by the collar of his jacket. I shouted out a word. Silence came back to me. I prayed and kept talking to him in the hope that he was still alive. The boards began to creek as the emergency services arrived. One police officer took a real risk as he inched his way out to bring in the young man. All efforts to resuscitate him came to nothing.

I made my way down the ladders to be met by a huge crowd who had gathered. A man asked me what colour shirt the boy was wearing. I told him cream and blue. He said simply, ‘That’s my son’. It was an hour before the body could be brought down. I went into the back of the ambulance with the father and at once he cradled the body of his son. It was a most moving moment to see a tough and strong man weep salt tears as he cradled the broken body of his son.

In that moment I saw the face of God as Father looking on the face of his Son. That is how God loves us. This picture of Jesus as Son beloved by the Father will never leave me. The God of love revealed in Jesus cradles us his children in his arms. 

You can read the story of some of Fr Aidan's experiences

HOLY CROSS published by Currach Press.

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