However, the Dublin archbishop stressed that the gospel must be preached courageously even if it did not seem to find roots in people’s lives.
"Resignation and keeping things ticking over will never renew the Church," said Dr Martin when he addressed a packed auditorium in the RDS on the Church in the modern world.
"A divided, squabbling Church will not attract young people but only alienate them. On the other hand, no one should fear the message of the gospel," he said.
"Resignation and keeping things ticking over will never renew the Church," said Dr Martin when he addressed a packed auditorium in the RDS on the Church in the modern world.
"A divided, squabbling Church will not attract young people but only alienate them. On the other hand, no one should fear the message of the gospel," he said.
"It would be a falsehood to deny the contribution that the gospel has brought to the evolution of Ireland, and the contribution it can bring to create a future Ireland at the service of hope for all."
The archbishop also spoke of the challenge of ensuring new generations of Christians could be at the heart of political culture alongside persons of different viewpoints but fully inspired by their Christian vision.
"Looking to the future, we have to remind ourselves that, while respecting the role of politics in the broad sense, the Church has its own responsibilities to ensure the contribution of believers to the building of a strong and cohesive values-orientated society."
Dr Martin said the Eucharistic Congress must help them to reflect on how a Church of communion could be a builder of communion in the wider society. "The Church has to find new ways of being present in a new Irish society. To do that, the Church must rediscover its own sense of communion and sense of common purpose, overcoming its internal divisions in a spirit of love of the Church and in a dialogue of charity."
Later at a press conference, Dr Martin was joined by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson, who declared that relations between the churches were now "quite organic" — it was no longer just a case of the two leaders just meeting and being photographed together.
"Ecumenically, we move forward together; we ask questions; we express our love and our frustration in many ways but, overall, the way in which we relate to one another is tremendously important," he said.
The two were speaking before the afternoon’s Liturgy of the Word and Water in the main RDS area that celebrated the common baptism of all Christians.
It was presided over by Dr Jackson, who was joined on the altar by the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev Kenneth Lindsay, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dallas, Dr Brian Farrell.
Archbishop Jackson said those who were not members of the Roman Catholic Church, but shared a Christian faith, felt very much involved in the congress.
Archbishop Martin said the Papal Legate, Cardinal Ouellett, would visit President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtarán today and afterwards make a pilgrimage to Lough Derg where he would spend the night.
On Saturday, Cardinal Ourlette will visit Knock.
The archbishop also spoke of the challenge of ensuring new generations of Christians could be at the heart of political culture alongside persons of different viewpoints but fully inspired by their Christian vision.
"Looking to the future, we have to remind ourselves that, while respecting the role of politics in the broad sense, the Church has its own responsibilities to ensure the contribution of believers to the building of a strong and cohesive values-orientated society."
Dr Martin said the Eucharistic Congress must help them to reflect on how a Church of communion could be a builder of communion in the wider society. "The Church has to find new ways of being present in a new Irish society. To do that, the Church must rediscover its own sense of communion and sense of common purpose, overcoming its internal divisions in a spirit of love of the Church and in a dialogue of charity."
Later at a press conference, Dr Martin was joined by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson, who declared that relations between the churches were now "quite organic" — it was no longer just a case of the two leaders just meeting and being photographed together.
"Ecumenically, we move forward together; we ask questions; we express our love and our frustration in many ways but, overall, the way in which we relate to one another is tremendously important," he said.
The two were speaking before the afternoon’s Liturgy of the Word and Water in the main RDS area that celebrated the common baptism of all Christians.
It was presided over by Dr Jackson, who was joined on the altar by the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev Kenneth Lindsay, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dallas, Dr Brian Farrell.
Archbishop Jackson said those who were not members of the Roman Catholic Church, but shared a Christian faith, felt very much involved in the congress.
Archbishop Martin said the Papal Legate, Cardinal Ouellett, would visit President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtarán today and afterwards make a pilgrimage to Lough Derg where he would spend the night.
On Saturday, Cardinal Ourlette will visit Knock.