THE beauty of Lucy Cranney's life was illumined by the intertwined realities of faith and family.
As a young woman, engaged in apostolic work for the Legion of Mary, she encountered a young man, Frank Cranney, from Jerrettspass, Co Armagh. They fell in love and the rest is history.
They married and had four children, Martina, Damian, Gemma and John, who they reared in north Belfast. It was where she had her roots with her sisters, Roberta, Fiona and Colette; but Lucy would become known the length and breadth of Ireland.
The reason was her deep love for St Pio of Pietrelcina.
Those who knew Padre Pio had a very simple description of him: they said that he was “goodness walking”. His dear friend and spiritual daughter, Lucy Cranney, could be similarly and accurately described by all who were blessed to know her.
For many years, Lucy organised annual pilgrimages to San Giovanni Rotondo where St Pio lived out his priestly ministry. People from all over Ireland were able to go there and benefit spiritually thanks to her dedication.
One of the spiritual gifts God gave to Padre Pio was his ability to make everyone whom he encountered, or who wrote to him asking for prayers, feel valued and heard. Everyone – and there were hundreds of thousands of letters every year – received a personalised acknowledgement.
Lucy also had the gift, in her own inimitable way, of helping everyone to know their value in the eyes of God. Whether in her own living room or kitchen, on the many pilgrimages she organised, or as a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish, Lucy’s prayers and advice were sought and valued, by countless people, with their worries and problems.
Good humour, a most gentle spirit, motherly wisdom, immense kindness and profound prayerfulness: such were some of her qualities which made knowing her a great blessing.
Her ministry in our community and far beyond was remarkable. The presence of people like Lucy in our midst bears testimony to how much the Lord loves us and cares for us all.
She balanced all of the responsibilities the Lord gave to her with great skill, with the intuition born of prayer and love – love for God and His people. It has to be said though, she was, first and foremost, a wife, a mum, a mother-in-law, a beloved granny and a most dear sister. Faith and family, for Lucy, were all of a piece.
Last November, very weak and ill with cancer, she travelled, helped by the skill of St John’s ambulance service, to the wedding of her youngest son, John, to his beautiful bride, Nuala, in St Patrick’s Church, Slane, Co Meath. She was determined to be there and she had a marvellous day.
A loving mother is also like Jesus the Good Shepherd and Lucy was intent on seeing her youngest child married and contented. Then she could say to the Lord: “at last now, Lord, you can let your servant go in peace” (Luke 2:29).
As we heard read at her funeral Mass, in a packed Sacred Heart Church, Belfast, the time had come for her departure: for she had fought the good fight, she had run her race to the finish and she had kept the Faith.
As her sister, Roberta, reminded us at the interring of her ashes in St Patrick’s Church Columbarium, on Saturday March 2, she would be reminding us around now not to forget to begin the Novena to St Joseph, for his feast day on March 19.
Born on April 1 1948, Lucy Cranney completed her earthly pilgrimage and entered into eternal life on February 20 this year.
Lucy, with Mary our Mother, whom you loved most tenderly, and among your friends, the many great saints, like St Joseph and St Pio, you will see the Lord face to face, having finished your work and completed your earthly pilgrimage to the Father’s House.
Thank you, Frank. Thank you, Martina, Damian, Gemma and John. Thank you for sharing Lucy with all of us.
Fr Patrick McCafferty
