Spiritual Aspect of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association

The strength of the PTAA has always been its way of faith and prayer. The essence of this way of faith will be found in the story of our origins. Fr. Cullen wanted to address the widespread abuse of alcohol in the Ireland of his day, together with the personal and social consequences that always flow from such abuse. Fr. Cullen and his four associates, who were already non-drinkers, formalised their abstinence in a union of sacrifice and prayer for the sake of others.

Our abstinence is not anti-drink, but arises out of compassion for those caught on the treadmill of intemperance, and the way we help them is, primarily, by the spiritual power of prayer and sacrifice. We have all been left touched by the problems of excessive drinking – either personally, or among relatives or friends. If there is one common feature to this experience, it is the feeling of helplessness among relatives and friends which has brought countless people to turn to a spiritual movement in order to help those who cannot help themselves.

The dominant inspiration of the Pioneers' way of life has always been devotion to the Heart of Christ. We realise that, in some circumstances today, this devotion is not always as readily understood as it once was, but, according to a questionnaire from 1992, it is clear that devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ remains important for most Pioneers.

Devotion to the Heart of Christ, as understood among Pioneers, is simply a way of speaking of devotion to the person of Christ and of his individual love for each of us. Where people have difficulties about the devotion, it should not stand in the way of their becoming members of the Association, once they are prepared to undertake three basic obligations of membership, inspired by love for Christ. The special way of faith which emerged from the meeting in Dublin, in 1898, was summed up by Fr. Cullen in the Pioneer prayer – the Heroic Offering.

'Pledged for Life', by Fr. Bernard J. McGuckian, SJ, aims at deepening faith and nourishing devotion and is recommended to every Pioneer for personal use. This book outlines the history of the PTAA, presenting it in the context of Sacred Heart devotion, as well as offering a collection of scriptural quotations, reflections, Pioneer teachings and prayers. It also includes texts for Masses, prayer services and formulae for the initation of members, renewal of commitment and celebration of jubilees, which should prove helpful when organising Pioneer events.

The Spiritual Director has normally been a priest or religious male or female, but the Association acknowledges that, in the future, there will be an incresing number of lay people suited for this task. Spiritual Directors should make it their aim to ensure that the Centre remains true to the spiritual goals of the Association, and not go the way of a purely secular temperance movement.

They should keep before the members the high ideals of the movement, as expressed in the Offering Prayer, composed and handed on by the first Central Director, Fr. James Cullen. The Association is conscious that the support and encouragement of goof Bishops and priests is the cornerstone of all our endeavours as Pioneers.

Pioneers fell that, by their concern for temperance, they are close to the heart of the problems of modern life, and by their prayer and sacrifice, they are making an important contribution to the health and happiness of their fellow human beings.