Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has called for a renewed sense of national purpose and national pride.
He said that the economic situation in which the nation finds itself should forewarn all of us against any haughtiness about who we are.
Dr Martin said a real republic is one in which people care, and where the basic needs of each man, woman and child are the concern of all.
But he said there are still those in society today who have little interest in taking upon themselves the hardship of realising the dreams that we all need to realise for the good of our society.
The archbishop was speaking in Dublin at the annual State commemoration of the 1916 Rising at Arbour Hill.
President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the annual State commemoration where leaders of the Easter Rising are buried. Mr Kenny read the lesson in Irish during the service.
More than half of the Cabinet was present.
Ministers attending included Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Michael Noonan, Alan Shatter, Richard Bruton, James Reilly, Jimmy Deenihan, Pat Rabbitte, Joan Burton and Brendan Howlin.
Other dignitaries present were Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, Chief Justice John Murray, Attorney General Máire Whelan and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Gerry Breen.
Chief of Staff Lt General Sean McCann and around 300 members of the Defence Forces took part in the ceremonies.
President McAleese laid a wreath in the adjoining cemetery where leaders of the 1916 Rising are buried. A minute's silence was observed and the Last Post was sounded.
