Happy St Patrick Day
St Patrick Day
Many have noted parallels and similarities between Saint Paul the great Apostle of the Gentile people, and Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish. Saint Patrick of course drew much of his inspiration from Saint Paul and his writings and, whether he was conscious of it or not, he modeled himself and his missionary efforts on those of Saint Paul.
Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Christian idea of the holy trinity to the pagan and Druid Irish, A native of Scotland, Patrick was captured by an Irish raiding party as a teen and brought to Ireland as a slave around the year 400.
The future saint later escaped after hearing from God in a dream. He then studied for the priesthood in Britain and France and was eventually ordained a bishop.
In about 433, the Pope sent Patrick to Ireland to spread the Gospel. He had learned the Irish language and customs while a slave, and he put it to use converting the Irish people to Christianity.
instead of trying to destroy the traditions of the Irish, Patrick worked to incorporate them into the faith. He didn't ridicule the Irish for worshipping the sun - he taught them that it was created by God .
St. Patrick died in about 461. He has been recognized as a saint for centuries, but he was never canonized.
Saint Paul speaks of his constant "Concern for all the Churches". Patrick loved his adopted people and worries constantly for them and not just for their spiritual, but also for their physical welfare. He may have been the first in the history of the world to speak out unequivocally against slavery. Late in his life he could claim "The Gospel has been preached to the point beyond which there is no-one" - no-one but the ocean.
Why was he so successful in his missionary efforts? Yes, his own totally authentic faith, his deep love of God and of the people he served, carried their own conviction. Somehow he engaged the very spirit of the people. He spoke to their deepest hungers, desires, and aspirations and so the Gospel message flowed into and transformed the very genius of the Irish without destroying or binding its energy.
The story of Saint Patrick assures us that nothing is impossible to God. He himself would encourage us to go forward as he did without fear:
May we do so with his prayer on our lips.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that ear that hears me.
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone is Irish. There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote: "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was raised, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message. Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.In His Footsteps: Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.
Many have noted parallels and similarities between Saint Paul the great Apostle of the Gentile people, and Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish. Saint Patrick of course drew much of his inspiration from Saint Paul and his writings and, whether he was conscious of it or not, he modeled himself and his missionary efforts on those of Saint Paul.
Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the Christian idea of the holy trinity to the pagan and Druid Irish, A native of Scotland, Patrick was captured by an Irish raiding party as a teen and brought to Ireland as a slave around the year 400.
The future saint later escaped after hearing from God in a dream. He then studied for the priesthood in Britain and France and was eventually ordained a bishop.
In about 433, the Pope sent Patrick to Ireland to spread the Gospel. He had learned the Irish language and customs while a slave, and he put it to use converting the Irish people to Christianity.
instead of trying to destroy the traditions of the Irish, Patrick worked to incorporate them into the faith. He didn't ridicule the Irish for worshipping the sun - he taught them that it was created by God .
St. Patrick died in about 461. He has been recognized as a saint for centuries, but he was never canonized.
Saint Paul speaks of his constant "Concern for all the Churches". Patrick loved his adopted people and worries constantly for them and not just for their spiritual, but also for their physical welfare. He may have been the first in the history of the world to speak out unequivocally against slavery. Late in his life he could claim "The Gospel has been preached to the point beyond which there is no-one" - no-one but the ocean.
Why was he so successful in his missionary efforts? Yes, his own totally authentic faith, his deep love of God and of the people he served, carried their own conviction. Somehow he engaged the very spirit of the people. He spoke to their deepest hungers, desires, and aspirations and so the Gospel message flowed into and transformed the very genius of the Irish without destroying or binding its energy.
The story of Saint Patrick assures us that nothing is impossible to God. He himself would encourage us to go forward as he did without fear:
May we do so with his prayer on our lips.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that ear that hears me.
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints.Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone is Irish. There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story.Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were Calpurnius and Conchessa who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies.As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him.During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote: "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was raised, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message. Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well).Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.In His Footsteps: Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.
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