Good Saint Patrick

     On March 17, many churches, especially those with a large Irish population, will celebrate the life of St. Patrick.  He grew up in a Christian home in Britain, but wasn’t very religious until a major event changed his life.  As a teen, he was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland, but escaped to Gaul (France) after six years.  The year of enslavement strengthened his faith.  He later wrote, “In that strange land (Ireland), the Lord opened my unbelieving eyes.”  He was led by God’s voice to return to Ireland where he converted people to Christianity tribe by tribe.

     Because Ireland is called the Emerald Isle, those who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day will wear something green.  Some Christians will even color food or drink green.  Many Christians will also eat corned beef and cabbage and decorate tables with shamrocks.  Shamrocks are actually three-leaf (not four leaf) clover plants.  Legend has it that St. Patrick used the three leaves to teach about the Holy Trinity:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

A Look at Irish Blessings
by Debbie Snare
     This month, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, the Patron Saint of Ireland. Although Ireland is a comparatively small country, more writers and poets have come from the Emerald Isle, than any other country in the world. During the Dark Ages, Irish monks were able to preserve twelve centuries of Irish, Greek, Latin and Hebrew literature, by hand-writing many volumes of books. The Irish love words, and are famous for stories, poems, and limericks; but also for some of the most beautifully composed prayers and blessings ever written. Here is a small sampling of some of my favorites:

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of the Light of the World to you.
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Four corners to her bed,
Four angels at her head,
Mark, Matthew, Luke and John;
God bless the bed that she lies on.
New moon, new moon, God bless me,
God bless this house and family.
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May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
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All Things Bright and Beautiful/Cecil Frances Alexander
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

 He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

 Count Your Blessings/Author Unknown
Count your blessings instead of your crosses; count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes; count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears; count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean; count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth; count on God instead of yourself.

ST. PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE; A MODEL FOR PRAYER
by Debbie Snare
     For centuries, Saint Patrick has been a well-known and beloved saint, and he is certainly known by millions of people as the inspiration for the holiday we celebrate every March 17th. There are many legends associated with St. Patrick, most of them probably "blarney", but behind all these tall tales, there lived a spiritual giant who had a deep, abiding trust in God. He was born into a noble family, in Great Britain during the time of the Christian Roman Empire, but was kidnapped by pirates at a young age, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave. Ireland was a strange, pagan land to the young lad, and for six years, he worked as a shepherd, praying to God over and over again, during the day, and all through the night. Eventually, with an unwavering faith in God's strength, Patrick managed to escape, and after many adventures, returned home to his family. Although he may have planned to never leave home again, a vision in a dream prompted young Patrick to return to Ireland, and share the Good News with the people living there. He often faced danger during his ministry, yet continued to walk in faith; he established the first church in Ireland and baptized thousands of people during his lifetime. His love of God was so obvious to those around him, that after his death, on March 17, 461 A.D., churches were built all over Ireland, and Patrick was made a saint. Excerpts from the famous prayer he wrote appear below; this prayer is often called "St. Patrick's Breastplate" because of the parts of it which seek God's protection. His love for and complete dependence on God are apparent in the wording of his supplications; he sought to have God's help and power surrounding him constantly, and desired to see Christ's love all around him, especially in the people he met every day.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me....

 Christ to shield me today...
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
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 hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.