Bookmark.
My grandmother was from Ireland. Thanks for the history lesson.
maybe i’ll have a chance to read this aloud while my friends are eating corned beef and guiness
A very excellent book about St Patrick is one from one of my all time favorite authors...... “Patrick” by Stephen Lawhead
Synaxarion:
Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son of a deacon and a grandson of a priest, it was not until his captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart. In his Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says, “After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was so moved that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm.” After six years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape, and afterwards struggled in the monastic life at Auxerre in Gaul, under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labours bore so much fruit that within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him shepherd his flock, “my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord - so many thousands of people,” he says in his Confession. His apostolic work was not accomplished without much “weariness and painfulness,” long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland as its enlightener, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was established in every corner.
Apolytikion of Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland in the Third Tone
O Holy Hierarch, equal of the Apostles, Saint Patrick, wonderworker and enlightener of Ireland: Intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.
Kontakion of Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland in the Fourth Tone
The Master revealed thee as a skillful fisher of men; and casting forth nets of Gospel preaching, thou drewest up the heathen to piety. Those who were the children of idolatrous darkness thou didst render sons of day through holy Baptism. O Patrick, intercede for us who honour thy memory.
My paternal side is from Kerry in The Republic (as opposed to Occupied Ireland). +Patrick’s icon hangs directly in front of me at my desk in the office and is in our icon corner here at home and at the cottage.
BTW, I have it on good authority that the fasting rules of +Patrick’s Feast day are under the omophorion of the local Latin bishop, or cardinal archbishop as the case may be, and that they have extended a dispensation from the fast for today only!
Saint Patrick was a gentleman,
Who through strategy and stealth,
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here’s a toasting to his health.
But not too many toastings
Lest you lose yourself and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick
And see all those snakes again.
‘Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!’
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Thank you for the post!
I just re read St. Patrick’s “Confessions” ( I have a copy) and he was very proud of his baptisms, confirmations, ordinations to the priesthood (in particular; he mentions this several times) and inspiring the Monks and Holy Virgins from the royal clans of Ireland. Of course he gives all the glory to God; however his successes in converting the pagans (Druids) to Christianity were essential. The monasteries founded by St. Patrick were key to the preservation of Western Civilization (Book of Kells, etc.) - I recommend “How the Irish Saved Civilization” to anyone interested.
St. Patrick Ora Pro Nobis!!
The corned beef is cooking all day here.
let us pray the Church may have total unity as it had in the days of Patrick.
