Dear Friends,
This week we celebrate the feast of St. Patrick. Poor guy always ends up with his feast day in Lent. This year, at least, it is not on Friday. His statue is in the niche on the southwest corner of the church.
You may remember Patrick’s story; he was living in Roman England with his parents and, as a young man, Patrick was kidnapped and sold into slavery on the pagan island of Ireland. Later, he escaped from his captors and managed to return to those he knew. He was converted to Christianity and one day had a vision. Here is his telling of the vision:
I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: “The Voice of the Irish”. As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: “We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.”
He saw the vision as God calling him to return to Ireland as a missionary. To the dismay of his friends and family, Patrick went, eventually being named bishop of Ireland. Patrick would get into some trouble as a bishop because he insisted on trying to evangelize the pagan Irish instead of simply shepherding the Christians who were already there in Ireland. Through it all, God protects Patrick.
One of Patrick’s prayers is one of my favorites and is known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate. We use it on our trips to Guatemala, and I use it whenever I feel the need of God’s protection.
It begins:
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.
The prayer goes on to remember Christ and all that goes with him, concluding with:
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.
This beautiful prayer reminds us, powerfully, of our complete and utter dependence upon God for all things – a truth Patrick undoubtedly needed to remember in his ministry in Ireland. Near the end of his life of constant hardship, Patrick was asked if it had all been worth it. He replied, “The greatest gift in my life has been to know and love God; to serve Him is my highest joy.”
May it be yours as well. Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day with more than green beer.
Peace,
Fr. Damian
Pastor’s Letter 3.15.26
