This Monday, March 17th, we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Major parades take place on this day in New York, Savannah, Atlanta, and other cities, celebrating the life and contributions of Saint Patrick to the Catholic faith and to Irish culture. It is a special day for Monsignor Marren and many other priests who were born in Ireland and who faithfully serve the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The media publication “Stubhill News” reported that Pope Francis urged Catholics, on this day, to “keep St. Patrick in St. Patrick’s Day”. He criticized the commercialism and excess revelry which has gradually become part of the day.
Saint Patrick joins Saint Brigid as one of the patron saints of Ireland. Saint Patrick was a priest and later became a bishop in the fifth century. As a youth, he lived in Britain, was kidnapped and taken to Ireland where he lived as a servant. After about six years, he escaped and went back to Britain. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary and taught the people about the Christian God and prepared many of them for baptism and entrance into the Catholic Church.
Saint Patrick is traditionally associated with the shamrock, a three-leaf clover. He made use of it to teach about the Trinity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Saint Patrick worked tirelessly in his ministry and won a very special place in the hearts of the Irish people.
The following “St. Patrick’s Prayer” provided by the media outlet “Irish Central” reflects the spiritual focus of this great saint:
May the strength of God pilot us.
May the power of God preserve us.
May the wisdom of God instruct us.
May the hand of God protect us.
May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us.
May the host of God guard us,
Against the snares of the evil ones,
Against the temptations of the world.
May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us!
May Christ be over all!
May thy salvation, Lord, Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and evermore. Amen.
As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that Saint Patrick prayed for perseverance to be a faithful witness to the Gospel as he embraced the mission and ministry of Christ. As we know, we are in the midst of the season of Lent. During this special time, we are challenged in the spirit of Saint Patrick to persevere in our desire to embrace a spirit of sacrifice, renewal, and repentance as we continue on our Lenten journey of faith, and as we wait to celebrate the Easter Resurrection of Jesus.