Next Tuesday we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick joins Saint Brigid as one of the patron saints of Ireland. Major parades take place in cities such as New York, Savannah, and Atlanta, celebrating the life of Saint Patrick and his contributions 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. It is also a holy day of obligation in 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, taught people about the Christian God, and prepared many of them for baptism and entry into the Catholic Church. Saint Patrick often made use of a shamrock, a three-leaf clover, to teach about the Trinity (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). He worked tirelessly in his ministry and won a very special place in the hearts of the Irish people.
The following “Prayer about St. Patrick” provided by the media outlet “Irish Central” reflects a desire for his intercession in spreading the gospel message in this day and age:
God our Father,
you sent Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland.
By the help of his prayers, may all Christians proclaim your love to all men.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
As we reflect on this prayer, we are reminded that the bishops of Ireland stated that Saint Patrick was called to serve and bring God to a people far from his homeland. They quoted from “The Confession of Saint Patrick,” in which Saint Patrick said,
“May it never befall me to be separated by my God from his people whom he has won in this remote land. I pray God that he gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing.”
As we take these words to heart, 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. We, likewise, are challenged to be faithful witnesses as we wait to celebrate the Easter Resurrection of Jesus.