I was just thinking about Saint Padraig this morning, how could I avoid it_ and the State of the poor Church at the moment with corruption and heresy and if he has anything to teach us. Like many great figures in Scripture and the history of the Church he was you could say bottom drawer. They don't come much lower than an escaped semi literate slave. Again and again and again God raises up the lowly so that His power can become apparent in our weakness as St Paul reminds us. Its the same deal when Our Lady she tends to appear to little children. For instance she told St Bernadette at Lourdes that if she could have found anyone more unworthy in the village for Lourdes to appear to she would have done so. God can work best with the humble and lowly because they have nothing to be proud of and so pride does not get in the road. The 12 Apostles Jesus choose are perfect examples of this. The only one that failed did so exactly because of pride as did the Fallen Angels. Dear St Padraig intercede for us in heaven that the next person who sits on the Throne of Peter may be a lowly but holy man like your good self. Thy people now exiles on many a shore, Shall love and revere thee till time be no more. And the fire thou has kindled shall ever burn bright, Its warmth undiminished undying its light
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all. “Now I have given a simple account to my brethren and fellow servants who have believed me because of what I said and still say in order to strengthen and confirm your faith. Would that you, too, would strive for greater things and do better! This will be my glory, for a wise son is the glory of his father.” - Confession of St. Patrick. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/confession-of-st-patrick-5728
Honor St. Patrick as a True Christian—Not as the World Would Have You Happy St. Patrick’s Day. But before you raise a glass to empty revelry, before you get swept into the world’s shallow celebrations, ask yourself—who was this man that the world claims to honor today? .Was he a symbol of drinking and partying? Of parades and green beer? Was he just a cultural mascot, reduced to leprechauns and lucky charms? Or was he a warrior of Christ—one who defied the darkness, shattered the chains of paganism and fought for the souls of an entire nation? The Truth of St. Patrick’s Story St. Patrick was not Irish. He was a Roman Briton, taken from his home at just sixteen years old by savage raiders and sold into slavery in the very land that would one day claim him as its patron saint. He was beaten, starved and forced to tend flocks in the cold wilderness. But in that suffering, he found God—not just in name, but in fire and truth. Through prayer and unshakable faith, he endured. And then he escaped. God spoke to him, guiding him home, leading him across dangerous lands and treacherous seas until he was free again. But freedom was not the end of his story. Because Patrick did not choose a life of comfort after his suffering. He chose the path of a warrior. He returned to the land of his captors. He returned to the very people who enslaved him. Not for revenge. Not to curse them. But to save them. Ireland, in those days, was a land of darkness. Druidic priests, blood sacrifices, pagan gods. It was a land ruled by superstition and terror. But Patrick did not fear. He walked among them with nothing but the truth of Christ and the power of the Gospel. He baptized kings. He cast down idols. He destroyed the hold of the pagans with a faith so fierce that their darkness could not stand against it. He stood before the mighty and declared, “I am Patrick, a sinner, and a simple countryman, and I declare Christ is Lord.” And Ireland was never the same. How Will You Honor Him? So today, when the world dishonors his name with drunkenness and debauchery, what will you do? Will you follow the crowd, or will you stand apart as he did? Will you be just another soul lost in the noise, or will you honor his legacy the way he would have wanted—by standing boldly for Christ? St. Patrick did not celebrate his faith with meaningless parties. He fought for it. He bled for it. He gave everything to bring the Gospel to those who had enslaved him. Will you do the same? Or will you let his name be drowned in a sea of ignorance? Today, honor him by honoring Christ. Read his story. Pray as he prayed. Share the truth of the Gospel as he did. Because the world does not need more empty celebrations. It needs more men like Patrick. Warriors of Christ. Unshaken. Unafraid. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. pNow honor him rightly. https://x.com/theironwarden/status/1901443787819561209?s=46
Go, and teach all peoples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We give you thanks, almighty God, for sending Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland. Grant that we who are proud to call ourselves Christians may never cease to proclaim to the world the good news of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
One of my friend's father had a great devotion to St. Patrick. Shortly before his death she used to visit him in the hospital. She told me he often said he could see St. Patrick sitting on the window sill near his bed. He died on St. Patrick's day. May he rest in peace.
Amen! Spot on. Thank you for sharing. As I get older and reflect on the events of this past year, I’m so grateful for my parents, grandparents and ancestors who did their best to transmit their faith to me. And because of the greatness of God, he uses me a sinner and weak man to transmit this faith to my kids and grandkids. My prayer is that their faith burn 1000x brighter than mine. Hail Glorious St. Patrick. Vivo Christo Rey!
I saw on X so many beautiful goings on in Ireland in honor of St Patrick. Rosary marches everywhere, flags of our Blessed Mother. Gave me a wonderful feeling
Happy St. Patrick's Day ☘ I thought this was a lovely reminder of just how powerful St. Patrick was and is, but that gets lost in all the worldly distractions.
Me too. After reflecting on it now for a few days, it seems to me the world we are living in now is not very different from those days of St. Patrick's mission work. Paganism has returned with a vengeance ~ But all will again be well. It's good to remember, imho, that it's the modern "pagans" that most need conversion, that most of all need to hear those words "Your sins are forgiven; go now and sin no more". But they also need to see people who actually live that message of forgiveness, who believe that with God's grace, their lives will change for the better because, well, Jesus loves them too.
