In my blog last month, I mentioned how our culture had twisted the meaning of Valentine’s Day. It began as a day to commemorate the death of St. Valentine, someone known for loving nobly. Now it is what some call a “Hallmark holiday.”
Today is another example of a culture change. St. Patrick’s Day was originally meant to memorialize the death of St. Patrick, the missionary credited with taking Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. It has been turned into a day to celebrate parts of Irish culture, namely drinking too much.
Allow me to tell you a few things about the real St. Patrick instead. Many people consider four-leaf clovers to be lucky. St. Patrick was known for using a three-leaf clover to explain how the Trinity, noting how the three leaves were distinct and yet joined together. That’s pretty genius if you ask me.
Also, while there are some ancient writings that have allowed historians to be certain about some details of St. Patrick’s life, other details are unclear. What I believe is clear however, is the way he lived for Christ. I leave you today with two prayers of St. Patrick.
The first is for himself. “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 things of me. Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me. Christ in every eye that hears me. Christ in every ear that hears me.”
This was his prayer for the faithful. “May the strength of God guide 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 Angels of God guard us against the snares of the evil one. May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us! Christ be over all! This day, O Lord, and forevermore.”
With St. Patrick, I say “Amen – let it be so.”
Blessings,
Pastor Cindy