Happy St. Patrick's Day

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-31

              My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. My father was Calpornius. He was a deacon; his father was Potitus, a priest, who lived at Bannavem Taburniae. His home was near there, and it is where I was taken prisoner. I was about sixteen at the time.

              This is how Patrick begins his autobiography, “Confession.” The fascinating and fruitful life of Patrick is buried today under ideas about leprechauns, four-leaf-clover, and green beer. Who was this man and why does he have a day of celebration dedicated to him? Patrick begins his “Confession” when he was sixteen because that is when he was captured by Irish pirates and enslaved to work as a shepherd and farm laborer in Ireland.

              After six years of captivity, Patrick had a dream in which he was shown a way of escape. He listened to the dream and made his way to the coast where he found a British ship on which he returned home. While Patrick grew up in a religious family, it was during his six years of captivity that his faith became real and his devotion to Christ deepened. After returning home, Patrick became a priest.

              He never forgot about the pagan land in which he had been held captive and soon returned to bring them the gospel. Through years of difficult ministry, Patrick’s work in Ireland began to show fruit. Soon the king was converted and baptized and eventually, a whole new ethic took root in Ireland. Some historians believe the ministry of Patrick saved civilization itself.

              The legacy of Patrick is not the cultural trappings of Irishness. It is better understood through things like “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate.” The word “breastplate” is the Latin word “Lorica” which means “a prayer.” The connection of the two ideas – breastplate and prayer – is this is a prayer for protection. Many Irish soldiers would put this prayer on their shields:

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

Amen