Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Upon the green hills of Ireland,
St. Patrick, he did roam,
teaching the good news of Jesus,
and how to enter God's home.

St.Pathouse

Sharing his love and wisdom,
with all, whom he did meet,
living his life close to nature,
green shamrocks at his feet.

He tried to bring hope to the weary,
bring meaning, to grief stricken days,
he reached out his hand and his heart,
helped others, in so many ways

St.Patrick'sDayleprechaunjig

So St. Patrick, we do remember...
all, that you tried to do,
and now on this day,
we bring wishes to say...

"May GOD always be WITH YOU"

The greatest treasure on earth,
cannot be bought or sold,
It's the love found in true friendship
whose value is greater than GOLD

potofgold

Irishblessing

Historical Information About...
Saint Patrick

On March 17, everybody, regardless of national origin, can be a little Irish.

      For someone whose life contains as much fiction as fact, St. Patrick is still one of the most famous saints of all time. Although St. Patrick's Day is best known for shamrocks, leprechauns, and everything being green (including the beer) it's really a celebration of St. Patrick's missionary efforts that brought Christianity to 5th Century Ireland.

      He was born in Britain of a Christian family. In fact his father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest (this was before the days of mandatory celibacy for the priesthood.) When he was about 14 years old, Patrick was captured by a Saxon raiding party. He was sold into slavery and shipped off to Ireland where he had to work as a shepherd.

      Seven years later, Patrick escaped, got passage on a ship, and made it back home to his family in Britain. But by this time he had a dream: to become a priest and return to Ireland as a missionary. His family was totally against it, but no one could dissuade him. Patrick was ordained and returned to Ireland, accompanied by 20 priests and deacons to set up churches and missions. Due to his determination and great abilities, it wasn't long before Patrick was consecrated as the first Archbishop of Ireland.

      Besides setting up churches and abbeys and doing legendary things like driving snakes out of the Emerald Isle, St. Patrick is also believed to have written the prayer entitled "The Breastplate of St. Patrick." Also known as Hymn No. 370 in the Episcopal Church Hymnbook. This is a song they often use at the ordinations of priests and deacons:

  "Christ be with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ beneath me....
Christ in quiet and in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
   Christ in mouth of friend and stranger...."

      Although we can't be absolutely certain St. Patrick is the author, this ancient prayer is a perfect reflection of his life and beliefs. Everything he did was out of a passionate belief in Christ's message of love. At a time when few people could read and write, St. Patrick's life became a living Gospel for all to see.

      And if it's true that we are what we eat, it follows that our lives will reflect what we truly believe. If we follow the gospel of materialism and self-interest, that will be apparent to all we meet. But if we, like St. Patrick, embrace the true Gospel of love and service for others, we can become messengers and missionaries of life and love and hope for a lonely world.

       And that's no blarney!

          -- Brother Tom-Nicholas Costa
st-james@juno.com
Franciscan Order of the Celi De St. James' Episcopal Church, South Pasadena, California
Author, Calling All Saints