Happy St. Patrick's Day!
St. Patrick is not all about shamrocks and chasing snakes from Ireland. We celebrate the day by remembering St. Patrick himself, the man who was known as the Apostle of Ireland - establishing churches and proclaiming Christ.
St. Patrick was born in 385 in Roman Britannia in the town of Dumbarton, Scotland. He begins his autobiographical St. Patrick's Confession...
"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 Bannavern Taburniae."
Legend says that St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach pagans about the Trinity. There are no snakes in Ireland thanks to St. Patrick, so the legend says. Patrick had a difficult time in his early years. At sixteen, he was captured by barbarian Irish pirates and taken in chains to Ireland to become a farm laborer. Patrick escaped after six years of toil. During his years in slavery, his faith became stronger and his devotion to Christ deeper. Returning to his homeland, he vowed to return to Ireland to convert his kidnappers and the pagans who lived there. His faith kept him strong, and after years of living dangerously, he converted the king and a portion of the kingdom.
While in slavery, Patrick wrote a prayer that we remember today and always...
"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."
We celebrate your life, St. Patrick!
Wishing you a Happy Journey to Spring!
Gina
Monday Creek Publishing
Follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/mondaycreekpublishing
No comments:
Post a Comment