thoughts on the news of the day: st. patrick's day

hmmm…..

            Today is St. Patrick’s Day.  In many cities across the country, Irish descendants will celebrate with parades, shamrocks, leprechauns and green beer.   They celebrate because of centuries old traditions about the legend of St. Patrick. 

            The story goes that he was born around 385 in Wales.  He identified himself as a pagan until about the time he turned 16.  Kidnapped by Irish marauders, he was held as a slave for about 6 years.  It was during this time that he turned to God. Upon escaping from slavery, he went to Gaul and studied in a monastery.  For the next 30 years or so, he traveled through Ireland establishing monasteries and converting pagans to Christianity.  He died on March 17 in 461.  It is legend that St. Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland and that he used the shamrock to explain the Blessed Trinity.

            Over the years, the tradition to celebrate the Feast Day of St Patrick has grown from a religious reprieve from the fasting in Lent into the secular holiday it is today.

            It’s a good day to offer an old fashioned Irish blessing.  My favorite goes like this:

            May the road rise up to meet you.

            May the wind always be at your back.

            May the sun shine warm upon your face,

            And the rains fall soft upon your fields.

            And until we meet again,

            May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

            Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

            hmmm…..