Patrick, Bishop and Missionary of Ireland, 461

St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) has become such a fun celebration in so many cities in the United States. It’s a day when everyone can choose to become Irish. I remember when I lived on the Georgia coast and worked in Savannah, the Cohen family invited folks to the “O’Cohen’s” St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

We all know that Patrick was from Britain, not Ireland, son of a Christian deacon and grandson of a Christian priest, and was captured by Irish slave traders when he was sixteen. He escaped when he was 21, became a priest, and returned to Ireland as a missionary.

On my first Celtic pilgrimage to Ireland with our Youth Group, we climbed Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain. The mountain had been sacred since Neolithic times, but legend holds that Patrick fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights on this mountain (and banished the snakes from the island), so it is named for Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint.

This was not an easy, leisurely climb. It’s not that high (about 2500 feet), but as you ascend, the surface becomes slippery with shards of slate. It’s hard to believe that early pilgrims climbed this holy mountain barefoot.

May we remember Patrick’s deep faith and commitment to Christ as expressed in St. Patrick’s Breastplate:

I bind unto myself today The strong name of the Trinity By invocation of the same The three in one and one in three I bind this day to me forever By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation His baptism in the Jordan River His death on cross for my salvation Praise to the Lord of my salvation Salvation is of Christ the Lord

A Blessed St. Patrick’s Day for all,

Judy Q+