Today we remember the man who many only think of once a year, with
cute shamrocks, leprechauns and green beer, but I think he was so much
more than that!
Patrick was born some where around 390 in south western Britain,
possibly between the Severn and the Clyde rivers. We know that his
Grandfather was a priest, and his family were citizens of the Roman
Empire, which in those days was very important. As a young man, he
says that he cared little for God or His ways. But then, when he was
around 16, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold into slavery in
Ireland. This was a horrible and brutal experience, one that I can
only imagine. It is particularly hard to understand how he went from a
civilized Roman Province, to a wild barbarian land, with no laws or
protections. We simply don't really have anything to compare our
lives today with what happened to him, but in his despair, as often we
humans do, he turned to God for help. And just as often, God hears us
in our weakness, and Patrick escaped after about six years. He made
his way to a port, and some how persuaded some sailors to take him
back to the British coast, where he made his way home to his family.
Patrick returned to his family a changed man, and began reading the
Bible and started preparing for the Priesthood. The Spirit moved in
his heart, and he could not forget the people he was enslaved by.
Patrick chose to NOT take the way of anger, hatred and revenge on his
captors, and by forgiving those who had so cruelly sinned against him,
Patrick changed the history of the world. He was eventually ordained a
Priest by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, under whom he had
studied for some years.
Shortly after 433 or so, Patrick was ordained a Bishop and made his vocation to be missionary to the Irish people.
Patrick began preaching the Gospel all over Ireland, and started
the conversion of the Irish people. He was many times in danger, among
people who were pretty much savages, and often times not only not
welcoming, but down right dangerous. Nonetheless, Patrick and those
who followed him began building churches, and preached throughout the
country. They often converted Kings and their families, helping
entire kingdoms to see the Light of Christ.
That is how Patrick changed the world, because a soon the Roman
Empire fell in the West, and learning and knowledge were snuffed out.
That is all but in Ireland, where the newly illiterate Monks carefully
recorded and transmitted what information they could throughout the
dark ages. If not for the Irish Monks, the Western world would have
lost a great deal of its knowledge and literary heritage.
After about 40 years of preaching, teaching, and building Patrick
wrote of his love for God in in his life Confession. Then, after years
of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died on
March 17, 461.
He died where he had built his first Church, the town of Saul.
Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total
devotion to and trust in God is an inspiration to me, and I am glad
that our Parish should have such an example as our Patron. Patrick
did not fear anything, not even his own death, so complete was his
trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.
So, why the Shamrock? The Celtic people were much closer to nature
than their Roman counterparts back in the Empire, so Patrick used a
simple shamrock to explain how the Trinity can be Three and One. Ever
since, we associate the shamrock with him and the Irish people.
Almighty God, Who in Your providence chose Your servant Patrick
to be the Apostle of the Irish people, to bring those who were
wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of You:
Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the
light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.
Recent Comments