SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 17TH

MEMORIAL OF SAINT PATRICK, APOSTLE OF IRELAND, BISHOP AND MISSIONARY: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 17TH: Today, we honor and celebrate the Memorial of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, Bishop and Missionary. The Patron Saint of Ireland; Nigeria; diocese of Fort Worth, Texas; archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts; diocese of Burlington, Vermont; diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; archdiocese of New York; diocese of Norwich, Connecticut; diocese of Portland, Maine; diocese of Sacramento, California; invoked against snakes; fear of snakes; sins; snake bites; against ophidiophobia; engineers; ophidiophobics; excluded people. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Patrick on this feast day, we humbly pray for all missionaries, for courage and faith and for God’s protection and Christ’s presence in our lives. We pray for bishops and leaders of the Church, for those who work for reconciliation, and for those called to the difficult mission of conversion and evangelization. We pray for priests, hermits, and those who dedicate themselves to prayer and penance. May their examples inspire us to trust in God’s providence, embrace sacrifice, and labor for the salvation of souls.

Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, Bishop and Missionary ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

SAINT PATRICK, APOSTLE OF IRELAND, BISHOP AND MISSIONARY: St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world’s most popular saints. St. Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the “Apostle of Ireland”, he is the primary Patron Saint of Ireland, the other Patron Saints being Brigit of Kildare and Columba. St. Patrick was an influential Saint who, 1,500 years ago, brought Christianity to the little country of Ireland.

St. Patrick (387-461) was born in Kilpatrick, Scotland, to a wealthy Roman-British parents in 387 A.D., the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British deacon, and Conchessa. He was kidnapped by some Irish raiders at the age of sixteen while he was tending his sheep and sold as a slave to a Druid high priest. He served his heathen master as a shepherd and spent much time in prayer as he labored in the fields. Despite the harshness of the life there, he not only held on to his Faith but also learned the science of prayer and contemplation. Spending long hours in prayer, Patrick grew in faith, love for God, and trust in Divine Providence. He also acquired a perfect knowledge of the Celtic language and the Druid cult, which later enabled him to evangelize the Celtic people.

After six years of slavery and captivity, an angel appeared to him in a dream with a message from God in which he was told to flee his oppressive master in Ireland by going to the coast. St. Patrick effected a miraculous escape and there he found some sailors who took him back to his native land, Britain and he was  reunited with his family. Upon returning to Britain, St. Patrick desired to devote himself to God’s service. A few years after returning home, St. Patrick saw a vision and he was told to go back and Christianize Ireland. Recognizing this as God’s call, the vision prompted his studies for the priesthood. St. Patrick pursued priestly studies in Gaul (modern-day France). He went to France and placed himself under the direction of St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, who ordained him a priest and was later ordained a bishop and sent to take the Gospel to evangelize the pagans in Ireland. In 431, after a period during which his vocation to Ireland was tested by the hesitancy of his superiors in entrusting such a mission to him, St. Patrick was sent to assist Bishop Paladius in Ireland. On the death of the latter, St. Patrick was consecrated Bishop by St. Germanus after receiving the approbation of Pope Celestine I to evangelize Ireland in 432 AD.

St. Patrick traveled the length and breadth of Ireland, planting the Faith everywhere despite the hostility of the Druids, and succeeded in converting several members of the royal family. On a visit to Rome in 442, the Saint was commissioned by Pope Leo the Great to organize the Church of Ireland and on his return made Armagh the primatial See and established Bishop in various places. He divided the country into dioceses, held local Church councils, founded monasteries, and urged the people to greater holiness. In winning a pagan nation for Christ, St. Patrick established many monasteries for men and women and made it famous for its seats of piety and learning. In the ensuing centuries Irish monks carried the Faith to England, France, and Switzerland. Later, the missionaries sent from Ireland to Europe were largely responsible for the Christianizing of the continent.

St. Patrick suffered much opposition from the Druids and occult magicians, who, threatened by Christianity, conjured demonic power to defy St. Patrick. However, the prayer, faith, fearlessness, and episcopal authority of St. Patrick triumphed, and he was so successful in his endeavor that in the Middle Ages Ireland became known as the Land of Saints, and himself the “Apostle of Ireland.” St. Patrick succeeded in bringing Catholicism to Ireland, and in time, the whole country converted from their pagan gods to the one true God. Although a small country, Ireland has played a large role in saving and bringing Christianity throughout the world. During the early Dark Ages, the Irish monasteries preserved Western writings while Europe remained in darkness. But as the Catholic country remained solidly Catholic, the Irish spread the faith to all corners of the world.

Many legends are associated around St. Patrick, such as how he drove the snakes out of Ireland, and the use of the shamrock to teach the mystery of the Trinity. Some works are attributed to St. Patrick, one being his autobiography called Confessions. It is a short summary of the events in his life, written in true humility. Below is a short excerpt:

“I am greatly God’s debtor, because he granted me so much grace, that through me many people would be reborn in God, and soon after confirmed, and that clergy would be ordained everywhere for them, the masses lately come to belief, whom the Lord drew from the ends of the earth, just as he once promised through his prophets: “To you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited naught hut lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.” And again: “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the uttermost ends of the earth.”

After living a completely apostolic life of labor and prayer, St. Patrick died on March 17, 461, in the monastery of Saul, where he had built his first church, Down in Ulster, leaving behind his Confessions which gives a vivid picture of great man of God. His legacy remains a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and missionary zeal. St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland; against snakes; snake bites; against ophidiophobia; excluded people; fear of snakes; diocese of Fort Worth, Texas; Nigeria; archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts; diocese of Burlington, Vermont; engineers;   diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; archdiocese of New York; diocese of Norwich, Connecticut; ophidiophobics; diocese of Portland, Maine; diocese of Sacramento, California.

PRAYER: God our Father, You sent Saint Patrick to bring the light of Christ and preach Your glory to the people of Ireland. Through his tireless preaching and unwavering faith, he led many souls to You. Through his merits and intercession grant that we who have the honor of bearing the name of Christian may constantly proclaim Your wonderful designs to others. May we grow in faith, courage, and missionary zeal. May we, like him, proclaim Your wonderful works to the world and lead others to Your love. Strengthen us to overcome sin, deepen our trust in You, and help us to remain steadfast in our Christian calling. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

“May the Strength of God pilot us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us. May the Host of God guard us against the snares of the evil ones, against temptations of the world. May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us, Christ be over all! May Thy Salvation, Lord, always be ours, this day, O Lord, and evermore…Amen” 🙏🏽

May the life of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, Bishop and Missionary inspire us to deepen our faith, trust in God’s providence, and extend His love to those in need. Amen 🙏🏽