St Patrick's Day
Remembering a Christian hero who went from enslavement to being a bishop
HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY!
On this day, Christians (and lots of others, too) celebrate a popular figure — Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Many today will sing or recite the words of St. Patrick’s breastplate, a prayer attributed to Patrick:
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgment Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.
Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort, [at home]
Christ in the chariot seat, [traveling by land]
Christ in the stern. [traveling by water]
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
The oldest extant version of St. Patrick’s breastplate is from the 8th century, and it does represent an ancient tradition of “lorica” prayers — prayers of protection that developed in the earliest years of Irish monasticism. At least part of the breastplate may have been said — or sung — by Patrick and passed down orally until it was preserved in written form a couple hundred years later. We just do not know its origin.
But we do have some authentic words from St. Patrick — in his Confessio, a testimony of faith written in his old age, sometime in the 5th century (perhaps at the end of the 4th).
There are lots of legends regarding Patrick, but his real story is more inspiring — and important — than the less-believable tales.
Patrick grew up in a Roman British family who were Christians. But he didn’t share their faith. As a boy, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland where he toiled as a shepherd. There, while in captivity, he recalled his parents’ faith, heard the Spirit, and converted to Christianity. Eventually, he was returned to his home in western Britain, but he had no peace until he followed a call to return to Ireland and witness and serve among those who had enslaved him.
He dedicated the rest of his life to Ireland — where he worked as a missionary and eventually became a bishop.
His is a story of enslavement, unwanted exile, forced labor, and isolation — and how the wrongs done to him turned into a passionate belief that even those who committed such evils could be redeemed by God’s love.
Here are the concluding paragraphs of his confession, in Patrick’s own words. They reveal an old man’s embrace of God’s love, his life’s suffering, and a profound conviction of hope:
If I have ever imitated anything good for the sake of my God whom I love, I ask that he grant me to be able to shed my blood with these converts and captives – even were I to lack a grave for burial, or my dead body were to be miserably torn apart limb from limb by dogs or wild beasts, or were the birds of heaven to devour it. I declare with certainty that if this were to happen, I would have gained both my soul and my body. There is no doubt whatever that we will rise on the appointed day in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our redeemer. We shall be like children of the living God and co-heirs of Christ and to be fashioned in his image, since it is from him and through him and in him that we are to reign.
The sun which we see rising for us each day at his command, that sun will never reign nor will its splendour continue forever; and all those who adore that sun will come to a bad, miserable penalty. We, however, believe in and adore the true sun, that is, Christ, who will never perish. Nor will they perish who do his will but they will abide forever just as Christ will abide forever. He lives with God the Father almighty and with the Holy Spirit before the ages began, and now, and for all the ages of ages. Amen.
Patrick is believed to have died on March 17, the day on which he is still remembered.
It is also a day to remember all those people in history taken from their families and homes against their will and enslaved to enrich or serve others. May the tragedy of human slavery end forever — may God’s love embrace the enslaved and enslavers — and all captives set free.
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
— William Butler Yeats
Yes, we’re Patrick-fans at our house. Our dog, Padraig, aka “Paddy” is named for the Irish saint! Paddy is a Glen of Imaal Terrier, one of the rarer Irish dog breeds.
He is happy to celebrate HIS day today!
My favorite prayer from the Celtic Christian tradition that Patrick established was not from him but a table blessing attributed to one of his direct converts, St. Brigid of Kildare, who wielded the power of a bishop and ran a monastery known for its hospitality, compassion, and inclusion.
I would like a great lake of the finest ale for the King of Kings.
I would like a great table of the choicest foods for the family of heaven.
Let the ale be made from the fruits of faith,
And let the food be forgiving love.
I would invite the poor to my feast, for they are God's children.
I would invite the sick to my feast, for they are God's joy.
Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place,
And let the sick dance with the angels.
God bless the poor
God bless the sick
And bless our human race.
God bless our food
God bless our drink
All homes, O God, embrace.
I grew up in Ireland. I love the St Patrick’s breastplate. Such a full and complete prayer. I like the quote from Patrick’s confession. It’s time for me to read this in full.
I celebrated today by making and sharing some soda bread with some friends. I love glen of Imaal terriers. Such fun dogs..lucky you.
Thanks for inviting us to reflect on some of the truth and humility in Patrick’s life. Helen