Today is St. Patrick's Day. Across many communities and cities the characteristic features of Irish culture assert themselves -- the color green, admiration of nature, leprechauns, shamrocks, live music, Celtic art, and plenty of eating and drinking with friends and family. Originally, St. Patrick's Day was proclaimed by the church to remember and celebrate the saintly man who "brought [the Irish] out of darkness" into the light of the knowledge of God in Christ. For centuries, the Christian Church -- based in Rome at that time -- was unable to make any in-roads with the Irish people, who were fiercely dedicated to their pagan culture and fought off foreign gestures that seemed to threaten their way of life. In the 5th century, a boy called Patrick was taken from England as a slave to Ireland. In his suffering, he prayed to God for guidance and protection. Trusting in God's ability to protect him, Patrick made an escape. Safely reunited with his family in England, Patrick continued to be a devout and prayerful Christian. To his surprise, he discovered that God was calling him back to Ireland -- this time not as a slave, but freely, to preach the gospel to the Irish people who had previously enslaved him. He records a vision that he had:
"I speak the truth, that I saw a vision of the night: a man named Victoricus—like one from Ireland—coming with innumerable letters. He gave me one of them and I began to read what was in it: The voice of the Irish.... It was as if they were shouting with one voice: “O holy boy, we beg you to come again and walk among us.” And I was broken hearted and could not read anything more. And at that moment I woke up. (O’Loughlin, Thomas. "The Patrick Tradition." Celtic Spirituality, p. 73)
In response to God's call, Patrick returned to Ireland. As one familiar with Irish culture and filled with love for the Irish people, Patrick was able to communicate the gospel in ways that made sense to them. He used illustrations from nature, such as the three-leafed clover, to teach about the Triune God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Showing the self-effacing love of Christ, he helped chieftains to reduce warfare and unite in new bonds of peace. Respecting the mystical powers of the pagan religious leaders -- the druids -- Patrick relied upon and demonstrated the superior power of God accessible through Christian prayer. Patrick's humility and personal holiness won over virtually the entire Irish population. Eventually, Patrick was able to reflect:
"...In Ireland... they never had knowledge of God—and until now they celebrated only idols and unclean things. Yet recently, what a change: They have become “a prepared people” of the Lord, and they are now called “the sons of God.” (O’Loughlin, Thomas. "The Patrick Tradition." Celtic Spirituality, p. 78.)
Soon, Ireland was sending missionaries into other parts of the world. They took with them an Irish Christianity that reflects the cultural elements of the Emerald Isle -- passionate love of life, the beauty and goodness of nature, and a dedication to prayer that sees the mystery and holiness of life.
On St. Patrick's Day, the Irish may say, "Today everyone is a little Irish." While this may be an invitation to sing, drink, and talk, I invite us to consider that it also contains a hint that Christianity is a way of life that is meant for all people. The love of God goes into every culture and, shining light and love, it brings the beauty of each culture into the Kingdom of Heaven. Today everyone can be a little Christian.
The most famous prayer of St. Patrick comes from the "Breastplate of St. Patrick." A portion of the prayer goes like this:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me;
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me;
Christ to right of me, Christ to left of me;
Christ in my lying, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising;
St. Patrick, A Spiritual Inspiration
Today is St. Patrick's Day. Across many communities and cities the characteristic features of Irish culture assert themselves -- the color green, admiration of nature, leprechauns, shamrocks, live music, Celtic art, and plenty of eating and drinking with friends and family. Originally, St. Patrick's Day was proclaimed by the church to remember and celebrate the saintly man who "brought [the Irish] out of darkness" into the light of the knowledge of God in Christ. For centuries, the Christian Church -- based in Rome at that time -- was unable to make any in-roads with the Irish people, who were fiercely dedicated to their pagan culture and fought off foreign gestures that seemed to threaten their way of life. In the 5th century, a boy called Patrick was taken from England as a slave to Ireland. In his suffering, he prayed to God for guidance and protection. Trusting in God's ability to protect him, Patrick made an escape. Safely reunited with his family in England, Patrick continued to be a devout and prayerful Christian. To his surprise, he discovered that God was calling him back to Ireland -- this time not as a slave, but freely, to preach the gospel to the Irish people who had previously enslaved him. He records a vision that he had:
"I speak the truth, that I saw a vision of the night: a man named Victoricus—like one from Ireland—coming with innumerable letters. He gave me one of them and I began to read what was in it: The voice of the Irish.... It was as if they were shouting with one voice: “O holy boy, we beg you to come again and walk among us.” And I was broken hearted and could not read anything more. And at that moment I woke up. (O’Loughlin, Thomas. "The Patrick Tradition." Celtic Spirituality, p. 73)
In response to God's call, Patrick returned to Ireland. As one familiar with Irish culture and filled with love for the Irish people, Patrick was able to communicate the gospel in ways that made sense to them. He used illustrations from nature, such as the three-leafed clover, to teach about the Triune God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Showing the self-effacing love of Christ, he helped chieftains to reduce warfare and unite in new bonds of peace. Respecting the mystical powers of the pagan religious leaders -- the druids -- Patrick relied upon and demonstrated the superior power of God accessible through Christian prayer. Patrick's humility and personal holiness won over virtually the entire Irish population. Eventually, Patrick was able to reflect:
"...In Ireland... they never had knowledge of God—and until now they celebrated only idols and unclean things. Yet recently, what a change: They have become “a prepared people” of the Lord, and they are now called “the sons of God.” (O’Loughlin, Thomas. "The Patrick Tradition." Celtic Spirituality, p. 78.)
Soon, Ireland was sending missionaries into other parts of the world. They took with them an Irish Christianity that reflects the cultural elements of the Emerald Isle -- passionate love of life, the beauty and goodness of nature, and a dedication to prayer that sees the mystery and holiness of life.
On St. Patrick's Day, the Irish may say, "Today everyone is a little Irish." While this may be an invitation to sing, drink, and talk, I invite us to consider that it also contains a hint that Christianity is a way of life that is meant for all people. The love of God goes into every culture and, shining light and love, it brings the beauty of each culture into the Kingdom of Heaven. Today everyone can be a little Christian.
The most famous prayer of St. Patrick comes from the "Breastplate of St. Patrick." A portion of the prayer goes like this:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me;
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me;
Christ to right of me, Christ to left of me;
Christ in my lying, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising;
Christ in the heart of all who think of me,
Christ on the tongue of all who speak to me,
Christ in the eye of all who see me,
Christ in ear of all who hear me.