Jesus in All

3/17/2020

2 Corinthians 5:9 “Wherefore we labor that…we may be accepted of Him.”

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day. It is a day when the Irish and Irish-at-heart wear green, talk of leprechauns, and often do copious amounts of drinking. Not much public celebrating is going on this year, as many Irish pubs are closed, and people are being advised to stay home and practice social distancing. So, this year may be a good time to reflect on who Saint Patrick really was and his ministry. I had to read up on him, I am embarrassed to admit, even though I was raised Catholic (although not Irish Catholic).

Born in England, Saint Patrick was captured by Irish pirates at the age of fourteen, and taken to Ireland as a slave. At that time, Ireland was a land of pagans, but Patrick turned to God and penned The Confession. In it he wrote, “The love of God and His fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.” Can you imagine being so deeply in prayer that the outside word, and all that tries to distract you, falls completely away?

Patrick escaped, but after a few years he saw a vision calling him back to Ireland. He studied to become a priest, was later ordained a bishop, and was sent to preach the Gospel in Ireland. He often used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. He spent forty years preaching the Gospel, and many of the people of Ireland converted to Christianity. He was a humble and devoted servant of the Lord. His life was truly a reflection of Chambers words, “Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Saint Patrick’s poem of faith, “The Breastplate”:

“Christ be within me, Christ be behind me, Christ be before me, Christ be beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all who love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”

Let us all, in this time of uncertainly, pray as Saint Patrick did, for Christ in all.

*Research taken from Catholic Online.