Today is the Feast of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Happy Feast Day! To mark the occasion, here’s a brief reflection upon the earthly life and heavenly legacy of the great 5th century saint by Deacon Patrick McDonald of Saint Patrick Parish in Brighton.
“Traversing the countryside, he found fertile soil among these scrappy resilient people and baptized tens of thousands of them as well as hundreds of priests,” says Deacon McDonald, March 17.
“The faith became a solid foundation for the country. So today we thank St. Patrick for his enthusiastic evangelization of a people who, because of his preaching, left their druid Gods for the one true God. This is someone we want to emulate.”
Have a very happy and holy feast day! Hail Glorious Saint Patrick! Saint Patrick, pray for us!
• A Saint Patrick’s Day Reflection by Deacon Patrick McDonald of Saint Patrick Parish, Brighton:
Top o’ the mornin’ to you! You can imagine with my name being Patrick McDonald and being a Deacon from St. Patrick’s in Brighton, MI. I am excited to share a greeting with you on this wonderful day on which everybody is Irish!
St. Patrick, as you know, lived in the 5th century, was kidnapped at age 16 by Irish pirates, and forced into servitude for 6 long years. He escaped, returned home, entered the priesthood and became a Bishop. It was his fondest wish however to return to Ireland, not to seek revenge, but to demonstrate forgiveness and to sow the seeds of the faith - and that he did!
Traversing the countryside, he found fertile soil among these scrappy resilient people and baptized tens of thousands of them as well as hundreds of priests. The faith became a solid foundation for the country. So today we thank St. Patrick for his enthusiastic evangelization of a people who, because of his preaching, left their druid Gods for the one true God. This is someone we want to emulate.
He was a man of prayer and a man of faith. Here is one of his prayers that has survived through the ages. Please join me in this prayer known as the breastplate of St. Patrick. Irish or not it expresses our gratitude to all our ancestors who held high the banner of faith and kept their focus on Christ.
Christ be with me, Christ within me
Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beside me, Christ to win me
Christ to comfort me and restore me
Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ in the hearts of all who love me
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger
Amen - God love you