St. Patrick

Did you know this is a big party weekend?  The festivities for St. Patty’s day in downtown Melbourne are being advertised as the biggest festival of the year.  (I don’t actually know if that’s true, but it is being claimed!)

I don’t want to be a party pooper, and I actually plan to partake of some of the festivities this weekend, maybe even drink some green beer.  But it is difficult to imagine anything further from the life of the original St. Patrick whom we celebrate.

Patrick lived and served in the first part of the 400’s, some 1600 years ago.  Born in what is now Britain, Irish slavers took him from his home at about the age of 16 and sold him into slavery.  He was a slave in Ireland for about 6 years before he was able to escape.

After returning to Britain, he became a Christian, was ordained a priest and then did a stunning thing.  He returned to Ireland to evangelize those who had enslaved him!  He eventually became a Bishop and finally Primate of Ireland.  Today he is honored as the Patron Saint of Ireland.

A teacher at heart, he often used a green shamrock as a way to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity – three separate and distinct leaves, but all the same plant.  Thus began his association with shamrocks and all things green.

There is no evidence that he drove out snakes or many other things he might be credited with this weekend.  Yet, Patrick is a wonderful example of seeing personal misfortune and even oppression as an opportunity for the gospel rather than an excuse to wallow in self pity.

What in your life might Patrick’s example help you to see differently?

This column appeared in the March 17 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.

If you are reading this at a different time, you may click here for the current eNews.