Today is the Feast of Saint Patrick, the great 5th century missionary, who converted the people of Ireland to Jesus Christ and His Holy Church. Happy feast day! Deacon Patrick McDonald of Saint Patrick Parish in Brighton now explains why Saint Patrick is not only his patron saint but also his “hero”. He writes:
I readily admit that St. Patrick is my hero, my patron saint and inspiration. Therefore, when I received a phone call in 1976 from Fr. Raymond Klocke Pastor of St. Patrick in Brighton, Michigan, inviting me to join him in serving that wonderful community, it got my attention. After visiting the parish and after prayerful contemplation, we moved our family of eight children to Brighton and St. Patrick’s Parish. Our Lord and St. Patrick have blessed us. Now, let us talk about St. Patrick.
Otto von Bismarck, Prime Minister of Prussia, is reputed to have said that, not by speeches and majority resolutions are the great problems of the day solved - but by blood and iron. He lived accordingly, hardened by force. Some 1500 years earlier, St. Patrick used a different approach. It worked.
"St. Patrick was born in Britain. His father a Roman official and his mother a relative of the Patron Saint of Gaul. Patrick always resorted to prayer and not physical force. "I bind myself today, God’s power to guide me".
George Graff, the American composer of, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”, put the tone of Patrick’s approach in the refrain, “In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing”.
In his confessions, Patrick tells us how he became an Irish slave in his teens, when he was captured by slave merchants and sold to an Irish chieftain to tend either pigs or sheep. Fortunately, he had time to pray and contemplate. He used that time wisely. “In a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers”.
Patrick tells us how he finally escaped from servitude, walked to a port, boarded a ship and found his way to St. Martin’s monastery at Tours, France. Yet, his story does not end there. In his Confessions, Patrick mentions an inner voice strongly urging him to return to Ireland. His wish was rewarded with ordination and his return to convert the Irish from the paganism of the Druids.
Patrick returned to Ireland around 432 this time as a missionary, with great success in his initial encounter. Dichu, an Irish chieftain, confronted Patrick, drew his sword, then stopped and was eventually converted with his subjects. The evangelization of Ireland was underway.
Patrick moved on to Connaught, utilizing the lesson learned with Dichu: convert the king and the population will follow. The result was conversion of the king and his six sons, plus more than 12,000 subjects.
This established Patrick’s methodology for his missionary activity: start at the top. (Perfect) Patrick effectively used the Celtic Cross which was a combination of the Druid Sun and Christian Cross. Patrick also used the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity. He traveled to convert at Ulster, Meath, Munster, Limerick and at Tipperary where he composed a poetic response to the questions of the nature of God.
In his confessions, Patrick demonstrates a humility and honesty for which we all should strive. He describes himself in his youth as a “sinner who did not keep Gods precepts, nor were we obedient”. During his time as a herder, “...there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief”.
When speaking of the inner voice that guided him, Patrick mentions it was “He who gave his life for you, he it is who speaks within you”.
Patrick’s actions also speak volumes. In less than a century after St. Patrick’s death, Ireland was covered with churches and convents and monasteries (see Philip Schoff, History of the Christian Church Vol. IV P52) (see also Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization).
No wonder the reassuring lilt of Irish laughter and joy is so infectious. May St. Patrick be our hero of the day, and every day. Now let us pray utilizing St. Patrick’s breast plate for inspirations and protection.
Christ be with me,
Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me,
Christ be in me,
Christ be beneath me,
Christ be above me,
Christ be on my right,
Christ be on my left...
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye of everyone who sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen.
Please help me to be a person who does not dwell on what cannot be done, but instead what might be accomplished by your spirit.
Come Holy Spirit, I invite you into my heart and soul.
Fill me with zeal for your Gospel.
Through the inspiration of St. Patrick,
give me guidance and health to do your Holy will. Amen
Deacon Patrick McDonald
St. Patricks, Brighton, Michigan
March 17, 2022