SAINT PATRICK

Patrick!  We thank you for sharing Christ with us.  Along with all creation, we too were waiting for Him, knowingly or not, groaning, yearning.  We were not Hebrews.  We had no promise of a Messiah.  Our pre-Christian wait was of a different kind, but we had a strong hint of our great God, a knowing and inclination as it were, toward the spiritual.  Our spirituality was expressed in hospitality, and so we had a genuine openness and welcoming to this Jesus the Christ. Thank you, Patrick, friend of God, friend of Christ, friend of the Irish!

We praise You, dear God for Patrick who brought Jesus to us and us to Jesus.   He brought a New Dawn to Ireland!   Help us remember the reason "for the season" as we celebrate.  Renew the fire of real Faith in us, as it was first shared on the Hill of Slaine when Patrick lit the first Paschal Fire in Ireland.  And help us to share it with all who cross our paths, in the tradition of warm hospitality and holy friendship.

Fáilte romhat, a Phádraig!  Buiachas duit!!  Go raibh mile maith agat!

A welcome before you, Patrick!  Thanks to you!  Thank you (it was a thousand good at you [to have brought Christ])!

Fáilte romhat, mo Íosa, mo Chríost!

A welcome before You, my Jesus, my Christ!

Fáilte istigh im chroíse.

Welcome into my heart.

Amen.

The Irish pagans did not martyr a single missionary of Christianity.  They were a people known for their hospitality. The Message of Christ was a good "fit" for the Irish pagans who already worshipped the Creator, and believed their dead lived on in the next world.

Patrick, a Welshman (son of a deacon, grandson of a priest) kidnapped by the Irish, was made a slave/servant.  During that period of minding sheep he had YEARS to pray.  After he escaped one would think he'd never want to see the Irish again, but graced by God and called to return to bring Christ to the Irish, Patrick is credited with converting the most Irish to Christ.  He was not the first to bring Christ, but the one to convert the most.

St. Patrick's Day is not an Irish celebration alone! 

It is a Feast and Celebration for the entire Church.

 Patrick had a huge part in changing this world.  He brought a New Dawn to Ireland, and the Irish in turn, brought Christ back to mainland Europe at a later time in history when the Rome moved itself off to Byzantium.  Germanic tribes overran Europe and Christ was most needed.   The Irish brought Christ everywhere they went either as deliberate missionaries, or as migrating families of Faith who pass that faith to future generations around the world.  Praise God for Patrick!

The Dawning of Christ

The dawning of Christ covers the land
In the Light of His Light we now understand
His Glory reflected in all that we see
The air that surrounds us, the Earth beneath me

The fire that warms us, the depth of the sea
The angels of heaven, the creatures we see.
All things are made through Him, O this I believe
And with Him and in Him, what God has conceived.

The Dawning of Christ hails a new day
That I might begin to live a new way
To go a step farther than I have before
To know in my heart the Christ I adore.

I know Christ in others who pass by my way
In those who will leave me, in those who will stay.
I know Christ in others who speak well of me
Or see me or hear me, It's Christ that I see.

Our people have always known God, in their hearts
And now, with Christ's coming, God's Grace to impart,
We're called to love others, uniting as one.
With Christ our new Dawn, all darkness is done.

Oh Christ of all nations, through Whom all things come,
You!  My salvation!  God's only Son,
Creator and Spirit I worship as One!
  Your people now greet You!  Our day is begun.

Copyright 1996, Cait Finnegan

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