More than Pinching and Drinking and Wearing of Green

In reading information on Wikipedia (a most general internet source), I was reminded that more is UNknown than known about Saint Patrick.  In fact, apparently only two authentic letters of his remain.  From one of them, Confessio, we learn of his days during the six years following his captivity into slavery at the age of 16:   

But after I reached Hibernia I used to pasture the flock each day and I used to pray many times a day. More and more did the Love of God, and my fear of Him and faith increase, and my spirit was moved so that in a day [I said] from one up to a hundred prayers, and in the night a like number; besides I used to stay out in the forests and on the mountain and I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness, because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time"

These words alone elevate this day to something higher than an excuse to drink and pinch and wear green.  Prayer, love of God, reverence and awe of Him, a growing faith, and unmitigated energy for life and service would be much more appropriate ways to honor the life and achievements of this saint of old!

I bind to myself today God's Power to guide me, God's Might to uphold me, God's Wisdom to teach me, God's Eye to watch over me, God's Ear to hear me, God's Word to give me speech, God's Hand to guide me, God's Way to lie before me, God's Shield to shelter me, God's Host to secure me, Against the snares of demons, Against the seductions of vices. 
(A literal translation of a part of a prayer generally thought to be words of St. Patrick)

16 comments:

  1. A friend and I are going to plant peas today!! We are having our first cookout as it is supposed to be in the mid-60's.

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  2. You are so right--it would be good for us to follow the principles stated in his letters. I didn't know really anything about St. Patrick.

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  3. I love the last quote. I knew no facts about St. Patrick, thanks for the info. That prayer is worth printing. I am adding it to my notebook,

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  4. Beautiful post! Perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

    I was taught about St. Patrick having gone to Catholic school and raised by an Irish/Catholic Mom, but I think a lot of the stories were folklore. It was definitely impressed on us though that the celebration of this day was about much more than parades and parties, as was St. Valentine's Day.
    Love and Prayers,
    Eileen

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  5. A wonderful reminder of a very holy and Godly man. I also have been taught about St. Patrick from a young age and really admire him. He was an exceptional man.

    Happy (and blessed:) Saint Patrick's day Rebecca!

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  6. Thanks for this info on Saint Patrick. I don't pay a lot of attention to this particular holiday so I confess I've never really wondered about the man it is named after.

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  7. I did not know this about St. Patrick. I will pass it along.

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  8. Thanks for the interesting post--combining two of my favorite subjects--the church and history! So interesting.

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  9. Rebecca I loved what you shared about St. Patrick and I too found myself wanting to know more about him today and what this day really means? One of these days I'd really like to start a study on all the Saints. I don't know much about them.
    I did wear my green today just for fun though and have enjoyed finding some Irish recipes too that I'd never tried. Love the Irish music too.
    Thankyou for getting back with me about the garden Art. I'm going to head on over to that blog and see if you've posted there.
    Have a great evening,
    Lea

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  10. This is such a precious post. I know next to nothing about St. Patrick. What you wrote here touched my heart, he was a slave for six years? And yet the response of his heart was so beautiful. I learned a lot from his life today.

    Has your daughter arrived here in the Philippines? What part of the country are they staying? Is she with her husband? Wish I could get to meet them, if they are staying near where I live...

    Love
    Lidj

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  11. What a wonderful word today. I learned so
    much! I will keep a copy of the prayer in
    my journal. Thanks Rebecca.

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  12. Hi Rebecca,
    Our young friend just left to go to a funeral here in our area, but he had dinner with us and we had a lovely time.
    What a great post about St. Patrick, those are very neat letters. Have never heard about them before, gives a whole new meaning to St. Patricks day for sure, just as you said!!
    Thanks for coming by to Thankful thursday and
    Tablescape Thursday and for your sweet comments.
    Hope your ground will dry up soon and your weather get a lil more springy feeling.
    Blessings sweet friend,
    Nellie
    Oh yea, we checked out American Idol on Wed. night and I saw the fella you were talking about, and he did make some very nice comments to people, very encouraging. Sure didn't seem to match the outside package did it?? Guess like they say, "can't judge a book by it's cover". What a delightful discovery, Jennifer Lopez seems to be really encouraging too.
    We forgot about thurs. nite finals, so missed it.
    Oh well!

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  13. What a good lesson Rebecca. I didn't know anything about St. Patrick. As a Lutheran we don't do a lot of studying on Saints but I thought his letter was beautiful. I sometimes feel as though I am praying all day long to God too. LOve Di ♥

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  14. Very interesting information. Thanks for posting it :-)

    Take care Rebecca and have a nice day :-)

    ~Ron
    *******

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  15. As I type this comment to you my printer is busy sending me the copy of the prayer you have just shared...I plan on placing it in my journal where I write each day (my little Dear Jesus journal)...

    In one of my devotionals that day it shared how he was taken as a slave to Ireland...after being able to escape, he ended up going BACK to Ireland to be with those that had taken him captive...to share the love of Christ with them..What an amazing testimony of God's power and glory!

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)