St. Patrick

Title: St. Patrick

Date: Thursday, March 17, 1988 - St. Patrick, Bishop, Apostle to Ireland

Readings: Exodus 32:7-14 / Psalm 106:19-20,21-22,23 / John 5:31-47

In our Gospel, Jesus makes reference to John the Baptizer who witnessed on his behalf. All of us who are given the vocation as Christian are to do likewise. Today, we celebrate a feast in honor of a man who did much to bring Christ to others, Saint Patrick.

Born about the year 389 to a British deacon, Calpurnius and his wife Conchessa, he was taken prisoner when about sixteen and kidnaped to Ireland as a herdsman. He survived the rugged life and held onto his faith. Six years later he escaped. However, he would have a dream urging him to go back and Christianize Ireland away from the Druids. Ordained in 417, he was sent upon a mission in 431 to assist Bishop Paladius in Ireland. He succeeded as bishop in 432 and widely traveled the land there spreading the faith. In 442, Pope Leo the Great commissioned him to organize the Church of Ireland and he established various sees. He spread faith and learning where ever he went. Although many of the monastic communities and the physical structures and lands of the Church would one day be pillaged and confiscated by the advocates of the British Protestant reformers, his living legacy of faith given to the Irish would remain strong. Indeed, despite the Reformation, the faith in England, France, and Switzerland would always be indebted to his early work in Ireland. For us all, the monastic rule in Ireland would do much to revitalize the faith in the entirety of Europe, and its view of Confession would rescue the Church in its dilemma over repentant sinners and the danger of scandal.

May we, like Saint Patrick, be a people of such deep-seated faith that it will always manifest itself in sincere gratitude, holy prayer, and good works.