Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. In preparation I am wearing a Celtic FC hat and order my iced tea green. Later, I hope to cook a corned beef brisket over fire.
Patrick, along with Nicholas and Valentine, is one of the more well-known saints. I first learned of him in elementary school where you were pinched if you did not wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. It wasn’t until college that I learned that protestants actually wear orange in Ireland, one professor would wear an orange kilt to emphasize this. Anyway, the Irish flag illustrates the situation with both green and orange stripes coexisting with a white stripe of peace in between.
It is said that when he was young, Patrick was captured by a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to tend sheep. At age 20, it is said that he had a dream where God told him to leave Ireland. He miraculously escaped and returned home to be reunited with his family. Later, in another dream the people of Ireland were calling out for him “walk among us once more.” It was then he began to study for the priesthood, was ordained, and sent back to Ireland to proclaim the Gospel.
Perhaps it is in the meadows of Ireland as a shepherd where he came up with the analogy between the three leaves of the shamrock and the Holy Trinity. That may be why we link a shamrock with St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick is also credited with driving the snakes out from Ireland. It is possible that there were no snakes to drive out, so it may be symbolic. Since Druids and pagans ruled Ireland in his day and Patrick converted the heathen, snakes may be symbols for pagan beliefs or evil.
St. Patrick is said to have died on March 17, AD 461. In the United States he is remembered with parades, corned beef, cabbage, green beer, maybe anything green, maybe anything with beer, and general revelry. Ironically, I am told that in Ireland the celebrations are primarily religious. That traditionally, Irish families would waive Lenten prohibitions and would dance, drink, and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
Historical figures who are remembered long after they have lived and have numerous legends attached to their story remind us of the influence one can have in history. Tomorrow we remember one who influenced an entire nation. One who was slave, shepherd, and dreamer. Who listened to the voice of God, emphasized the Trinity, and spread the Gospel.
scattered thoughts 