It's Not Easy Being Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Will you be celebrating St. Paddy's day this year?  Do you know why?

Is this a just day to party? Or is there a greater meaning to March 17?

The Story of St. Patrick

Patrick’s life and ministry teach us about the call of God and faithfulness to that call, as well as boldness and courage.  On St. Patrick’s Day, it’s appropriate to review the life of a missionary claimed by every denomination of Christianity. He’s like a patron saint of anybody called by God to go somewhere.  The accomplishments of this missionary to Ireland were so great that to this day his life is celebrated all over the world on March 17, the day of his death.

Yes, St. Patrick's Day is an Irish holiday (and it’s abbreviated St. Paddy’s, not St. Patty’s!  Patty is the Irish nickname for Patricia). But while everyone else is pretending to be Irish, here’s a thought to keep the day relevant.

On St. Patrick's Day, leave the dressing up like a fairytale woodland midget to the kids.

Patrick was Scottish anyway, born in 387 in Kilpatrick, Scotland to prominent Roman parents. His given name was Maewyn Succat (may' win sue' cat). When he was 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders, and sold to a chieftan named Milchu of Dalriada. Patrick was forced to shepherd sheep in Ireland. At that point he was a nominal believer, the son of a churchman, but through adversity, fasting and prayer, and hearing instructions from the Lord, he became a real believer.

After six years as a slave, he escaped to Great Britain and then studied for the ministry in France.  He studied under St. Germain, the Bishop of Auxerre for 12 years. But in a dream Patrick heard the voice of the Irish people calling him back to the Emerald Isle.

Patrick was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. He returned to Ireland and is generally credited with being the first bishop of Ireland.  He headed first for the house of his former master to pay his own ransom of freedom with an interest to be paid in kindness.

Patrick was not the first missionary to Ireland. Thirty years before Patrick launched his mission, a man named Palladius was commissioned as a missionary to Ireland. Palladius soon became discouraged and moved on to Scotland.

Patrick, however, persevered in his mission, preached the Gospel throughout Ireland, converted many and established churches and monasteries. Furthermore, the Irish Christians, following Patrick's example, left their homeland to spread the gospel in Scotland, Britain and Europe. One thousand years later, King James I of England and the VI of Scotland decreed the translation of the Bible into English.

Irish history tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people. After nearly thirty years of evangelism, he died on March 17th, AD 461, thus the day was commemorated St. Patrick's Day.

Following St. Patrick's death, the Irish celebrated the anniversary of his death beginning in the fifth century with a feast. Because the date falls on the Catholic season of Lent, Irish families usually attended church in the morning and celebrated in the afternoon.  Because Lent forbids the consumption of meat, the Catholic church in Ireland waived the rule so that people could drink, dance, and feast on Irish bacon and cabbage.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in New York City on March 17, 1762. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in the parade. The parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots.  Most Irish immigrants at this time were Protestants until the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845. One million poor, uneducated Catholic Irishmen began to pour into America to escape starvation.

Both Protestant and Catholic Irishmen began to organize to garner more political power. These associations united both Protestant and Catholic Irish and St. Patrick's Day parades suddenly became big events.  In 1948, President Truman was the first president who attended New York's St. Paddy's Day parade.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in countries with Irish populations all over the world. However, in Ireland St. Patrick's Day is a religious celebration. Up until the 1970's Irish laws forbid the sale of alcohol on this day.  It was not until 1995, when Ireland began using the holiday to promote the country to tourists. 

So, raise a glass and make a toast to Maewyn Succat in remembrance of his life's work.  Enjoy the celebrations! But also, take a moment to pause and reflect on what purpose you've been put on this planet to accomplish.  No one has time for everything, no matter how efficient you are. Allocate it in alignment with your true purpose.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Sláinte Mhaith!