• =?UTF-8?Q?17_March_=E2=80=93_St_Patrick?=

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Tue Mar 16 10:07:17 2021
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    17 March =E2=80=93 St Patrick
    also known as Maewyn Succat
    and Patricius, Patrizio

    (c. 386 =E2=80=93 461)
    Priest, Bishop, Missionary, =E2=80=9CApostle of Ireland=E2=80=9D
    Patron against fear of snakes or ophidiophobia; ophidiophobics,
    against snake bites, against snakes, of barbers, hairdressers, barrel
    makers; coopers, blacksmiths, cattle, engineers, excluded people,
    miners, Ireland, Nigeria (1961), Loiza, Puerto Rico, 29 dioceses

    Although we think of Ireland when we talk about St. Patrick, he wasn=E2=80= =99t
    actually born in Ireland. He was born probably in Scotland. His father
    was a deacon and his grandfather had been a priest. But Patrick didn=E2=80= =99t
    think too much about God. We don't really know why this was. He
    probably thought he didn't need God. He probably thought other thin=
    gs
    could bring him as much happiness as God could. God just wasn't on
    Patrick's mind as he roamed the fields of his homeland, tending
    animals and learning how to be a man.

    But his happy, carefree life ended one day when crowds of strangers
    appeared on the horizon. They looked dangerous and frightening and
    they were. They were pirates and thieves, on their way to capture
    slaves to take back to Ireland. Patrick was one of those hundreds of
    captives. He was snatched from his family and his home. He was taken
    from all of his future hopes and dreams. Patrick was thrown on a ship,
    bound in chains and taken over the sea to Ireland. He was sixteen
    years old. For six years, Patrick was a slave in Ireland. He was put
    to work watching sheep and cattle. Patrick had just enough food to
    live on and when he wasn't working, he tried to rest in tiny huts t=
    hat
    were damp and cold.

    But something strange and wonderful happened in Ireland. All alone,
    frightened for his life and among people who worshiped trees and
    stones, Patrick opened his heart to God.

    That happens to a lot of us, doesn't it? When everything's =
    going
    great, we don't have any time for God. But then something awful and
    painful happens and there we are, back at God's feet.

    During those years, Patrick started to pray. He thought about God all
    the time and it gave him peace of mind. He knew that no matter how
    much he was suffering, God loved him.

    Eventually, Patrick escaped from slavery and traveled to France, which
    in those days was called Gaul. We're not sure exactly how much time
    Patrick spent in Gaul. But it was enough time for him to draw closer
    to God as he prayed and studied in a monastery. One night, deep in a
    dreamy vision, Patrick heard voices. He heard many voices, joined
    together, pleading with him. =E2=80=9CCome back,=E2=80=9D the voices cried,=
    =E2=80=9Ccome back
    and walk once more among us.=E2=80=9D Patrick knew it was the Irish people calling him.

    Strengthened by the courage that only God can give, Patrick went back.
    He returned to the very people who had stolen him from his family,
    worked him mercilessly as a slave and knew little, if anything, about
    the love of the true God.

    Before he left Gaul, Patrick was made the bishop of Ireland. He then
    traveled across the sea to teach Ireland about Jesus Christ. It wasn=E2=80= =99t
    easy. The people of Ireland practiced pagan religions. They worshiped nature,and they practiced magic. They feared the spirits they believed
    lived in the woods. The Irish people believed they could bring evil
    spirits down on those they wanted to harm.

    Patrick had a big job ahead of him. He had to show a country full of
    students that there was no point in worshiping nature. Trees can't
    forgive your sins or teach you how to love. The sun, as powerful as it
    is, could not have created the world. Patrick explained things using
    simple examples that people could easily understand. For example, he
    used the three-leaf clover to show people how there could be three
    persons in one God. Patrick preached to huge crowds and small
    villages. He preached to kings and princes. He preached in the open
    air and he preached in huts. Patrick never stopped preaching and he
    never stopped teaching. He couldn't stop=E2=80=94the whole country =
    of Ireland
    was his classroom and he couldn't afford to miss even one student!

    Soon, Patrick had help. Men became priests and monks. Women became
    nuns. Wherever they lived, those monks and nuns settled in monasteries
    and set up schools. More students were being reached every day.
    But, of course, the greatest help Patrick had was from God.

    When he was young, Patrick had forgotten God but that would never
    happen again. He knew that God supported him in every step he took.
    God gave Patrick the courage to speak, even when Patrick was in danger
    of being hurt by pagan priests who didn't want to lose their power
    over the people.

    https://anastpaul.com/2017/03/17/


    Reflection. By the instrumentality of Saint Patrick the Faith remained
    for long centuries as fresh in Ireland as when it was first planted.
    Ask him to obtain for you the special grace his children receive: to
    prefer the loss of every earthly good to the least compromise in
    matters of faith.

    Saint Quote:
    "Whatever will come my way, whether good or bad, I may accept it
    calmly, and always give thanks to God, who has ever shown me how I
    should believe in him unfailing without end."
    --St. Patrick of Ireland

    Bible Quote:
    Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from yo=
    u
    .. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
    sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.=C2 [James 4:7-10=
    =C2 ]


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    St. Patrick's Prayer

    This day I call to me:
    God's strength to direct me,
    God's power to sustain me,
    God's wisdom to guide me,
    God's vision to light me,
    God's ear to my hearing,
    God's word to my speaking,
    God's hand to uphold me,
    God's pathway before me,
    God's shield to protect me,
    God's legions to save me.

    from A Retreat With St. Patrick
    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)