For this day, a special St. Patrick’s Day because it falls between Palm Sunday and Easter, here is a part of Patrick’s confession (also found here). The real man behind the day is here:
I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a presbyter, of the settlement of Bannaven Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our presbyters who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners.
And there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance. And he watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son.
Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven:
For there is no other God, nor ever was before, nor shall be hereafter, but God the Father, unbegotten and without beginning, in whom all things began, whose are all things, as we have been taught; and his son Jesus Christ, who manifestly always existed with the Father, before the beginning of time in the spirit with the Father, indescribably begotten before all things, and all things visible and invisible were made by him. He was made man, conquered death and was received into Heaven, to the Father who gave him all power over every name in Heaven and on Earth and in Hell, so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe. And we look to his imminent coming again, the judge of the living and the dead, who will render to each according to his deeds. And he poured out his Holy Spirit on us in abundance, the gift and pledge of immortality, which makes the believers and the obedient into sons of God and co-heirs of Christ who is revealed, and we worship one God in the Trinity of holy name.
He himself said through the prophet: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me [Psalm 50:15].” And again: “It is right to reveal and publish abroad the works of God.”
I am imperfect in many things, nevertheless I want my brethren and kinsfolk to know my nature so that they may be able to perceive my soul’s desire.
Wait, wait. There must be some mistake. Where’s the part about drinking green beer till you puke?(Joking).
Have a blessed St. Patrick’s Day.
gorgeous. Thank you very much.
Phil, my friend T. M. Moore has done extensive research on Celtic Christianity and is quite an expert on the life of St. Patrick, St. Brendan, St. Brigid, and others. Check out his website at http://www.myparuchia.com where you can also find his book The Legacy of Patrick.
You can also sign up for a daily devotional email from T. M. called “Crossfigell” which includes his meditation on quotes from Celtic Christian heroes like Patrick. Good stuff!
A few months ago I read ‘Patrick’ by S. Lawhead. For people interested I thought it was good… but not great. (I did enjoy it.)
– I’ve recently read ‘Hood’ by Lawhead, and I thought the writing was better. I enjoyed it a lot. (When I was growing up the local tv channel played reruns of Robin Hood, which I loved.)
I was referring to the tv series; and I can’t remember where it was produced.
Lars reviewed Patrick a while back. I remember he thought Lawhead forced an anti-Catholicism on the character that could not have been historically accurate.
As for Robin Hood, I remember watch many shows of a British version (I think). Maybe that’s the same one you saw. It had the feel of a literary adaptation, not flashy.
It may have been “The Legend of Robin Hood” series from 1975. The imagery I’ve found looks familiar, but I can’t tell much about it. And there were several episodes, so I wouldn’t think it was a short-lived series.
Or it may have been the old, old Robin Hood series from the 1950s, starring Richard Green. Loved that show when I was a kid. I have learned since, to my horror, that it was written by blacklisted American commies who fled to England to find work. “Steal from the rich, give to the poor. Hm.”
Still a fun show, though, if silly and low-budget.
That wasn’t the series I saw. Here’s a link for the curious. I hadn’t seen that one before, but I did find a video clip of the show on YouTube.
“This is hold up, not a botany lesson!”