A day for the Irish - mostly

After one of our Sunday masses last weekend a parishioner, who was decidedly proud of her Irish heritage, came up to me and offered the, "Happy St. Paddy's Day, Father" wish. Although she was a few days early, like Christmas each year when we celebrate that beloved Feast for the entire month of December, I thanked her nonetheless and wished her the same. Then she said, "The day everyone is Irish and those who aren't wish they were." Well, well, as I don't have a corpuscle of Irish blood anywhere in my body I'm not so sure that I'd like to change my lineage at this point. (Anyone up for kielbasa and sauerkraut?) Nothing at all against the good Irish people but try as I might, I'm not Irish and never will be. However, it is a day to remember the sainted missionary Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland as he is called, and the fact that he wasn't Irish either!

Born in Scotland around the end of the fourth century, his parents were Romans living in Britain in charge of the colonies. So, does this mean that Patrick is really Patricio? Is he really of Italian origin? At the age of fourteen, he was captured during a raid and then taken to Ireland where he tended sheep. Eventually he left Ireland, was ordained a priest, then felt the call to return to that Island nation and plant the seed of the Christian faith among a people who at first received him with little of the legendary Irish hospitality. "Top of the mornin to ya" was not exactly heard. It might have been more like, "Off with his head!" Those who worshiped trees and other flora and fauna, as my own East European ancestors did before Christianity struck, are not too receptive to seeing the divine being in another form.

But eventually, through Patrick's determination, courage, and his own inspiring faith, Christianity took root in that land and the rest is history as we say.

Sadly, present day conditions among the Irish people both socially, economically, and religious have met some mighty challenges at this time. That nation is reeling with the need for a major come to Jesus seminar. But, through prayer and transparency, the same cleansing process needed here will produce signs of hope and new life over there.

Don't forget the great Solemnity of St. Joseph this coming Friday. A man who not only spoke about Jesus but knew him intimately as the husband of Mary who was given a never before or since singular privilege to care for Our Lord on this earth during Jesus' developing years.

So, enjoy St. Patrick's no matter what your particular heritage may be. Put an "O'" in front of your name if you like and give thanks for the gift of all missionaries who labor in the vineyard of the Lord. Our fatih has come to us second hand, in a sense, from somewhere and from someone else who, like Patrick, listened to the call of the Spirit.

Who has been a Patrick in your life? Give thanks for that person who nurtured you in the faith and as Lent continues become a Patrick yourself to nurture that same faith in another.