Paula's Thursday Boost--week 2

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, Rooted youth group members! Saint Patrick seemed like an appropriate topic for this Thursday morning boost. In preparation for this posting, I viewed information at a lot of Catholic and other websites. It is hard to separate the myth and legend about Saint Patrick from the truth because he lived so long ago (389 AD to March 17, 461 AD) and who doesn't like a good myth?

There is consensus that Saint Patrick was born in Britain but was captured by Irish raiders and was taken to Ireland where he lived and worked as a slave until he managed to escape, around age 16. He returned to his home and studied the Christian faith and was later made a bishop. He was assigned to bring the Christian faith to Ireland and was able to use his knowledge of Irish culture from his years in captivity in his efforts to convert the Irish.

Saint Patrick wasn't the first Christian missionary to Ireland but was certainly one of the most successful as he brought Christianity to Ireland. Saint Patrick is still venerated not only by the Irish but in other countries as well. We certainly are very familiar with Saint Patrick and his feast day here in the United States. Shamrocks are a popular Saint Patrick's day symbol. Legend has it that Saint Patrick used the simple shamrock, which has three leaves, as a way of teaching the Irish about the Holy Trinity-God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

As you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, enjoy the "wearing 'o the green" and all things Irish, but perhaps recite and reflect on the prayer, St. Patrick's Breastplate. It is a popular prayer attributed to Saint Patrick, who, according to tradition, wrote it in 433 A.D. for divine protection before successfully converting the Irish King Leoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity (The term breastplate refers to a piece of armor worn in battle). (My source for this information is ourcatholicprayers.com):

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

Does any of it seem familiar? Part of it is used for our Saint Patrick parish Jubilee prayer card you can find in every pew at our church. For the full version, go to https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/st-patricks-breastplate.html. It's quite beautiful!

Check out a song based on the prayer. The song is called "The Deer's Cry". Click here for the video.

Yours in Christ,

Paula O'Goetzinger