What do you know about St. Patrick?
He supposedly
died on March 17, 460 AD. Hundreds of years later it was designated as a
Christian Feast Day, which is now celebrated around the world in various forms.
St. Patrick was
known for being a humble and creative missionary to Ireland. Ironically, he
wasn’t Irish, but was born into an extremely wealthy family in Britain.
Captured by pirates at 16, he served as a shepherd during his captivity.
Instead of abandoning his faith, he exploded in devotion to God through prayer
during his captivity!!! He later was ordained and eagerly journeyed back to
Ireland to spread the gospel to the pagan country.
St. Patrick was truly humbled and continued the rest of his life
as a humble missionary. He lived out Jesus’s teachings on humility.
Matthew 23:1-3, 5a, 11-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The
teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they
tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they
preach…5Everything they do is done for people to see…
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be
humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Now that I know a
bit more about St. Patrick, I want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day quite
differently! How will you celebrate differently today?
St. Patrick was a
humble man of prayer, so mirroring that is one way…
We can’t just
decide to be humble, but we can ask God to help us grow in humility, devotion
and a heart of prayer.
Alice
