Happy St. Patricks Day!

About St. Patrick

The patron saint of Ireland and the Irish, was born about 385 A.D. in Northern Wales. He studied religion in Europe to become a priest and bishop. He then brought Christianity to the Irish by teaching in Ireland for 29 years. According to early Irish tradition, he died on March 17, 461 AD. The anniversary of his death is celebrated as Saint Patrick's Day. St. Patrick is most known around the world as driving all the snakes out of Ireland through trickery.

An Irish tale tells of how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.



Green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, Ireland, and the shamrock.

Today St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17 by the Irish as well as many Canadians with parades, parties, wearing of green, Irish songs and jigs.

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

Christ, be with me.

Christ before me, Christ behind me.

Christ is me, Christ beneath me,Christ above me.

Christ on my right,Christ on my left.

 Christ where I love, Christ where I sit, Christ where I rise.

 Christ in the heart of everyone 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.
 

Wearing Of The Green  

Wearin' of the green is considered an act of paying tribute to Ireland. It is said that it also brings good luck, especially when worn on St. Patrick's Day. Many long years ago, playful Irish children gave birth to the tradition of pinching those forgetting to wear green on St. Patrick's Day and the tradition is still practiced today. 

Green is the national color of Ireland and is symbolic of the Emerald Isle's lush green landscape. It also represents another of Ireland's national symbols, the shamrock, in honor of their patron saint. During the end of the 4th century, the shamrock was used by Saint Patrick in his missionary work to convert the people of Ireland to Christianity. He chose the three leafed shape of the shamrock to use as a symbolic representation of the Holy Trinity. The shamrock's shape also resembled the shape of a cross.

Did you know that finding a four leaf clover on St. Patrick's Day carries twice the amount of good luck and fortune? So all you northerners, it's time to shovel the grass and start looking...lol