According to my father

According to my father, there's only one thing worse than being Irish. . .

. . .and that's NOT being Irish!

Related Tags: St. Patrick's Day

Himself

St. Patrick, the figure we're celebrating today, is associated with many Irish symbols – the shamrock and the gift of gab, for example. But, alas, he didn't have the luck of the Irish. Born somewhere along the British coastline in 389AD, Patrick was captured by a raiding party when he was 14-years-old, taken to Ireland and sold as a slave. While tending the flocks of a Druid chieftain, Patrick spent much of his time alone and in prayer, strengthening his Christian faith.

After six years of captivity, Patrick escaped, returned home and took up studies for the priesthood. He later returned to Ireland and began a 40-year mission of converting its people. He died on March 17, 461AD.

Legend has it that St. Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. If this is true, it would add one more claim to St. Patrick's fame: Status as one of the world's earliest industrial hygienists. Unfortunately, it's probably not true. According to scientists, there were no snakes in post-glacial Ireland. The whole banishment of serpents legend is thus best understood as an allegory symbolizing St. Patrick's purging Ireland of pagans.

St. Patrick By Catherine Jones

Links are not necessarily related to the sentence at hand; all are links to St. Patrick, from histories to kid's pages.

Also, be sure to check out this from Kim at The Upward Call

Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick's Day is a happy day,

So put your troubles all away

And wear a bit of Irish green

And dance a jig with me.

Come dance a jig with me, colleen;

We'll dance the fastest ever seen.

We'll swing and whirl and be so gay

On this Saint Patrick's Day!

(Image "stolen" from Donna)

God's Minute 3/17

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice.--Psalm 27:7

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth. Thou art our God, and the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through Whom we, Thy children of faith, have the forgiveness of our sins. Thou art our father's God; and Whom they in the flesh confidently worshiped, we, their children, would also reverently worship and adore.

Humbly, yet devotedly, would we give thanks to Thee, O God, for Thy great love revealed to us in Christ; and for Thy rich and unfailing providences to us, and to all men. For Jesus' sake, receive our thanks. Continue Thy loving favors to us, and grant us pardon for sin, and life eternal.

Give us, we beseech Thee, the Holy Spirit as our Guide this day, into truth. May He ever comfort us and all Thine in times of sorrow or of trial. May He strengthen us when we are weak. May He raise us up again, if we fall. May He inerpret Thy Word to us, and enable us to do Thy holy will with gladness of heart.

With us, bless also this, our nation, and the whole world with Heavenly peace, for Jesus' sake,

Amen.

John Grant Newman
Philadelphia, Pennsylania

Beautiful Snow

OK, ok, I know I've been longing for spring but a girl can change her mind, can't she?