ON MARCH 17th, Saint Patrick's Day, Irish people here and all over, the world will give thanks for the faith that has come and is coming to us. In our land, once called "the Land of Saints and Scholars", there will be church services, sermons, pilgrimages, visits to shrines associated with Patrick parades and celebrations in hearts and homes.
For believers it is essentially a day of prayer. They gladly express heartfelt thanks to God for the faith and all it means: Belief in The Supreme Being winning adoration ... inspiring trust and devotion ... giving us purpose .... removing any sense of loneliness, and providing a deep and satisfying companionship with the Peace; that God longs to give each of us.
Dr. George Simms, from his study of Saint Patrick's writings," tells of the saint's warm and frank personality. In speaking about Saint Patrick's upbringing, he. strikes a chord in line with many. young people's experience today.
"Brought up in a believing, ministering family, Patrick found himself admitting that he had not known the true God. Out of agnosticism he found a firm, articulate faith."
We do wisely to remember that God is "always more ready to hear than we to pray ." If we are longing for faith or its restoration and deliberately set aside a space in time inviting His coming, how often that is what happens. He makes Himself known to us and keeps company with us thereafter. It is wonderful, and happened to Saint Patrick.
With the shamrock in evidence, with church bells ringing, with various traditions being observed, we may set aside a quiet moment to think of Patrick. Out of that experience of finding and being found by God, Patrick became the apostle of the Irish people. Despite our history including much that is contrary to God's will, there is much evidence of God's purpose being achieved. Patrick "caught" the vision of the King of Love, a vision that persists. We can have it too. As we think of this, we might find a little prayer helpful to develop a real Saint Patrick's Day atmosphere:
"We remember before the this day, our brethren in the streets of our cities and towns those in the depth of far glens and those on rocky windswept coasts and islands. Strengthen the bonds of faith and love that unite those who worship the in populous places and those who worship the in lonely churches of hill and plain. Enable us each to help the other, that through all of us, thy glory may be advanced and thy kingdom built up in this our native land, through Jesus Christ our Lord."