 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Thursday, March 17, 2022 St Patrick(after Moses and Esther)   The Prayer attributed to St Patrick(which is even likely true) I arise todayThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,. Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. I arise todayThrough the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise todayThrough the strength of the love of cherubim,In obedience of angels,In service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In preachings of the apostles, In faiths of confessors,In innocence of virgins, In deeds of righteous men. I arise todayThrough the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock. I arise today Through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s hosts to save me From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, From every one who desires me ill, Afar and anear, Alone or in a multitude. I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that reward may come to me in abundance. 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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness,Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation — St. Patrick, 5th century AD Who was Patrick? Born in Roman Britain in 385, Patrick – whose name may have been something quite different originally – was the son of a city administrator who was also a deacon; his grandfather was a priest. But Patrick himself, typical teenager, wasn’t especially interested in God. At sixteen, he was kidnapped by the Irish and taken to herd animals; after six years he heard a voice that urged him to make his way to the coast where he would find a ship to take him home. He traveled 200 miles, found a ship that eventually returned him to what is now England. We have these and other details from his own autobiographical writing: the Confession (ie, not a “confession” of sin, but a “Declaration.”)His testimony is that during his enslavement, he spent time praying and reflecting and was converted to the faith of his parents and grandparents. It is quite moving. You might look it up and read it. He decided to become a priest, and traveled to Europe to study, where he was also ordained. Having learned the Irish language and customs when he was enslaved, he was prepared when in a dream he saw an Irish man hand him a letter. When he opened it, it said, “We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk with us.” And so he did. He served as a missionary priest: celebrated Eucharist, baptized, preached, was later ordained bishop and ordained others. Because he refused to accept gifts from kings and other local lords, he was left outside the tribal ties of affinity, kinship and fosterage. He wisely did this to stay out of political and social intrigue and regional entanglements, but it made things difficult for him. He also wrote a second treatise, to Coroticus, a Christian Brit who was apparently living in Ireland; Patrick excommunicated him for selling his converts into slavery. It may be true that Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, but there is no literal truth to the much later legend that he drove the snakes out of Ireland, There never were any there to drive out! However, it may be that the legend used the idea of driving out snakes metaphorically to indicate practices and persons associated with pre-Christian paganism which he would have seen as demonic. Patrick – Patricius – “father” never returned to live in his home country. Like many missionaries before and after him, when he heard a call to go, he stayed – forever. He died in northern Ireland probably in about 461, widely loved then – and now. This is the third story in a singe week of someone who heard – and obeyed – but each call came differently. Moses – saw a bush burning but not burnt up; and heard a voice, and was given a job. He started reluctantly, but went. Esther the Queen listened to her uncle, Mordecai, trusted his wisdom, with no miracle or voice from God; and because she did, Israel was saved. And now Patrick, the careless teenager who got himself captured and enslaved, discovers in his period of lonely suffering and homesickness that God was who his father and his grandfather had taught him to trust; and having escaped, he became a priest and returned willingly to the very place of his earlier pain. Pay attention. God can make Godself known, anywhere. anytime. And might offer you a great adventure …  |
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