A double blessing today: our priest sharing our special saint day and blessing our current home.
Poor St. Patrick, courageous, faithful, selfless – reduced today to green beer and Lucky Charms. (don't get me wrong though – we do plenty of silly, happy things to celebrate too) He was brutally kidnapped from a comfortable family home on the island where my own family now lives. Taken by force, enslaved for YEARS, in cold isolation. Where many would grow bitter and their hearts as frigid as the windy hills where he was charged with wet, wild sheep, he took refuge in prayer. Year after year, exposed to the elements he cried out to God, Who heard and rescued.
He was not content to live the rest of his days in safety. He knew this world would never be that. It called for service, not ease. He answered that call by returning to minister to the very people who abused him. In constant danger, he stayed there in the midst of them, bringing them truth and light.
In a world that worships liberation and insists happiness rests in saving oneself, he is a paradox, a puzzle. A saint.
A fervent Irish prayer to say and share this day:
Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless the doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within…
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we
May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.
Dinner tonight was:
Ideas we are working on for the month of March here under St Patrick. I try to have one theme per month to linger through. It is Ireland this month.
We are reading:
Can't say enough about the last two books. I adore the "This is…" series.
Starry Sky Journal 