FEAST OF ST. PATRICK (No
corn beef but Bishop may allow)
Deuteronomy, Chapter
31, Verse 6
Be strong and steadfast; have no fear
or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will
never fail you or forsake you.
“Lord, thank you for helping me see more clearly than ever that
“what I am” is your gift to me and “what I become” is my gift back to you.”
(Poem by Melvin Banggollay)
He did not create us out of necessity;
He did not need us. He did not create us out of justice; He owed us nothing.
No, it is to His sheer love that we owe our existence. Therefore, we must
strive to be humble in accepting our mistakes, to know how to say, “I was
wrong.” You have good qualities—great qualities. Are you not a marvel of creation,
made in the image of God? You are a masterpiece of His love, wounded,
disfigured by sin, but remade by the Redeemer, more beautiful than before—and
at what a price! Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good. One drowns
very quickly in gall. Keep watch, therefore, over your soul; swallow the
bitterness, as Jesus swallowed the vinegar on Calvary, and know how to smile at
those who cause you pain. Poverty, austerity, fasting, prayer, and the gift of
miracles, without love of our brothers, all are pure illusion. Jesus, meek and
humble of heart, give me Your Heart to love my neighbor. The doctrine of
abandonment, which sees God in everything, will make you marvelously available
for this work. This is one of its richest secrets, for it obliges us to renounce,
when necessary, our own views and our little personal plans, even our plans for
sanctification. This total abandonment is the pinnacle of holiness and love,
because it identifies us more perfectly with Jesus, who lived only to do the
will of His Father.[1]
ST. PATRICK[2] was
born towards the close of the fourth century, but the place of his birth is not
positively known. Britain and Scotland both claim the honor, but the best
authorities seem to agree upon Brittany, in France. In his sixteenth year he
was carried into captivity by certain barbarians, who took him into Ireland,
where he was obliged to keep cattle on the mountains and in the forests, in
hunger and nakedness, amidst snows, rain, and ice. The young man had recourse
to God with his whole heart in fervent prayer and fasting: and from that time
faith and the love of God acquired continually new strength in his tender soul.
After six months spent in slavery under the same master St. Patrick was
admonished by God in a dream to return to his own country, and informed that a
ship was then ready to sail thither. He went at once to the seacoast, though at
a great distance, and found the vessel. After three days sail they made land,
but wandered twenty-seven days through deserts, and were a long while
distressed for want of provisions. Patrick assured the company that if they
would address themselves with their whole hearts to the true God He would hear and
succor them. They did so, and on the same day met with a herd of swine. From
that time provisions never failed them, till on the twenty-seventh day they
came into a country that was cultivated and inhabited. Some years afterwards he
was again led captive, but recovered his liberty after two months. When he was
at home with his parents, God manifested to him, by divers visions, that He
destined him to the great work of the conversion of Ireland. The writers of his
life say that after his second captivity he travelled into Gaul and Italy, and
saw St. Martin, St. Germanus of Auxerre, and Pope Celestine, and that he
received his mission and the apostolical benediction from this Pope, who died
in 432. Great opposition was made to his episcopal consecration and mission,
both by his own relations and by the clergy; but the Lord, Whose will he
consulted by earnest prayer, supported him, and he persevered in his
resolution. He forsook his family, sold his birthright and dignity to serve
strangers, and consecrated his soul to God, to carry His name to the ends of
the earth. In this disposition he passed into Ireland to preach the Gospel,
penetrating into the remotest corners; and such was the fruit of his
preaching’s and sufferings that he baptized an infinite number of people. He
ordained everywhere clergymen, induced women to live in holy widowhood and
continence, consecrated virgins to Christ, and instituted monks. He took
nothing from the many thousands whom he baptized, but gave freely of his own,
both to pagans and Christians, distributed large alms to the poor in the
provinces where he passed, and maintained and educated many children, whom he
trained to serve at the altar. The happy success of his labors cost him many
persecutions. He died and was buried at Down, in Ulster. His body was found
there in a church of his name in 1185, and translated to another part of the
same church.
My spring edition of Be Not Afraid is now available at my estore.
A WARRIORS BREASTPLATE[3]
I
bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, his
might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need; the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward; the word of God to give me speech, his
heavenly host to be my guard. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ
behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to
comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger, Christ in the hearts of all that love me, Christ in the mouth
of friend and stranger. Amen
Aids in Battle[4] Declarations of Victory from the Word of God
When you become weakened and the outcome of the war seems uncertain, recall in faith that God’s ultimate triumph is secure.
·
You are of God, dear children, and have overcome
him, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 Jn 4: 4
·
The LORD goes forth like a mighty man, like a
man of war He stirs up His fury; He cries out, He shouts aloud; He shows
Himself mighty against His foes. Is 42: 13
·
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom
shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the
stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though a host encamp against
me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be
confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I
may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the
beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. For He will hide me in His
shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent,
He will set me upon a high rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my
enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of
joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. . . . I believe
that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for
the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD!
Ps 27: 1– 6, 13– 14
·
For, behold, Your enemies, O LORD, for, behold,
Your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. Ps 92: 9
Daily Devotions/Prayers
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