MAYNOOTH - 16 March 2007 - 738 words
Message
for St Patrick's Day from Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Sean
Brady
In memory of our most revered Father in the Lord Jesus, Patrick,
Apostle to the Irish People, I hope that these words of mine may
somehow touch the hearts of all who hear or read or hear about
them.
The impending celebration of the principal Patron of Ireland moves
me to ask myself, first of all, and to reflect to all who truly
love Christ a simple, but what I consider, a deep question:
Apart from the functional liturgical remembrance of Patrick on
Saturday 17 March 2007; apart from the civil and political and
military parades in Dublin and elsewhere; apart from frivolous
ways of displaying, explaining and drowning the shamrock, what
is the importance of Patrick for our struggle to follow Christ
in this twenty-first century? Has he anything to offer by way
of example or inspiration? What does his own spiritual presence
mean to his beloved Irish people?
For in my own heart I sincerely know that Patrick's spiritual
presence is very much with us; especially here in Armagh and most
especially with those who slowly and carefully read his Confession
of Grace. Regretfully, this precious writing of Patrick is
not widely known among Irish Christians. But for us on the western
edge of Europe, it is arguably as important as one of the letters
of the New Testament. Because, as in the case of Paul's Epistles,
in his Confession of Grace, Patrick too is writing from
his heart, to the communities to which he, by the grace of God,
has communicated the Good News of Christ's Love.
I am intrigued, as I've said, by Patrick's spiritual presence
among us, in Christian names and place names for example. The
question is: How may this presence be recognised and embraced
and shared among all who truly love Christ, whatever their churchaffiliation?
I am fairly certain that Patrick is now seeking ways to ensure
that his influence will be recognised and welcomed by all Christians
on the island of Ireland, certainly not for his own sake, but
for the sake of that unity and one-mindedness in the Spirit, willed
by the Lord Jesus.
Let me venture to suggest a couple of encouraging possibilities:
- Get a copy of Patrick's Confession of Grace for yourself
and read it slowly;
- See how these traits of Patrick nourish and inspire your own
life as a disciple of Christ; compassionate love for all, no matter
who; willingness to forgive, whoever caused him grief or pain;
constant prayerfulness from the heart; attentiveness to the inner
voice of the guiding Holy Spirit; courage in overcoming all obstacles
to his work; devotion to reading the Bible in ways that guided
him to the best course of action.
- In many ways Patrick is an excellent guide to Easter. Just think
of: his time on Slemish, faithfully tending the flocks; his fidelity
to prayer, both night and day; his attention to the Spirit that
spoke to him in the depths of his heart; his appreciation, above
all, of the call to bring the Good News.
That Good News could be briefly set out in this rough summary
of Patrick's own words: "Through me, unlettered rustic though
I be, the offer is made to you all, my dearest Irish people, of
this priceless opportunity; to be made one with the God of my
Lord and teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, God of compassion and love,
who brings healing and holiness and joy and peace of mind to all.
The God of my Lord and teacher is the only God, who loves all
children and women and men without exception. Let nothing and
no one ever separate you from Him, no matter how noble or patriotic
or profitable the excuse! Because my dearest Irish people, His
love, is everything."
Patrick came so that we might know and love Jesus Christ and make
real in our lives the love of Christ for others. That is the only
vision which will create real peace, genuine wholesomeness and
lasting prosperity for all on this island. There is no other way.
The challenge for all of us is to be consistent and coherent,
not just in honouring Patrick with our lips and our parades but
with our hearts and lives - to honour what he really represents
by earnestly trying to embody it in our own lives.
Source: Irish Catholic Media Office
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