ST PATRICK - Reflection for March 2009
March 17th is the feast day of Ireland's national Saint: St. Patrick. He is known throughout the world as a great missionary and friend of Jesus Christ. He came to Ireland first as a boy slave in the late 4th century, and endured many hardships.

Many years later, having escaped back home, and now a Bishop, he was sent back to Ireland by the then Pope to preach the Gospel. He was a man of great prayer, deep trust in and love for God and the people. Despite suffering a lot of opposition from enemies, he attracted a great many people to the Lord.

As someone who knew what it was to live in a strange land among a strange and sometimes unwelcoming people, he is someone who can help anyone here in Ireland who is in that situation now. Click to read part of a longer prayer for protection attributed to Patrick.

I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me ..

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.