Thanks for ridding Ireland of snakes – let’s go catch some beads!

               
You gotta love St. Patty’s season in Baton Rouge!  From what I understand (I haven’t done a Wikipedia search or anything so “official.”), St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland because he rid the island of snakes.  Great move, Pat.  Strong.  Heroic.  Attaboy!  Having grown up as an Evangelical Protestant Christian, I don’t pretend to understand the Catholic system of declaring sainthood.  And having grown up as a Yankee (North of I-10, in Central Arkansas to be exact), I sure don’t understand how celebrating the life of this outstanding fellow warrants purposeful hard drinking and standing around in the streets pawing for flying beadware.  But it sure is a good time!  So today, my family will head over to the home of some new friends from church who just happen to live directly on the St. Patty’s Parade route.  Bring on the beads, baby!

For my original St. Patrick’s Day post, “Plastic and Beer”  from 2007.

And here is one of my all time favorite prayers, the “Shield of St. Patrick”:

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three.
I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ’s incarnation,

His baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken 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 hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!