J.M.J.

+

Hello, my Friend! Hello today!

I hope  you are in a good way!

No matter rain, sleet, snow, or shine,

I always hope your day is fine!

Guess what tomorrow is, my Friend!

A day I do not want to end…

This special day comes every year…

This day that is so very dear…

‘Tis of St. Patrick’s Day I speak,

The day for all, both strong and meek!

St. Patrick lived so long ago,

But to this day we still well know,

How he taught of Jesus, our King,

Who causes our Church bells to ring!

St. Patrick was such a young man…

When his life changed ‘cause of God’s plan.

One day some Irish pirates came,

To steal…and Patrick they did claim.

These pirates brought him to Ireland…

After they stole him from his land.

They sold him as a slave and he

So missed his home and his Fam’ly.

Patrick’s told us in his own ways*,

How much he prayed back in those days…

That all this helped him love God so,

And his Faith grew and he did know

So much of God he never knew…

His trust in God just grew and grew!

‘Twas as a shepherd, tending sheep,

He prayed so much, often…no sleep.

Time came, though, when God had him go

Back to his Fam’ly…but he’d know*

No fear that day…and unafraid,

On a ship, his escape was made.

Young Patrick sailed home on that day,

All this is true, what I do say…

Including when food did run out,

And the ship’s Captain, he did shout,

And told Patrick that he should pray

So they’d have food to eat that day.

And Patrick told them to believe

That God was with them…would not leave…

And that all things God sure could do…

Patrick had learned this…this he knew.

This hungry group then ate and ate,

God did provide…without a wait.

When they had eaten and were full,

They were to God, just so thankful.**

Dear Patrick, as most of us know…

He did come back so he could show

All in Ireland of God’s grand care,

For each of us,  no matter where.

So many stories could be told.

That’s how it’s been since days of old,

When  good St. Patrick loved us all,

No matter whether tall or small.

St. Patrick is a Friend of ours,

Even more than trees and flowers.

   

He gave his life for we Irish

No more, from St. Pat, could we wish.

One thing, though, more I need to say,

And that is to tell you the way

We Leprechauns try helping some,

And that’s in how shamrocks do come!

    

We spread the seeds in every place,

We travel to, or show our face!

These shamrocks are always a sign,

Of one God-Three Persons Divine.

St. Patrick knew the trisceal sight****

Would help the shamrock shed some Light,

On teaching of the Trinity,

To all, who would, that shamrock, see!

   

So, when you see those shamrocks green,

Just know that, though, we’ve been unseen,

   

That Leprechauns help them to grow.

So all the world can, for sure, know,

That God-Three Persons wants to show

Us all The Love that’s always so…

This is God’s  Love  that never ends.***

   

I hope that we are always Friends.

I am so glad we talked today!

God bless you is what I do say!

Note from Nannie:

“St. Patrick often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity and entire kingdoms were eventually converted to Christianity after hearing Patrick’s message…Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. So complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission, he feared nothing – not even death…

The Breastplate is Patrick’s poem of faith and trust in God…

Christ be 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 inquired,

Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.”  

                                                                                                   (Catholic Online at Catholic.org)

 Have a wonderful and happy day tomorrow!

Good St. Patrick, please pray for each and every day!

*Confessio (St. Patrick’s own words) translated by Pádraig McCarthy – #17

** Confessio – #19

***The Love That Never Ends – A Key to the Catechism of the Catholic Church by                 J. Augustine DiNoia, O.P., Gabriel O’Donnell, O.P., Romanus Cesario, O.P., and               Peter John Cameron, O.P.

The Book of Saints, Part 1, by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D., and

Lives of the Saints for Boys, by Louis M. Savary were also used as guides for the text of this story-rhyme.

****See Post 64