Coffee Shop Goss Banora Point > Kirra Beach March 2014 | Page 9

THE LUCK
OF THE
IRISH
Saint Patrick is the patron saint and
national apostle of Ireland. St Patrick
is credited with bringing christianity to
Ireland. Most of what is known about him
comes from his two works; the Confession,
a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola,
a denunciation of British mistreatment
of Irish christians. Saint Patrick described
himself as a “most humble-minded man,
pouring forth a continuous paean of
thanks to his Maker for having chosen him
as the instrument whereby multitudes who
had worshipped idols and unclean things
had become the people of God.”
Many folk ask the question ‘Why is the
Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland?’
The reason is that St. Patrick used it to
explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans. Saint
Patrick is believed to have been born in the
late fourth century, and is often confused
with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by
Pope Celestine in 431 to be the first bishop
to the Irish believers in Christ.
Saint Patrick is most known for driving the
snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no
snakes in Ireland, but there probably never
have been - the island was separated
from the rest of the continent at the end
of the Ice Age. As in many old pagan
religions, serpent symbols were common
and often worshipped. Driving the snakes
from Ireland was probably symbolic of
putting an end to that pagan practice.
While not the first to bring Christianity to
Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have
encountered the Druids at Tara and
abolished their pagan rites. The story holds

that he converted the warrior chiefs and
princes, baptizing them and thousands
of their subjects in the “Holy Wells” that
still bear this name.
There are several accounts of Saint
Patrick’s death. One says that Patrick
died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on
March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was
preserved in a silver shrine and was
often requested in times of childbirth,
epileptic fits, and as a preservative
against the “evil eye.” Another account
says that St. Patrick ended his days at
Glastonbury, England and was buried
there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as
part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many
Catholic places of worship all around the
world are named after St. Patrick, including
cathedrals in New York and Dublin city.
Why Saint Patrick’s Day?
Saint Patrick’s Day has come to be
associated with everything Irish: anything
green and gold, shamrocks and luck.
Most importantly, to those who celebrate
its intended meaning, St. Patrick’s Day is
a traditional day for spiritual renewal and
offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.
So, why is it celebrated on March 17th?
One theory is that that is the day that St.
Patrick died. Since the holiday began in
Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread
out around the world, they took with them
their history and celebrations. The biggest
observance of all is, of course, in Ireland.
With the exception of restaurants and
pubs, almost all businesses close on March
17th. Being a religious holiday as well,
many Irish attend mass, where March 17th
is the traditional day for offering prayers for
missionaries worldwide before the serious
celebrating begins.
In American cities with a large Irish
population, St. Patrick’s Day is a very
big deal. Big cities and small towns alike
celebrate with parades, “wearing of the
green,” music and songs, Irish food and
drink, and activities for kids such as crafts,
coloring and games. Some communities
even go so far as to dye rivers or streams
green!

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