Happy Saint Patrick's Day

[nedandres]

As a boy Patrick was taken as a slave by some pirates to Ireland. He worked as a shepherd and one night turned his life over to Christ while he was tending his flock. Later he escaped after dreaming of a boat that would take him home. Years later he returned to Ireland, where he had previously been a slave and where he would be in danger of being recaptured, because he felt the call of God on his life to be a missionary there, considered a pagan country. In Ireland he founded over 300 hundred churches and baptized thousands of people in the Christian faith. According to tradition, he died on March 17. Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all!!! I leave you with "Saint Patrick's Breast-Plate Prayer."

I bind to myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and 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 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 to myself today.
I bind to myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind to myself today
Your power, O God, to hold and lead,
Your eye to watch, your might to stay,
Your ear to hearken to my need,
Your wisdom, O my God, to teach,
Your hand to guide, your shield to ward,
Your living Word to give me speech,
Your heavenly host to be my guard.
I bind to myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Patrick

[JeriJet]

Mar 17, 2019 16:34:49 GMT -5 nedandres said:

As a boy Patrick was taken as a slave by some pirates to Ireland. He worked as a shepherd and one night turned his life over to Christ while he was tending his flock. Later he escaped after dreaming of a boat that would take him home. Years later he returned to Ireland, where he had previously been a slave and where he would be in danger of being recaptured, because he felt the call of God on his life to be a missionary there, considered a pagan country. In Ireland he founded over 300 hundred churches and baptized thousands of people in the Christian faith. According to tradition, he died on March 17. Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all!!! I leave you with "Saint Patrick's Breast-Plate Prayer."

I bind to myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and 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 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 to myself today.
I bind to myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind to myself today
Your power, O God, to hold and lead,
Your eye to watch, your might to stay,
Your ear to hearken to my need,
Your wisdom, O my God, to teach,
Your hand to guide, your shield to ward,
Your living Word to give me speech,
Your heavenly host to be my guard.
I bind to myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One, and One in Three.
Patrick

Ned, thank you for giving me a reason to "appreciate" Saint Patrick's Day -- all it ever meant to me was an abundance of drinking (by others), so I despised the idea !!  Unfortunately, that's what it means to many folks... a shame.

[nedandres]

Unfortunately religious holidays or events are often used for debauchery. Since the beginning of time! But I try to celebrate their essence and teach my family to do the same. 👍

[carol]

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children’s children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.

♥♥♥

I wish you not a path devoid of clouds,
Nor a life on a bed of roses,
not that you might never need regret,
nor that you should never feel pain.
No, that is not my wish for you.

My wish for you is:
That you might be brave in times of trial,
when others lay crosses upon your shoulders.
When mountains must be climbed,
and chasms are to be crossed.
When hope can scarce shine through.

That your gift God gave you
Might grow along with you
and let you give the gift of joy
to all who care for you.

That you may always have a friend
who is worth that name.
Whom you can trust, and who helps
you in times of sadness.
Who will defy the storms
of daily life at your side.

One more wish I have for you
that in every hour of joy and pain
you may feel God close to you.
This is my wish for you,
and all who care for you.
This is my hope for you,
Now and forever.

[nedandres]

That is beautiful, Carol. Thank you!

[JeriJet]

Carol -- what is that from ??

[carol]

JeriJet It's a traditional Irish Blessing. You can google "Traditional Irish Blessing"and find it.

[patriciaanne]

It is also part of the lore of St. Patrick that he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity.

I'm getting old. The closest I came to debauchery on St. Patrick's Day was scrubbing out the water troughs and doing tractor work out in the pasture.

[nedandres]

Haha. I said religious holidays like St. Pattie's Day were often used for debauchery. I was not thinking of you, Patriciaanne!!!!!

[patriciaanne]

Mar 19, 2019 9:41:42 GMT -5 nedandres said:

Haha. I said religious holidays like St. Pattie's Day were often used for debauchery. I was not thinking of you, Patriciaanne!!!!!

Thank you, Ned. I was confident you weren't speaking of me. 😀

St. Paddy's Day is a big cultural celebration for my family and we have years of wonderful memories of going downtown and watching my father march in the NYC parade. His friend was on the parade committee so we had a great viewing spot. Afterward we went to my grandmother's for dinner and had all the traditional fare.

I'm a bit disappointed in myself for not doing anything, particularly because I should have taken my mother out. I did call her to see if she wanted to go to the dinner at the American Legion, but she hadn't gotten her hair done. Based on our conversation on Saturday, she didn't think I'd be going. And my mother does NOT go anywhere if her hair isn't done. Me...I'd just wear a baseball cap. 😁😃

My parents first date was on St. Paddy's Day.

☘️☘️☘️❤️💚❤️☘️☘️☘️

[nedandres]

I can understand your mom. As for me, mostly bald, no hair styling!!!

That is so neat, that your parents' first date was on March 17! I think Patrick passed away on that day in 461 AD. Hurray for the Irish!