THE CELTIC CONNECTION • MARCH 1992
ST. PAT'S SPECIAL 1-B
Page 15
CELEBRATE ST. PATRICKS DAY! 8-PAGE PULL-OUT SECTION
A Slave Who Became a Saint
By TREASA O'DRISCOLL
arch 17th is the day on which it all comes together for two known world streams — those who are Irish and those who wish they were Irish!
The greenery and begorah of it all gives evidence of a widespread tendency to view the native sons of the aula sod as "a collection of high-spirited half-wits who, when not engaged in fighting, praying, drinking whiskey or paying you compliments, spend most of their time dancing jigs and seeing leprechauns".
In my memory, St. Patrick's was the day which brought welcome relief from the exigencies of Lent, a day for gorging on sweets that were being saved for Easter Sunday. It was a day when you saw little of your father, who was making up for all the pints he had missed since Ash Wednesday. But it was also a day of serious artistic endeavour in every convent school. St. Patrick's story was dutifully recorded in pageant, story and song, because there was a great deal of it to stir the imagination.
Patrick was born in Wales, and was captured at the age of 16 by a maraudinglrishking. He was kept as a slave for six years, herding flocks in Northern Ireland. Here his spirit was awakened and he spent his days and nights in a joyful surrender of fasting and prayer.
A mystic, he beheld visions and heard voices which revealed to him his life's task. Following his guides, he returned to Britain and became Bishop of the Roman Church. When the time was ripe, he embarked upon a mission his colleagues regarded as foolhardy in the extreme — the mission of converting Ireland to Christianity.
Thesuccess was total—the inherent spirituality of the Celtic way of life
Eroved fertile ground for the seeds e would sow. Patrick was possessed of a courageous energy valued above all by the warriors. He caught the imagination of kings and petty kings whose chief forms of sport were warring and feasting.
Patrick became the first hero to gain ground by peaceful means; powerful, mystical druids yielded to him. Ancient practices were adapted to the new evolutionary paradigm he so simply demonstrated with the shamrock. The mystery of the Trinity, one in threeand three inoneshonebrightly before the souls of the newly baptized Christians. And his reverence for the spoken word endeared him to the people.
The spiritual knowledge and natural wisdom he communicated became part of the oral tradition. He travelled every inch of the country and is legendary in his association with bells, lakes and wells in every county of Ireland.
A GREAT HEART, A GREATER DESTINY
This drawing of St. Patrick was created by Kathleen Marney, currently writer of "The Celtic Word" ioiTheCelticConnection. Kathleen makes her home in North Vancouver with her husband and daughter. Born in New Mexico, she has lived in California, New York, and more recently on a small farm in Mastqui,B.C. Kathleen and her partner/husband Cy are involved in the craft of wooden puzzlery and have produced a line of elaborate art-piece puzzles. Ms. Marney also illustrates greeting cards.
Inspired by stories of Celtic Saints and account of the Christianising of the Celts, she is possessed of a fascination surround ing the marriage of the pagan/poet/warriorculture to the profoundly committed Christian community emerging out of 6th Century Ireland.
"This was a marriage between lovers, and not a forced marriage as has been the case with many
geople to whom the Word of ioa was brought. The Celts heard it, and Patrick was among the first graceful teachers." He
St. Patrick was a slave who became a saint and the lesson of his life still applies today. From him we learn that adversity often precipitates spiritual awakening, and that so called obstacles on our path are often only grist to the mill of our own evolution.
My most frequently attended prayer is the following, attributed to Patrick, known as his Breastplate:
Christ with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ above me
Christ below me
Christ to my right
Christ to my left
Christ where I lie
Christ where I rise
Christ where I sit
Christ where I stand
Christ in the eye of everyone who
sees of me
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me.
When Patrick spoke these words he could become invisible to adversarial forces. The lines form a powerful protection around one. By speaking them often, we can, like Patrick,Decome radiant centres of love in the world.
was a teacher of great fervour and power, "My vision of him is firstly that of an imminently human man."
In this rendering, his mouth is made for poetry and persuasion. He is sensitive, determined and strong with the Will of God. He's a visionary; a man with a great heart, and a greater destiny.
Although Patrick was born on the mainland of Britain, it is very likely that he was himself a Celt. In his own autobiographical accounts, he makes clear his profound affection for the Irish people.
He is depicted here as a monk, although he was in fact, the Bishop of Ireland. He is shown holding the shamrock, illustrating the Trinity, and harkening to that Voice which is his strength.
Kathleen is now working on a sefies of illustrations of the Celtic Saints. Thus far, she has completed Patrick and Brigid. Iniages are evolving for Columba of Iona and St. David of Wales.
Featuring:
Imported Guinness Draft, Live Entertainment
(Thursday through Saturday)
and a touch of Blarney
STONE
PUB & RESTAURANT RED DEER
Red Deer's only Traditional Irish Pub #1 - 6320 50th Ave.. Red Deer, Alberta
Central Alberta Irish Sports and Cultural Association
wishes a
Happy St. Patrick's Day
For information on upcoming events in Red Deer's Irish community please contact
Eamon McCann
President (403) 347-9991, 843-3322 or
Josephine Lynch (403) 347-6684