Since it was St. Patrick’s Day this week I thought about our visit several years ago to Armagh, Ireland where there is a great cathedral honoring Patrick. It is also the hometown of Husband’s forebears, so it was a doubly meaningful visit. I have to think that his brave, humble servant of God would have been equally shocked by the ornate cathedral in his name and the raucous celebrations purportedly in his honor every March 17th. He was quick to give God the credit for any good that he accomplished. He was ever mindful of his own shortcomings and the magnificent grace of God. Here are a few of his quotes that give us a glimpse into his utter trust in God and dedication to his service.

“But I entreat those who believe in and fear God, whoever deigns to examine or receive this document composed by the obviously unlearned sinner Patrick in Hibernia [Ireland], that nobody shall ever ascribe to my ignorance any trivial thing that I achieved or may have expounded that was pleasing to God, but accept and truly believe that it would have been the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die.” Patrick. Thought to have died March 17, 461 AD

“… I was corrected by the Lord, and he prepared me so that today I should be what was once far from me, … I should be concerned for the salvation of others, when at that time, still, I was only concerned for myself.”

“Thus, I give untiring thanks to God who kept me faithful … so that today among the barbarians I might constantly exalt and magnify your name in whatever place I should be, and not only in good fortune but even in affliction.  So that whatever befalls me, be it good or bad, I should accept it equally, and give thanks always to God who revealed to me that I might trust in him, implicitly and forever, and who will encourage me …”

“. . . for daily I expect to be murdered or betrayed or reduced to slavery if the occasion arises. But I fear nothing, because of the promises of Heaven; for I have cast myself into the hands of Almighty God, who reigns everywhere. As the prophet says: “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you [Psalm 55:22].”

“Thus, I should give thanks unceasingly to God, who frequently forgave my folly and my negligence, in more than one instance so as not to be violently angry with me, who am placed as his helper, and I did not easily assent to what had been revealed to me, as the Spirit was urging; and the Lord took pity on me thousands upon thousands of times. . .”

The BREASTPLATE of Saint Patrick

“I bind to myself today
The strong power of the invocation of the Trinity;
The faith of the Trinity in unity;
The Creator of the elements.
I bind to myself today,
The power of the incarnation of Christ
With that of His baptism;
The power of His crucifixion
With that of His burial;
The power of the resurrection
With (that of) the ascension;
The power of His coming
To the sentence of judgment.

I bind to myself today,
The power of God to guide me,
The might of God to uphold me,
The wisdom of God to teach me,
The eye of God to watch over me,
The ear of God to hear me,
The Word of God to give me speech,
The hand of God to protect me,
The way of God to prevent me,
The shield of God to shelter me,
The host of God to defend me,

Against the snares of demons,
Against the temptations of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who would injure me
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

“I have set around me all these powers,
Against every hostile, savage power
Directed against my body and my soul;
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,Against the spells of women, and smiths, and Druids.Against all knowledge that blinds the soul of man.

“Christ protect me today,
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ within me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ at my right hand,
Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort (when I am at home),
Christ in the chariot-seat (when I travel),
Christ in the ship (when I sail).

Of the Lord is salvation;
Christ is salvation;
With us ever be Thy salvation, 0 Lord!”

(H. A. Ironside, The Real St. Patrick, Loizeaux Brothers, New York, Pp. 13 – 14)P

PS. I pray you will be blessed by this poor effort.  Still fighting a nasty cold that apparently clogged my brain.  God can use whatever we offer him, no matter how limited.