hugsnblessings

On March 17, countless people in many countries, including Japan and Russia, gather together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. From eating corned beef and cabbage to wearing green, parading around, and drinking green beer, people leap into the spirit of this beloved Saint’s special day.

Not wanting to be left out….so did we!!

Ireland has a large Catholic base, and Irish Catholics observe March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, as a holy day of obligation. And then they may go and celebrate with mugs of Irish ale or Irish comfort food.

Not wanting to be left out….so did we!!

One of the explanations for the sea of green you see every St. Patrick’s Day revolves around Saint Patrick himself. Legend has it, he used a shamrock (a plant that is, of course, green) to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. There is no evidence to support this tale; but many works of art depicting Saint Patrick portray him with a cross in one hand and a sprig of shamrocks in the other. People have been known to seek out a four-leaf clover on this day. According to Irish tradition, those who find a four-leaf clover are destined for good luck, as each leaf in the clover symbolizes good omens for faith, hope, love, and luck for the finder.

Not wanting to be left out….so did we!!

St. Patrick’s Breastplate is a Christian hymn/prayer whose original old Irish lyrics were traditionally attributed to Saint Patrick and his Irish ministry in the 5th century which is traditionally recited by Catholics -worldwide- today.

Not wanting to be left out….so did we!!

It is a beautiful prayer of Ireland’s patron saint which has come down through the centuries.

We think you’ll agree it’s more relevant than ever. 

Here are the beautiful words of the

St. Patrick’s Breastplate prayer:

I arise today 
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Don’t be left out….join us in shouting AMEN!!

hugs n’ blessings to all those sharing their pints together!

*Remember in the morning it’s not a hang-over ye’ be havin’. Tis only the Irish flu!