March 17--St. Patrick, Bishop

March 17—St. Patrick, Bishop

 

St. Patrick’s influence is amazing.  This saintly bishop who converted Ireland in the fifth century also influenced the Catholic Church in America and Europe.  St. Patrick was abducted by raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave.  After six years he escaped, went to the continent and was ordained priest and eventually bishop to be a missionary.  While in Ireland he preached the Gospel, endured suffering and hardship, ordained priests, and more.  There are many legends that have grown up around him, including casting snakes out of Ireland.  This probably refers to the symbolism of snakes for the devil, and thus casting them out symbolizes casting out the devil.

However, St. Patrick’s influence is felt far beyond the shores of a small island in the North Atlantic.  The Irish Catholics went out as missionaries to Scotland, England, and the European continent, bringing private confession as a new way for forgiveness of sins.  They also reestablished Catholicism in the areas that were overrun by pagans after the fall of the Roman Empire.  In America, too, we have been greatly influenced by the Irish.  When the Irish came over in the mid-19^th century, there were limited opportunities for their advancement in a Protestant country.  Their faith became a source of consolation and also of evangelization. 

The Irish Catholics of America became dominant in the clergy well into the 20^th century.  Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, now 1.8 million strong.  Servant of God Fr. Edward J. Flanagan founded Boys Town here in Omaha.  Without St. Patrick these men and many others may not have been around to continue to do God’s will and spread God’s word.