Feast of St Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.

St Patrick Missionary Bishop. 

"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”

 Jesus replied: “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

"And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions." (Mark 12:  28 - 34).

Friday 17th March 2023 in the 3rd Week of  Lent is the feast of St Patrick. (389 - 461). Born in Britain. Bishop and great Missionary to Ireland.

Patrick was captured by Irish pirates at the age of 16 and subjected to the harsh life of slavery for years. He escaped, went to Europe and became a priest. Then he came back to Ireland to convert the Irish people to Christianity. St Patrick is the Apostle of Ireland and patron saint of Puerto Rico and Nigeria and 29 dioceses all over the world.

 St Patrick teaches us that persistence in prayer breaks resistance. St Patrick had a great desire to become a priest. He was opposed by powerful clerics because he was considered too old and not able to withstand the rigors of the studies involved. Convinced by the intensity of his desire, he persisted. Result: St Patrick became a priest and a Bishop. 

In the Gospel of today from Mark 12, Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

This is what St Patrick, our Saint of today believed and lived. His written testimony is below. 

"I bear witness in truth and joyfulness of heart before God and his holy angels that the one and only purpose I had in going back to that people from whom I had earlier escaped was the Gospel and the promises of God. I now pray for anyone who believes in and fears God and who may perchance come upon this writing that Patrick, the sinner and the unlearned one, wrote in Ireland." (St Patrick). 

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