For the Love of Us All

AN IRISH SAYING

May those who love us, love us

And those who don’t love us,

May God turn their hearts

And if he doesn’t turn their hearts

May he turn their ankles

Se we’ll know them by their limp

Lol

THE LIFE STORY OF SAINT PATRICK

There has been much controversy

Surrounding the life of Saint Patrick

Both as to what he did

And what he didn’t do

Patrick was British by birth

He lived during the fifth century

His father was on the town council

And was a deacon

His grandfather was a priest

When he was young

He was captured by Irish pirates

And was made a slave for 6 years

During these years

Patrick began to pray

And draw close to God

Which was in contrast to his earlier years

When he “knew NOT the true God”

After the 6 years

He escaped or was freed

And did some traveling

But almost starved to death

Patrick returned home to his family

A changed man

And trained to become a priest

After some contact with the Papacy

Patrick succeeded Palladius

To be the first bishop of the Irish

To believe in Christ

Patrick worked principally in Northern Ireland

Organizing the church

And had many missionary journeys

From there

Patrick was not especially learned

But lived with a sincere simplicity

And deep pastoral care

He worked to abolish paganism and idolatry

And made no distinction

Among classes of people

HE LOVED ALL

He himself was ready and willing

To accept imprisonment and death

For his FAITH IN CHRIST

Because of being a slave and fugitive

He learned to completely trust God

The historical Patrick is much different

Than the legendary Patrick

And much more interesting

He DID NOT convert Ireland single-handedly

In fact---it took MANY evangelists

And many generations to accomplish

But make no mistake

He was the PRIMARY INSTRUMENT of God

In getting it all started

He remains the most popular Saint

From Ireland

And he is Ireland’s patron

To this day

His cult spread form Ireland to Europe

In the middle ages

And in modern times

To the United States and Australia

Where it still flourishes on his feast day

Which is March 17^th

Happy Saint Patrick’s day!

With love---Robert P. wallman

March 15^th, 2012

Ps        my middle name is Patrick---after my grandfather Patrick Murphy

            Who was named after Saint Patrick