Beannachtaí na fheile Phádraig a dhuibh





I have a bit of time this morning to put something up here in honour of the patron saint of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Nigeria, and the co-patron of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. And then it's on to a busy afternoon and evening. Mark sent this essay along the other day; it explains why. Hardly have time to take a breath.

The CE still provides the best life of St Patrick on the web. St Secundinus (and this site) provide a Vita in the form of a hymn.

Here is the traditional collect in the Roman Rite for St Patrick:

Deus qui ad prædicandam gentibus gloriam tuam beatum Patritium Confessorem atque Pontificem mittere dignatus es: ejus meritis et intercessione concede; ut, quæ nobis agenda præcipis, te miserante adimplere possimus. Per Dominum. Amen.

O God Who wast pleased to send the blessed Patrick, Thy confessor and bishop, to preach Thy glory to the heathen, grant, through his merits and intercesion, that by Thy mercy we may be enabled to accomplish the tasks Thou settest us: through or Lord. Amen.

In the Pauline Rite it is this:

Deus, qui ad prædicandam Hiberniæ populis gloriam tuam beatum Patricium episcopum providisti, eius meritis et intercessione concede, ut, qui christiano nomine gloriantur, tua mirabilia hominibus iugiter annuntient. Per Dominum. Amen.

O God, Who didst send forth blessed Patrick the bishop to preach Thy glory to the people of Ireland, grant by his merits and intercession, that they who glory in the name of Christian may alway proclaim Thy wonders to mankind. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Church of Ireland's Book of Common Prayer provides this:

O Almighty God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, that he might bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee; Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen

And finally an old prayer to St Patrick from the Irish:

A Phádraig atá i bParthas Mhic Dé gan locht,
A bheir sláinte is do ghrásta
don té a bhíos bocht,
Tháinig mé i do láthairse agus mé lag gan lúth,
Faigh áras dom i bParthas, an áit a bhfeicfidh mé thú.

Patrick, who are in the Paradise of the sinless Son of God,
who give health and your good favour
to anyone who is poor,
I have come into your presence, weak and without vigour,
find me a home in Paradise, the place where I will see you.

The celebrations:

The Big One in New York City has a website here. Dublin's is here. And here is a page of links for parades and celebrations throughout the country -- and a few elsewhere. (The only one I'm aware of in the Los Angeles area is the Hermosa Beach parade and you missed it; it was last Saturday.)


Off now to give the pipes a workout.