St Patrick's Day plus 1

St Patrick's Day has come and gone without a mention in The Inn but it otherwise occupied most of the latter part of the week for your servant. We were busy: three very long gigs, one medium-sized gig, and a funeral. By the end of the day on Saturday the pipes were soaked, my left arm was exceedingly sore, and the fingers were only intermittently obeying commands. And not a drop taken either (not my idea; it was in the contract). I intend to do nothing tomorrow but sit in a chair and contemplate the mysteries of life. And perhaps have the odd beer to compensate for the enforced abstemiousness of The Day itself.

The glorious 17th of March is also one of those rare occasions when I prefer the Pauline Rite's "missionary" collect to that of the Roman Rite. Herewith:


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.

By the way, the illustration is one of those hosted by Blogspot, so it can be "clicked" to reveal a larger version.