St Patrick’s Day – March 17

Last Monday was St Patrick’s feast day. He is the patron saint of Ireland and one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God. He wrote:                                                                                         

"The love of God … grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

St Patrick is an important saint in Crookwell as many of our ancestors are from Irish decent.  During this season of Lent, Saint Patrick could teach us a thing or two about putting our Lord at the centre of our lives. Perhaps you have heard his beautiful prayer…

The Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and a near,
Alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.

St Patrick used the 3 leaf clover to teach about the nature of God.

 Project Compassion

We have been working hard on raising money for our brothers and sisters in need. Remember to send in a gold coin donation for Harmony Day tomorrow.