Going Green

On St. Patrick's Day, this mantra for saving the planet has a special meaning. It somehow has been translated from the Emerald Isle to green ties, hats, necklaces and bobbles of all sorts to underscore our celebration in honor of St. Patrick. In this country, the celebrations have expanded to parades, corned beef and cabbage dinners, Irish jokes and lots of Irish whiskey, or just anything with alcohol. This was not the custom in Ireland a generation ago, and certainly not in the time of St. Patrick, who was born around 387 AD, when Rome was still ruling its extensive Empire. Scotland and Wales claim him as their native son, and some even contend Brittany was the land of his birth, giving the French a claim to his fame. Myth, legend and hyperbole have evolved to make St. Patrick in the eyes of American Catholics, and "subway Irish" a heroic figure and the justification for St. Patty's Day revelrie.
Cutting to the core of his life, his real claim to fame is due to his resolute determination to LIVE CHRIST and bring him to all corners of Ireland. His deep faith tempered with suffering and oppostion, his zealous, untiring effort to teach about Jesus are what brought him to sanctity and are the qualities worthy of celebration and emulation. Yes, with tongue in cheek, all of us, whether Irish or not, can sing and sprout "The Wearin' O' The Green", but perhaps a more meaningful song would be a familiar section of "The Breastplate of St. Patrick which reads thus:
"Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, "Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me."
Bro. Rene