Monday, March 17, 2014

Remembering the Saints

Today, as everyone surely knows, is “St. Patrick’s Day.” Unfortunately, it has become a civic celebration more than a prompt to prayer. For most folks, it’s an occasion for wearing green, being “Irish” even if you’re not, and sampling some brew of Emerald Isle origin.

For those who follow a calendar of daily prayer, however, remembering the saints of the church is important in a very different way. Those pilgrims who travelled before us are often models and mentors in prayer and practice.Today, as everyone surely knows, is “St. Patrick’s Day.” Unfortunately, it has become a civic celebration more than a prompt to prayer. For most folks, it’s an occasion for wearing green, being “Irish” even if you’re not, and sampling some brew of Emerald Isle origin.

On this day, March 17, the Christian calendar of commemorations presents St. Patrick (c. 390-461?), “Apostle of Ireland.” If you peel off the legend and lore about Patrick, you’ll discover a powerful story of diligent faith.

At the age of 16, while caring for his father’s sheep somewhere in the western shore of what is now Scotland, Patrick was kidnapped and taken captive to Ireland. After some six years of enslavement, he managed to escape to the continent where he found refuge and education in monasteries. It was about A.D. 432 that Patrick was ordained bishop, and returned to Ireland to bring his Christian faith to his former captors. He is credited with firmly establishing the faith on the Emerald Isle.

Patrick has always had a special appeal to me. His return to minister to those who treated him like a slave was extraordinary. It would be understandable if he never wanted to go back to the people who snatched him away from his home and kept him confined in a foreign land. Vengeance and hatred would be reasonable attitudes in which he might indulge. He is instead an example of forgiveness, grace and diligence in Christian discipleship.

I became aware of an even closer connection between Patrick and me as we were working on the Daily Prayer Supplemental Liturgical Resource. We were hoping to include a Calendar of Commemorations listing notable people and events of Christian history. This would help place us in the continuing journey of people of faith through the centuries.

Remembering the custom in many traditions, we would suggest that people identify themselves with the hero or heroine of the faith on whose remembrance date they were baptized. I was baptized, as it turned out, on March 17—Patrick was indelibly written into my life. In the years since, this day is a special one for me to remember my baptism, my calling by Christ to be his faithful follower, after the example of Patrick and many others.

The year’s calendar is full of celebrations of holy people of God, usually on the date in which they are baptized in death and raised again into heaven’s life. Do you know the date of your baptism? Have you found one of God’s heroes or heroines whose death date matches your baptismal date?

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