On this day, Irish men and women—and we who want to drink green milkshakes with them—around the world celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick. Some celebrate for religious reasons, some for cultural reasons, and some just because they enjoy the festivities. St. Patrick’s Day has become one of those Catholic holidays that has almost lost its Catholic character because it has become so engrained in the wider culture. But let’s take a moment to reflect on the life of St. Patrick and what he can teach us about making a gift of self.
Almost all historians agree that St. Patrick grew up somewhere in the northwestern coast of Roman or sub-Roman Britain between the fifth and early sixth century. Despite his grandfather’s office of Catholic priest (priests could still marry in the West at this time), and his own father’s position as a deacon, young Patrick didn’t care much for religion. According to his own writings, Irish pirates captured him at the age of sixteen and impressed him into slavery in northern Ireland. During his enslavement, Patrick returned to the faith of his fathers and began to pray to the Christian God. He eventually escaped his captors and returned home after six years away. He took up studies as a priest, receiving most of his education as well as his ordination in France. During his studies, he received a vision calling him back to Ireland to evangelize to the almost completely pagan island, and miraculously succeeded in his ministry; converting more or less the whole population, including those who had enslaved him.
A picture I took of St. Patrick’s grave in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
St. Patrick made an incredible gift of himself to God and the Irish people. When injustice happens to us, we will most often respond in anger. St. Patrick responded in love. His captors had legitimately wronged him, but he still concerned himself with their good. His escape from slavery led him on a difficult and dangerous journey to win his freedom. Not only did he risk the Irish enslaving him again, but he risked bodily harm, and even his life upon returning to share the Gospel with them.
St. Patrick gives us the perfect example of a true gift of self. He made clear his willingness to suffer for another person, even a person who had clearly shown a willingness to hurt him. As we raise a toast with that green milkshake today, let’s reflect on how we can give a gift of self to those in our lives and truly glorify God in our bodies like St. Patrick.
Artist: Thad Zajdowicz from Pasadena, California, USA
A stained glass window depiction of St. Patrick at the Navy Pier Stained Glass Window Museum in Chicago
Chris Tarantino is the Communications Director for TOBET. He studied History at The University at Texas A&M and has written for the Tennessee Register and Nashville Catholic.
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