I owe St. Patrick an apology. Despite him being my country’s patron saint and having celebrated more St. Patrick’s Days than I can count, I never took him seriously. It didn’t help that a joke was going around school when I was young: “What did St. Patrick say as he was driving the snakes out…
A Brief History of Anglicanism, Part 1
The Anglican tradition traces its roots back to the time of the Roman Empire when a Christian church first came to exist in the British Isles.
Hymn Guide: St. Patrick’s Breastplate
St. Patrick’s Breastplate is one of the great hymns of the church, an ancient invocation of the Trinity that is relevant in every age. The hymn began as an Old Irish prayer of protection called a lorica, and the text is attributed to St. Patrick or his followers in early Celtic monasticism. Literally, lorica is the…
The Liturgical Home: St. Patrick’s Day
In my hometown, St. Patrick’s Day was a huge deal! We all wore green to school unless you forgot, in which case I have not-so-great memories of being pinched ALL DAY LONG! Our local Irish pub hosted a huge beer festival and parade that night. Everyone would gather downtown to watch the grand processions of…
Why and How to Preach about St. Patrick this St. Patrick’s Day
The pub nearest me has festooned itself with green, orange, and white bunting. My doctor’s waiting room is plastered with cardboard shamrocks that say LUCKY. McDonald’s has brought back (for a limited time) its Shamrock Shake. Yes, my friends, it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, and since this year [2024] that falls on a Sunday, we…
Patrick
My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many. And so begins the Confession of St. Patrick, a vivid, honest, and faithful account of what God had done in his life. It makes for great reading. About two years…
Raise a Glass for St. Patrick
Today is St. Patrick’s Day. It ought to mean more than wearing green and drinking beer. For the Christian, the life and witness of Saint Patrick is an inspiration for us today as we face an unbelieving world and collapsing culture. Consider these things: St. Patrick is not a cartoon. He is an icon of…
