St. Patrick’s Breastplate is one of the great hymns of the church, sung especially for Saint Patrick’s Day, on Trinity Sunday, and at baptisms, confirmations, and ordinations. It is 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…
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…
