Article Written by Father Pisut for the Chariton Newspaper

This article was written on March 19, 2009 for the Chariton Herald- Patriot.

Tuesday, March 17, was the feast of St. Patrick in the Catholic Church. Like many feasts in the Church it is not uncommon for their celebration to cross over into the secular sphere. This has its origins in the fact the life of the Church and the culture of western society were once largely the same reality. As the two have grown apart, however, some celebrations have remained in both spheres with varying levels of continuity. We see this most clearly today in the celebration of Christmas, or the lack thereof, in some quarters of society. To a lesser degree this is also present with the feast of St. Valentine. St. Patrick’s day, therefore, is a particularly good example of a Church feast that has varied levels of significance for various strata of society. While retaining its significance for the Church, St. Partrick’s day also is a strong source of ethnic pride as well as just another excuse to party. Some may focus on just one aspect of this feast while others achieve varying levels of combining the three.

While there is nothing wrong with a little fun and frivolity it is important that one remain rooted in the true nature of the feast. This latter aspect of St. Patrick’s Day can find some parallel in the celebration of Mardi Gras. Many persons make the most of these decadent celebrations yet are totally detached from Mardi Gras’ rootedness in the oncoming penitential season of Lent. The purpose of this season is to properly prepare us for the passion death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins. So it is good to remind ourselves of the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day.

The feast of St. Patrick is of course about the person of St. Patrick. The basic facts surrounding him is that he was born in England in 389 A.D. He was captured into slavery by the Irish between the ages of 14 and 16 and carried off to Ireland where for the next six years he served as a shepherd. Though already a Christian his faith blossomed under the trials of his servitude. Eventually, he escaped and was reunited with his family. St. Patrick was apparently influenced by a dream in which he was told to go back and evangelize Ireland. He studied under St. Germain of Auxerre, was ordained to the priesthood and then as a bishop and prepared for missionary work. Eventually, with the approbation of Pope Celestine I he returned to Ireland as early as 432 A. D. There is no doubt that St.. Patrick did indeed evangelize the whole of Ireland though there were many pagans still at the time of his death and he was in constant fear of his life. He labored in Ireland to spread the faith among the Druids until his death on March 17, 461 A.D.

It is easy to see how in such a traditional Catholic country as Ireland such a personality can figure into the ethnic and national identity of a people. We remember, however, the primary role of St. Patrick is, as his title makes clear, a saint. Yet what are the saints and why are they important? This issue of sainthood is a particularly important concept to clarify. On the one hand the popular culture has been infatuated with saints but usually gets the reality wrong, much as they have done with the reality of angels. On the other hand there is the reality that many of our Protestant brothers and sisters, many of good faith, either reject the notion of the communion of saints or misunderstand the Church’s teaching .

The Church understands herself to be composed of three parts: the Church Triumphant in heaven, the Church Militant here on earth, and the Church Suffering in purgatory. Catholics believe, as all Christians do, that our salvation is not possible without Christ’s saving death on the cross. After that, however, we have our part to play, because of the free will that God gave us, to respond to God’s saving grace that we received in Baptism. This response of course is manifest in how we live our lives. The Church Militant here on earth is that part of the Church, while receiving the grace of the Holy Spirit at Baptism, is still left by God to respond to that grace and that response affects our salvation. The Church Suffering is that part of the Church which has passed from this world and while responding sufficiently to God’s grace to be saved, are in a state of purification for their earthly sins, so that they may be in the proper condition to spend eternity with the Father. The Church Triumphant are those Christian, fallen human being like us all, who receive the grace of Baptism and live a life of heroic virtue.

The salvation that Christ won for us all and that we entered into with our Baptism was accepted by the saints, by their heroic response to the grace of Baptism. We admire them merely for that. Yet, because the saints are flawed humans like ourselves they are examples the Church holds up to us to give us the hope and strength to realize that what God asks of us is not impossible. We to can live a life of heroic virtue, the Christian life, and so enter into eternity with the Father if we but say yes to the grace of our Baptism. We ask the saints to intercede for us with God by their prayers. For if we ask one another here on earth to pray for us what more can the power of prayer of those who are closest to God accomplish for us. St. Patrick is among the Communion of Saints in heaven. So on St. Patrick’s Day we have just cause to celebrate for many reasons, yet they are all interconnected. Celebrate the fact that the faith was spread in Ireland. Celebrate the Irish for being receptive to the faith and spreading it around the globe. Celebrate St. Patrick for embracing the Faith and responding to God’s call.

Perhaps as we lift a glass to justly celebrate the day we could also hope and pray that all who call themselves Irish and who celebrate the day will be true to the Faith that St. Patrick brought to Ireland. As the opening prayer at Mass on the feast of St. Patrick proclaims: God our Father, you sent St. Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland. By the help of his prayers may all Christians proclaim you love to all men.