The Liturgical Home: Saint Patrick’s Day

By Ashley Tumlin Wallace|March 15th, 2023

In my hometown, Saint Patrick’s Day was a really big 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! That night, our local Irish pub hosted a huge beer festival and parade. Everyone would gather downtown to watch the great processions of men in kilts playing bagpipes. It was so much fun!

But in all of those years celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day, I had no idea that he was a real person, both a slave and a missionary! In fact, Saint Patrick’s life demonstrates an important Biblical principle, that God can take evil and turn it into good. This principle is articulated by Joseph in the book of Genesis, who told this to his brothers who had sold him into slavery:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today (Genesis 50:20). 

Saint Patrick the Slave

Saint Patrick grew up in the 400s in Britain. His was born into a family of devout Christians; his father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest. When he was only sixteen years old, his village was raided by Irish marauders and he was kidnapped. He was taken by ship to Ireland where he became a slave for six years. During this time, Patrick was forced to herd sheep for a local chieftain which meant that he lived in isolation with very little food or clothing.

Even though Patrick had been raised in a Christian home, he said in his Confessions that he didn’t really know God but that through his sufferings in Ireland, he began to think about God and then speak to God until he was praying hundreds of prayers day and night. Patrick turned to the Christian faith that he had been brought up in and he says that it was the only thing that kept him going through those brutal years.

After six long years of slavery, while he was sleeping one night, Patrick heard a voice telling him that he was about to depart for his homeland and that a ship was ready for him. Patrick knew that God was directing him so he escaped from his slavemaster and fled two hundred miles until he found the ship. Patrick convinced the ship’s captain to give him passage and three days later, he was back on the shores of his homeland. He was eventually reunited with his family where there was much rejoicing.

Saint Patrick the Missionary

Patrick continued his life of prayer and began to study scripture and learn more about his Chrsitian faith. Patrick went to France, where he studied and entered the priesthood under the guidance of the missionary Saint Germain. He was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Auxerre around 418AD.

During this time, Patrick had a vision from God in which he heard the voice of the Irish say to him, “We beg you, holy servant boy, to come and walk again among us.” Patrick knew that he was being called by God to return to Ireland. He left Ireland a slave but would return as a missionary to spread the love of Christ to the lost.

In 432AD, he was ordained as a bishop and was sent by Pope Celestine I to Ireland to spread the gospel to non-believers while also providing support to the small community of Christians already living there. He did return to Ireland and immediately began sharing the gospel of Jesus with the chiefs and their clans. Patrick already knew the Irish language and their customs which helped him greatly in communicating with the people. For the rest of his life, Patrick traveled throughout Ireland, spreading the good news and converting thousands to the Christian faith.

Celebrating Saint Patrick At Home

As we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, let us give thanks to God that He is always with us, even amid tremendous hardship. Saint Patrick is a powerful example of how God can take our sufferings and use them to help others and to bring them out of darkness into His glorious light! Here a few ways to celebrate:

• Read Genesis 50:20 with your family. Discuss with your children how similar Joseph and Saint Patrick were. Talk about how each one suffered and how God used them both to save those around them.
• Read the words or listen to the hymn “Saint Patrick’s Breastplate.” You can Goolge the words and go over them with your kids or print the words out while you listen to the hymn on Spotify. This is a beautiful prayer of protection believed to have been written by Saint Patrick. It was later set to music and is now a beloved hymn (read more about the hymn here).
• Make Irish soda bread. This recipe is so good! It requires no rising and can easily be made quickly with the help of your kids!

Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients:

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants or raisins
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch diced
1¾ cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup dried currants or raisins

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed with the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup.  With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture.  Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough.  It will be very wet.

Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf.  Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife.  Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.  When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound.

Cool on a baking rack.  Serve warm or at room temperature.