March 17, 2009

St. Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick in his own words in his confession


I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a priest, of the settlement [vicus] of Bannavem Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our priests who used to remind us of our salvation.
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I am greatly God's debtor, because he granted me so much grace, that through me many people would be reborn in God, and soon after confirmed, and that clergy would be ordained everywhere for them, the masses lately come to belief, whom the Lord drew from the ends of the earth, just as he once promised through his prophets: 'To you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited naught hut lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.' And again: 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the uttermost ends of' the earth.'

March 17, St. Patrick's Day is a legal holiday in Boston, Suffolk County, but not because of the Irish.    It's Evacuation Day commemorating the day in 1776 when British forces under General Howe evacuated Boston driven out by General George Washington and his continental army. 

The password that day?

"Saint Patrick"

 St Patrick

Posted by Jill Fallon at March 17, 2009 9:22 AM | Permalink
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