Happy Saint Paddy's Day

This morning I'm watching people begin their St. Patrick's Day celebration. Most people use today as an excuse to drink mass amounts of green beer but I was curious, who was this guy and what's the big deal?

Saint Patrick was a real man who lived around the 4th century and brought gospel transformation to the people of Ireland. As a teenager he was captured as a slave and forced to move to Ireland. After he secured his freedom was called by God to return to Ireland. God used him powerfully to transform the entire Island.

Here's a portion of a prayer he wrote. It's powerful and worth meditation.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

So, as you're enjoying Guinness today, say a prayer of thanks for this man who was used by God to radically share the gospel.