We feature three, on whom our Faith is founded:
St Patrick, St. Brigid & St. Colmcille.
It was God’s providence that turned the six years of Patrick’s teenage captivity into a preparation for his future apostolate. He learned the native Celtic language & came to understand the indigenous druidism – from whose bondage he was destined to liberate the Irish people.
St Patrick expressed his spirituality as follows
–I bind to myself today:
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ,
The virtue of His Crucifixion,
The virtue of His Resurrection . . .
I bind to myself today:
God’s Power to guide me,
God’s Might to uphold me,
God’s Wisdom to teach me,
God’s Eye to watch over me,
God’s Ear to hear me,
God’s Word to give me speech,
God’s Hand to guide me,
God’s Way to lie before me,
God’s Shield to shelter me,
God’s Host to secure me . . .
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left . . .
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
When St. Patrick was asked:
“Who is God?” & “Where is God?”
He answered –
God is the Ruler of all things.
His dwelling is in heaven & earth, & in the sea, & all therein.
He gives breath & life to all,
He is overall & upholds all . . .
St. Brigid (‘Mary of the Gael’: 451 – 525)
Between St. Patrick & St. Brigid, the pillars
of the Irish people, there was so great a friendship
of charity that they had but one heart & one mind.
Through him & through her Christ performed
many great works.
St. Brigid’s Blessing:
St. Brigid, ask for us all today:
The courage to do God’s bidding,
whatever the world may say.
The grace to be strong & brave,
The grace to be firm & true,
The grace to be faithful always
to God, to Mary & You.
St. Brigid’s Psalm:
St. Brigid , you were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those
who are troubled & anxious.
May peace be firmly rooted
in our hearts & in our world.
St. Colmcille (Abbot: 521-597)
St. Colmcille & St. Patrick crossed the Irish sea,
in opposite directions, as providence would have it,
to carry-out their main missionary work.
St. Columcille’s monastery, at Iona, was a school of
Christian education. His community believed that the
world was a translucent source of mystery,
revelation & redemption.
The hymn that follows states: that our fellowship
is in & with Christ: that we are blessed, being made
part of God’s family.
St. Colmcille’s Affirmation:
Alone with none but Thee, my God,
I journey on my way;
What need I fear, when Thou are near,
O ’King of night & day?
More safe am I within Thy hand,
than if a host did round me stand.
My life I yield to Thy decree,
and bow to Thy control,
in peaceful calm, for from Thy arm
no power can wrest my soul.
Could earthly omens e’er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call!
The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen dread no foe;
We leave our fate with Thee and wait
Thy bidding when to go.
Tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our trust, O ‘King of kings.