March 17: Saint Patrick / San Patricio
-
In St. Patrick’s Confessions there are many echoes of St. Paul’s writings, for St. Patrick admired his teachings and example. Not least, his zealous pastoral care for the Irish people mirrors how St. Paul worked among the Christians of Thessalonica. St. Patrick’s refusal to accept gifts of gold and silver from his converts imitated St. Paul’s selfless service and humble preaching the Gospel. Also, his love for his converts made St. Patrick vow to stay in Ireland for the rest of his life. How well he followed the way of St. Paul: “We were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.”
As Patrick prayed for the Irish people on the mountain in Mayo which bears his name (Cruach Padraig), let us pray for each other on his feastday: “May you recognize in your life the presence, the power, and the light of Christ. May you realize that you are never alone, for He is always with you; that your living soul connects you with the rhythm of the universe. And may the road rise up to meet you and the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rain fall soft upon your fields. And, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
***
Todos los años, el trébol y el color verde toman gran relevancia el 17 de marzo, día en que falleció San Patricio, quien fuera la figura principal que introdujo el cristianismo en Irlanda durante su expansión en Europa.
Gracias al esfuerzo y tenacidad de San Patricio, el mensaje de Cristo logró extenderse para eventualmente acentuarse entre los irlandeses, quienes hoy lo reconocen como su santo patrón. Es por ello que actualmente el día de San Patricio se celebra con una gran fiesta religiosa, que data ya por más de 1,000 años y cuyas festividades son muy notables, especialmente en Estados Unidos, debido a las grandes olas migratorias de irlandeses que se dieron durante el siglo XIX.
El trébol y su significado: San Patricio lo usaba para evangelizar a los paganos sobre el misterio de la Santísima Trinidad. De esta forma, explicaba que, como las tres hojas del trébol, la Santísima Trinidad son tres personas distintas (Padre, Hijo, y Espíritu Santo), pero un solo Dios verdadero.
Para leer más: https://www.thecapuchins.org/blog/the-real-story-of-st.-patrick-la-verdadera-historia-de-san-patricio