Oh happy day of Kiss Me I’m Irish buttons, copious amounts of beer, corned beef and cabbage, mashed potatoes dyed green, cupcakes with green frosting and sugar shamrocks, leprechauns and gold coins.
Oh yeah, and this guy:
Who I actually really like. Besides all the “Irish for a Day” hoopla. Even if, as John points out, he looks like a lumberjack in that picture.
I like that he could look at a clover and see God.
If you don’t know the story, St. Patrick taught that the shamrock was an analogy for the Trinity. Three leaves, but one plant. Three persons, but one God.
Still not crystal clear, but I like that he could see God in all things. To see God in nature. And so I leave you with his prayer:
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
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
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
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 everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation
i did my senior seminar paper on celtic saints.
Nice!