Due to unfortunate circumstances beyond our control (namely, tomorrows commemoration of St. Patrick of Ireland), this Mt. Olive status update is being posted sooner than the previous post indicated. To rectify this error, Mt. Olive will skip its next three status updates and will begin posting again with what would otherwise be our fourth update, except in Uruguay, where we will not resume posting at all other than in months with 31 or fewer days. Once again, we offer our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may cause our readership. Refunds are available upon request with proof of purchase and presentation of a coconut carried across the Strait of Gibraltar by a northbound European swallow. And now, its time at last to introduce a man who needs no introduction: THE FEAST DAY OF ST. PATRICK, March 17 Patrick (St.).—Apostle and patron of Ireland. Up to the fifth century, Christianity had made but little progress in Ireland. It is to St. Patrick alone, that the island owes its complete conversion. So blessed were his efforts, that in a short time, the people were fervent and faithful Christians. On the authority of our Saint’s own confession and the traditions of the Scottish Church, Dr. Moran, now Cardinal archbishop of Sidney, has clearly shown that the Apostle of Ireland was born at Old-Kilpatrick, between Alcluaid, now called Dumbarton, and Glasgow, in Scotland, about the year 387. Other accounts make him a native of Armorica, Gaul. He was the son of Calpurnius, of illustrious Celtic descent, and of Conchessa, who is said to have been a near relative, probably the sister of St. Martin of Tours. While yet in his boyhood, Patrick was led a captive to Ireland, and there he was obliged to act as herdsman. Being by divine interposition freed from captivity, he resolved to dedicate himself to the service of God. By divers visions God manifested to him that he was destined for the great work of converting Ireland. Day and night he was hunted by the pagan country, in which he had spent six years of servitude, and the character of whose people he so well understood. It was at the famous schools of St. Martin at Tours, and of Lerins, that our Saint prepared himself for the missionary career. At the solicitation of St. Germanus of Auxerre, his spiritual adviser, Patrick proceeded to Rome in company with the pious priest Segetius, who was instructed by Germanus to attest the virtues and excellence of our Saint. Patrick’s baptismal name was Succath; at the time of his ordination it was changed to Magonius; but Pope Celestine I., to add dignity to the Saint’s mission, conferred on him the Patrician order, which had been instituted by Constantine the Great, whence he was afterwards generally called “Patricius.” Having received episcopal consecration, Patrick set out for Ireland, and, assisted by Auxilius, Iserninus and some others, commenced the arduous task of a nation’s conversion, with all the advantages of profound learning and piety, and of a personal knowledge of the people, their language and manners. Before the arrival of St. Patrick, the Irish were pagans, worshiping the sun and the stars; hills and mountains were the places of their religious services. His first convert was a chief named Dicho, who in proof of his sincerity built a church in Down. Thence our Saint proceeded to Tara, in the present county of Meath, where he preached on the eve of Easter before the Monarch Leaguaire, and baptized many of the Druids, lords, and courtiers. Patrick traveled over the whole island, visiting every province. Such was the fruit of his preaching that the conversions soon numbered by tens of thousands. In 445 St. Patrick founded the metropolitan see of Armagh, and thus laid the foundation of the primatial see of “All Ireland.” In the year 450 St. Patrick held a synod to regulate the discipline of the Church which he had founded. His missionary success is without parallel in the history of the Church. In the course of about fifty years, a whole nation, including rulers and princes, men and women, was won over to Christianity without the shedding of a single drop of blood. Sees were founded in all parts of the island, bishops consecrated, and priests ordained; churches were built and monasteries erected, which became famous seats of piety and learning, and nurseries of faith for other nations. During the latter part of his Apostolic life, St. Patrick composed the treatise known by the name of “St. Patrick’s Confessions,” in which with fervent gratitude he records the divine favors towards himself and the nation to which he had been sent. He died March 17th, a. d., 493, in the monastery of Saul, the first of his foundations. Dictionary of Ecclesiastical, Biblical, Archeological, and Historical Subjects, by Rev. John Thein, p. 528. I BIND UNTO MYSELF TODAY (St. Patricks Breastplate) I bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this today to me forever By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation; His baptism in Jordan river, His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb, His riding up the heavenly way, His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today. I bind unto myself the power Of the great love of cherubim; The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour, The service of the seraphim, Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word, The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls, All good deeds done unto the Lord And purity of virgin souls. I bind unto myself today The virtues of the star lit heaven, The glorious sun’s life giving ray, The whiteness of the moon at even, The flashing of the lightning free, The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks, The stable earth, the deep salt sea Around the old eternal rocks. I bind unto myself today The power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need. The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward; The word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard. Against the demon snares of sin, The vice that gives temptation force, The natural lusts that war within, The hostile men that mar my course; Or few or many, far or nigh, In every place and in all hours, Against their fierce hostility I bind to me these holy powers. Against all Satan’s spells and wiles, Against false words of heresy, Against the knowledge that defiles, Against the heart’s idolatry, Against the wizard’s evil craft, Against the death wound and the burning, The choking wave, the poisoned shaft, Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. By Whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 01:38:17 +0000