St. Vincent - Crookes, Sheffield at 40 Pickmere Road, Crookes, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 1GY UK - Homily for the Feast of St Patrick

Patrick was no 'plaster saint'.  We warm to him easily because he was a flesh and blood individual with a rich and interesting personality.  He tells us most about himself in his writings known as 'his confessions' which he wrote towards the end of his life.
 
He comes across as the humblest of men.  Scripture tells us that 'the Lord resists the proud and gives his grace to the humble.' In his confessions he describes himself as the most unlearned of men, the lowliest of all the faithful.  His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest.  As you know mandatory clerical celibacy wasn't introduced into the Church until the 12th century.  From his confessions we know that he came from Britain and was a Roman citizen. 

Patrick talks about his youth.  He was only 16 when taken as a slave to Ireland with many thousands of others.  He said that he deserved this fate because he had turned away from God; He said: 'we neither kept his commandments nor obeyed our pastors who used to warn us about our salvation.  While in captivity the Lord made me aware of my unbelief that I might at last advert to my sins and turn wholeheartedly back to Him again.  However he was very patient with me because of my youth and ignorance and he looked after me like a father.  Great benefits of grace were bestowed on me in my captivity.' He goes on: 'before I had to suffer I was like a stone lying in the deep mud.  Then He who is mighty came and in his deep mercy, not only pulled me out but lifted me up and placed me at the very top of the wall.  I am eternally grateful to God for this. 

In his youth Patrick was also a man of great prayer.  He goes on:  'when I came to Ireland I tended herds every day and I used to pray many times during the day.  Through this, my love of god began to increase.  My faith grew stronger and my zeal was so intense that in the course of a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers and indeed as many at night.  Even in times of snow or frost or rain I would rise before dawn to pray.  I never felt the worse for it.  I was full of enthusiasm. I think if we were more enthusiastic about our faith life St Patrick we would have fuller churches.

Patrick was a slave for about six years and he then escaped back to his own country.  One night while he was with his relatives in Britain he had a dream.  I saw a man called Victor who appeared to have come from Ireland with an unlimited number of letters.  Opening one of them I read the words ' the voice of the Irish'.  Then I heard a voice which said 'we ask you boy to come and walk once more among us.  Then I woke up.  Thank God after many years the Lord answered their cry. Patrick was always alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and many times the Lord spoke directly to him in prayer.  God protected him on numerous occasions from imminent danger.

Patrick goes on: 'I came to the Irish heathen to preach the good news and put up with insults from unbelievers.  I had my mission abused; I endured many persecutions even to the extent of chains.  However, I am ready to gladly and willingly give my life for these people and if God allows me I want to spend the rest of my life with them.'  St Patrick commends the faith of his new converts.  The Irish people, in their ignorance, used to worship idols and unclean things in the past.  But now they are children of God.  How is it that the sons and daughters of the Irish chieftains want to be monks and virgins dedicated to Christ the Lord?  Patrick was full of missionary zeal and enthusiasm despite set back of all sorts.   He said: 'I must fearlessly and frankly spread the name of God everywhere in order to leave a legacy after my death to my brothers, sisters and children - the many thousands of whom I have baptised in the Lord.  Patrick also had a passion of justice. He wrote a stinging letter to Coroticus whose soldiers were responsible for the deaths of some of Patrick's converts.  They murdered them for money. Others, Coroticus had sold into slavery.  Patrick was an open honest person who never minced his words when criticising a situation which needed to be righted. Perhaps we could take a leaf out of his book here and not be 'shrinking violets' when justice is called for.

Even his fellow clergy spread malicious rumours about him.  They seem to be jealous of his success and always looked down on him for his lack of education and knowledge.  But Patrick did not hold this sin against them and put it down to their lack of understanding.  Let's not forget also that Patrick was no wandering preacher doing his own thing.  He was very much in communion with the apostolic See of Rome which meant that his preaching and teaching were free from error.  After all it was Pope Celestine who officially assigned Patrick to the Irish mission.

One thing we can say about Patrick is that he was a man of simple tastes.  He wasn't in it for the money.  This is what he says:  'In the many thousands of baptisms which I performed, -  did I ever take a penny from anyone.  Tell me and I will give it back.  Or when the Lord ordained through my unworthy person so many priests did I ask any of them even for the price of a pair of shoes.  Speak up and I will return it.

My success in Ireland was due to God's gift.  This is my confession before I die.'  St Patrick felt very protective towards his people and he prays for perseverance in his mission.  He would willingly and gladly lay down his life for them if the Lord wished it.  He looks forward to resurrection and Eternal life and is not concerned about the manner of his death.  The salvation of souls was his primary concern.
St Patrick, Patron of Ireland: pray for us.