A Month’s Journeywith St. Patrick

Illustrated

CATHOLIC BOOK PUBLISHING CORP.New Jersey

CONTAINING AN INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE,A REFLECTION, AND A PRAYER

ByFR. NEIL XAVIER O’DONOGHUE

MAR.

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15WAS tested by some of my elders whocame to me and said that I was not fit tofulfill a bishop’s ministry. . . . But theLord . . . helped me greatly in this trial.

—Confessio 26

OMORROW we will remember St.Patrick. May his faith in Christ the Sav-ior sustain you . . . at the most difficulttimes; and may his missionary devotionremind you . . . of the importance ofChristian education for your children.

—Pope Francis, March 16, 2016

REFLECTION. Before Patrick returned to Ire-land as a missionary, some thought he was un-worthy. But God protected Patrick.

We too are unworthy, yet the Lord alwaysuses “earthen vessels” to carry the treasures ofHis Gospel (2 Cor 4:7). PRAYER. Lord, I know that I am not worthyto be Your disciple. Help me to follow You moreclosely and always keep my eyes fixed uponYour goodness. I ask this through the invoca-tion of the Trinity. Amen.

REFLECTION. Patrick’s message is valid forall peoples and all times. We all need to cometo meet Christ.

If we are inspired by Him, God will be withus at all times and bring us to His Kingdom. PRAYER. Lord, may I turn to You when I amsick and when I am joyful, when I am poor andwhen I am rich. I ask this through the invoca-tion of the Trinity. Amen.

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GIVE thanks to the One who strengthens mein all things. . . . I felt a great strength fromHim so that my good faith was approved inthe sight of God and men. —Confessio 30

NDEED I did not get to go to Ireland untilthese humiliations had nearly killed me. Butthis was providential for by this I was puri-fied by the Lord. —Confessio 28

REFLECTION. Patrick was able to be a greatSaint, because God helped him to be humble.Pride is the mother of all other sins.

God allows us to see some of our sins, sothat we may repent and be humble. PRAYER. Lord, make me humble. Do not allowme to be puffed up by pride. May I always seemy own dignity and understand that every-thing good that I do has You as its inspirationand font. I ask this through the invocation ofthe Trinity. Amen.

REFLECTION. Even though Patrick had to facemany challenges, God strengthened him sothat he could meet them.

God will also strengthen us to carry out thegood works that He has fashioned for us.PRAYER. Lord, give me the strength I need todo Your will, and in my weakness may Yourglory be shown to those around me. I ask thisthrough the invocation of the Trinity. Amen.

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OFFICIAL MASS OF ST. PATRICKCourtesy of the National Centre for Liturgy,

St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Although St. Patrick’s Day is only acommemoration in the General RomanCalendar and the editio typica of theRoman Missal just gives a Collect for theMass, in Ireland this feast day is a solem-nity. The Irish Episcopal Conferencecomposed a full Mass for this day. The of-ficial texts of this Mass and the refer-ences to its Scripture readings are pro-vided below. Although these texts are of-ficially approved for use only in Ireland(and are not licit for liturgical use else-where), nonetheless the Church recog-nizes that all official prayer texts are avalid aid to personal prayer (see Cate-chism of the Catholic Church, 1124). It ishoped that by providing them here theymight serve as an additional source ofprayer.

March 17

Saint Patrick, BishopPrincipal Patron of Ireland

Solemnity

Entrance Antiphon Gen 12:1-2Go from your country and your kindred andyour father’s house to the land that I will show

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