The Real Reason To Celebrate St. Patrick Has Nothing To Do With Beer Or Parades

St. Patrick is one example of a Catholic saint whose name has been woven into American culture. His importance and reasons for sainthood may have been diminished in some ways. However, by remembering and recognising this iconic saint, we can help the American project and keep true to what it means celebrate his life each St. Patrick’s Day.

Too often, the Catholic Church is seen as out-of touch for its fairy tales in Scripture or as superstitious because it believes that the Eucharist represents the body and blood Jesus Christ. It is society that has adopted false interpretations of what it means for St. Patrick to be remembered. Orthodoxy, and even sanity, means that we remain rooted in truth. It is crucial to uncover the facts about this great man of history when we consider what has become of his celebration.

It became a common practice for celebrations to be held on St. Patrick’s Day due to the many Irish immigrants that have migrated over the centuries to the United States. New York City’s first parade was held in 1762, while Boston’s first parade took place in 1737. These days were filled with Irish culture and customs being celebrated, as well as enjoying some good beer.

St. Patrick’s Day is now a reason for Irish families and others to decorate their homes with shamrock paraphernalia and light up their homes. The nation’s March month has turned green (even though blue is the original color associated to St. Patrick). It is also inebriated.

St. Patrick’s Day has become a reason to drink, with grown men and women drinking at 11 o’clock in the morning just like they did in college. It is obvious that there must be more than drinking and eating corned cow. So why is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated?

St. Patrick was a British citizen born in the late fourth-century. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped and forced to live in Ireland. Patrick’s sufferings and slavery were real. He was forced to go to another country and was left alone. He turned to God during his trials.

“God watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son,” He writes in “The Confession of St. Patrick.”

He escaped slavery in the end, returned to Britain and was able to return to Ireland to preach the gospel. His preaching, witness, life and ministry were responsible for the creation of schools, monasteries and churches throughout Ireland. His life was dedicated to God and helping others understand the significance of Jesus Christ for their daily lives.

All the parades, the green, and Guinness that are held to honor this great man are nice and well. Patrick’s faith in God and his desire to share that truth with others is what makes his life most memorable. He stands out in a nation that is becoming more anti-God because of his ability to see God even through trials. His words can help us remember that God is always near when we feel lost and are tempted by the idea of all being lost.

This is one of his most well-known prayers:

“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 when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

He found that prayer did something for him. The slave trader captured the boy and made him feel alone. He then discovered the living God and had to share it with the rest of the world. He needed to share God with his country of slavery. Patrick’s perspective can be a help to the many Americans who are feeling discouraged by our leaders and the terrible news that we hear every day. Patrick’s solution offers the answer: We can rely upon something greater than ourselves (God), but we have to take steps to build up society instead of tearing it down.

Let’s celebrate today by wearing green. We are not doing this because we want to celebrate a hero of virtue who saw all the angles, kept God in the center and lived for others.