Yesterday was St. Patricks day. A day held by many as the day to get drunk and find any trace of Irish in their blood or family line that they can to justify getting drunk. For us at the Cunningham house it was a day to connect with some friends and cook some good old fasioned Irish food and drink. I was born in Belfast so I feel that I am somewhat authentic.
We had our friends Sean and Heather over as well as Gordon and his daughter Grace. I made some Irish potatoe bread, sausage rolls and Guinness beef stew. We also had some Guinness, which I hear is good for you.
The thing about St. Patricks day that most people don't know is that it is in honor of Patrick of Ireland. He is a real person, but he did not, contrary to popular belief, drive the snakes out of Ireland. Patrick was from Scotland and was a slave in Ireland. He escaped his slave owner and went home where he met and fell in love with Jesus. Feeling a draw and calling back to the people who enslaved him, he went back to Ireland to share with the Irish the message of the cross. He is credited with bringing the gospel to the Irish people. I am greafull for this man, who considered all loss for the sake of Jesus Christ. Below is the prayer of St. Patrick, it is a beautiful prayer.
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through the belief in the three ness, through confession of the oneness of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism, through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial, through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension, through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today Through the strength of the love of Cherubim, In obedience of angels, In the service of archangels, In hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In prayers of patriarchs, In predictions of prophets, In preaching of apostles, In faith of confessors, In innocence of holy virgins, In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today Through the strength of heaven: Light of sun, Radiance of moon, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of wind, Depth of sea, Stability of earth, Firmness of 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 host to save me From snares of devils, From temptations of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill, Afar and anear, Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils, Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that there may come to me abundance of reward. 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.
I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the threeness, Through confession of the oneness, Of the Creator of Creation.
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