Irish primate urges Christians to go beyond parades for St. Patrick’s Day

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St. Patrick

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Dublin, Ireland, Mar 19, 2007 / 08:58 am (CNA).- Christians should go beyond parades and honor St. Patrick by living according to his example, said Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh and primate of Ireland.

In a St. Patrick’s Day message, Archbishop Brady urged Christians to carefully read St. Patrick’s “Confession of Grace”, which tells of the Saint’s love for God and desire to share the Good News with the Irish.

The archbishop expressed his regret that this work is not widely known. For the Church in Ireland, he said, this text “is arguably as important as one of the letters of the New Testament.” Like St. Paul, Patrick is writing to the communities to whom he communicated the Good News.

He described St. Patrick as “an excellent guide to Easter” and said the Saint can inspire in others the Christian virtues of compassionate love for all, forgiveness, prayerfulness; attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, courage and devotion to reading the Bible.

“Patrick came so that we might know and love Jesus Christ and make real in our lives the love of Christ for others. That is the only vision which will create real peace, genuine wholesomeness and lasting prosperity for all on this island,” he said.

“In my own heart I sincerely know that Patrick's spiritual presence is very much with us,” he added.

Comments: 1

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Charles Wadlow
Kirkland, WA 03/19/2007 12:13 PM EST

Most of my family in County Wicklow Ireland don't even go to Mass anymore. From the 1960's to the mid 1990's, the people of Bray, Greystones and other cities were desperately poor. They barely had enough for food, and yet the Priests in the area were always living in much better conditions than his people. There is 30 years of resentment towards the local Priests.

Ireland doesn't need anymore 70 year old Priests, they have plenty. Please Lord send young Priests in their 40's and 50's to inspire people back to Mass and we need the younger Priests so they have enough energy to go out and personally bring back people to the Church

For Ireland to come back to the faith, and I mean teenagers, 20's, 30's, 40's, then the Priest need to go LITERALLY door to door to personally invite them back to Mass. Address their concerns, and be humble and invite these wonderful people back to the Catholic Church.

With so many years of resentment, the Church really needs to make a huge effort to re-engage the Irish population.

May St. Patrick and St. Brigid and St. Columba intercede to encourage their weakend faith. Laus Deo!

AMDG

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