17 March, AD 461 marks the end of St. Patrick and the beginning of a long standing holiday. I don't commemorate the life of this man as much as his death.St. Patrick was born Maewyn, and considered himself Pagan until age 16. Once he was sold into slavery by invaders of his villiage, he turned to god, eventually converting to the "church" and returning to Ireland to convert the masses.
The Celtic Druids didn't like it much, but what can you do? Oh, wait, arrest him! This is precisely what they did, but he always managed to escape. So St. Patrick (being the second bishop of Ireland) set up schools, churches and monasteries throughout the land, thus helping him convert much of the Pagan populace.
I admire his drive and appreciate the schools and education. I think he was able to convert so many because he was not an educated man himself and could relate well to the general population.
Too bad the pagan traditions were considered to not be holy by him. After all, we are all connected.
It is understandable when one has a spiritual awakening, one wants to share it. Unfortuantely, this is often considered by said individual as the way, and the only way or the best way to enlightenment. How many times have you been told the Christian god is the only true god? What of the Jewish faith? Or the Muslims? Buddah? Wicca? Pagan? Myriad of others?
Is not your path to enlighentment the true path? Consider it to be your true path, but do not force it upon others. It's fine to introduce others to your findings, but you will do them a great disservice if you push them into your path when theirs may be very different. How defeating it is when one is trying to follow the ideals and tenets of a particular faith when it opposes the instincts and conscience of that individual!
So today, I wear green. Today I may drink and revel. But it is not to celebrate the life of St. Patrick. It is to celebrate his death. Who knows what wonder he found upon dying? Meanwhile, green is the first green of spring, and the shamrock a harbinger of life awakening, (not the trinity, as St. Patrick explained). Drink up to life.
I toast you all. And to my friends down under, a toast to the autumnal wonder of your season.
Cheers!
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Comments: 20
I told my mother when my grandmother died that grandma was going on her greatest adventure yet.
Nice piece!
Happy St. Pats!
The other replied: "or just beginning!"
If you need an extra reason to tie-one-on today consider this.
Today March 17th, is the 58th anniversary of the founding of the Hell's Angels.
Anybody out there with a green Harley should be doing especially well.
We need a REASON to tie-one-on?
Spencer,
What you said!
Great piece, Cathy! Quite thought provoking - this evening I'll drink a toast to the passing of St. Pat.
Yet I push my own religion: "Vote only for Agnostics." I know little of religion; I thought that Christian, Jews and Muslims all worshiped the same God, that they only dissagreed about the Messiah. Is that wrong?
As to St Patty; anyone who is the reason I'm allowed to wear my emerald green sweatshirt with a shamrock on the front and "World's Biggest Leprechaun" on the back and drink beer all day can't be all bad.
I don't have too much problem with folks wanting to 'spread the good news' as long as they leave their bombs, hoods, armies or government influence at home AND as long as they change the subject when i ask them to. Most the ones I meet do it out of a genuine concern for my immortal soul and i find it sweet.
I am so disconnected from the world I totally forgot St Patty's day yesterday. Poor ole Grandma Molly O'Donnell will be spinning in her grave. I'll drink out of green glass tonight to make up for it, pinky promise ;)
(autumn is just tweaking us with her cheeky cool mornings now, it's a glorious feeling after our hottest summer in years, thankyou for remembering us!)
George, please tell us more!!!! A Harley lights us up, here in dreamland......
I should say, that the trinity as explained using the shamrock is a good analogy. There are many trinities, hence, many rely on the power of three.
Bless you all.
Carl, thanks for your religious pushings!!!! And I believe they all worship the same god, but my my my the differences in dogma.
John, thanks for the thought provoking tale.
Spencer, hooray for your tribute to the Irish!
George, there is a special place in my heart for Harleys and their riders.
Tom, I hoisted with you.
Angela, debauchery? He He! I find it ironic and quite fun!
Carolyn "as long as they leave their bombs, hoods, armies or government influence at home AND as long as they change the subject when i ask.." well said, my dear!
Beryl, you express yourself as the beautiful soul you are, and I whole heartedly agree.
Robert, I celebrate because it is also my birthday! I was in a green blanket at the hospital when born, and there's been a party every year everywhere I go! What luck, eh? I agree with your comments, as well.
Nathan, yes, I agree that it was absolutely genocide, the conversion (cohersion) of the church. It was genocide when the Europeans came to the Americas and killed off the "savages" who lived also in harmony with Mother Earth. Interesting point about the PBS statement.
I have found my belief in god to be quite different from the myths I believed years ago. I still think there is a divine force of which we are all part and which is part of us.
Mandi.."I told my mother when my grandmother died that grandma was going on her greatest adventure yet." how beautiful!
Carol, Majy, Tom, Stephen, Thanks so much and blessed day to you all!!!!!