St. Patrick

The Real St. Patrick

Most of yehs might remember that St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, brought Christianity to the Island sometime in the 5th century. Lunchtime on a Tuesday, I think it was. Yer man was also responsible for giving shamrocks biblical importance rather than their common use: to be drawn on the head of pint of Guinness to mark the tourists for the pick-pocketeers. But not many of yehs know how he brought the Pagans to heel. In all fairness, Ol’ Pat was a showman.

When Patrick converted Aongus, an ancient pagan warrior and the king of Munster, he led Aongus up to the top of a hill so all of the king’s subjects could see.  Patrick raised his hands and commanded the Almighty to bless the pagan king. Then he commanded Aongus raise his hands holding two lit candles aloft as a symbol of the Crucifixion and launched into a long-winded sermon on the glory of the Almighty – so lengthy, in fact, by the time ol’ Pat said ‘amen’ the candles in Aongus’ hands had burned out completely singing Aongus’ hands and leaving him with an enviable but painful pair of stigmata.  Pat looked over to a weeping Aongus and was moved by the passion of his new convert.  That is, until he discovered the smouldering reasons for the big pagan’s tears.  He cried out ‘O Aongus, why did you not tell me?’ Tears in his eyes, Aongus replied “Jayzus Paddi, I thought it was part of the ceremony.”

So you see, from early on, the Irish have understood Jesus’ suffering at the hands of religious overlords.  You’ll see it in the men’s faces sitting just inside the door at St. Ronaldo’s when Fr. Tim clears his throat and begins “the drone” there just after the Eucharist.