“We beg you holy Patrick to come and walk again among us”

Wearing the Shamrock to Mass on St Patrick’s Day is a centuries old tradition in Ireland.
It is believed that St. Patrick used the Shamrock to teach people the meaning of the Holy Trinity.
Thank you to Fr Patrick McHugh from St. Columba’s Church, Termon in the Diocese of Raphoe for this blessing of the shamrock

View the flyer »

The National Novena to St. Patrick and St. Joseph was first published by the Sacred Heart Messenger in Ireland in 1931
Most novenas are 9 days. This beautiful novena is 12 days and starts on 8th March, continuing until the feast day of St. Joseph, 19th March, including prayers to both St. Patrick and St. Joseph.
St. Patrick and St. Joseph pray for us

Join the Lenten Journey with St. Patrick and Pope St. John Paul for 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Saturday.
The journey includes 2 readings in a podcast each day for the 40 days of Lent. The first reading is from the writings of St Patrick. The second reading is an extract from the homilies and addresses of Pope St John Paul II on his apostolic journey to Ireland in 1979. To receive a daily podcast to your phone text 0044-7545-452362

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Novena to St. Patrick

8 – 16 March Feast day 17 March

“From the time I came to know Him in my youth, the love of God and the fear of Him
have grown in me, and up to now, thanks be to the grace of God, I have kept the faith”. St. Patrick

Please unite in praying a novena to Saint Patrick for renewal of the faith in Ireland and for your own intentions.
Encourage family and friends at home and abroad to join.
For a copy of the novena click here »
( Download a print version
with crop marks » )

Hail Glorious St. Patrick!

Our national hymn to St. Patrick was written by Sister Mary Agnes McSweeney, a religious sister in the Convent of Mercy, Charleville, County Cork.

The dearly loved hymn was written at a time when famine ravished Ireland and yet the people, like St. Patrick, kept the faith. It was first published in “East Hymns” in 1853.

Do you know all the words? Sing out all the verses on St. Patrick’s Day!
View the lyrics here »

Saint Patrick’s Breastplate

“His use of the Sign of the Cross was itself a marvel as was the reverence he paid to those crosses which already began to be erected across the land. It was a custom of St Patrick, to place the cross of Christ over him one hundred times each day and night; and he would go aside from his path, even though the cross  was one hundred paces away provided that he saw it or knew it to be in his vicinity; whether he was in a chariot or on a horse, he would proceed to each cross”. Ref  St. Patrick Apostle of Ireland, Mgr Arthur Ryan, Catholic Truth Society  Mar 17 1940.

One of the prayers of St. Patrick is St. Patrick’s Breastplate. St. Patrick is prayed it daily completely surrounding himself with Christ.
A bookmark with the full St. Patrick’s Breastplate is available here »

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.
Sister Mary Agnes composer and writer of Hail Glorious Saint Patrick

Sister Mary Agnes McSweeney was born in Cobh and lived through the great famine. When she was 20 years old she entered the Mercy Convent in Charleville, County Cork.
Sister Mary Agnes wrote Hail Glorious St. Patrick. In 1865, she journeyed to Australia to work as a missionary and remained there until her death working with children, the poor, the sick and in prison ministry.
Read more about her life here »

Mary from Mayo’s memories of climbing St. Patrick’s mountain - Croagh Patrick 50 years ago

A grandmother remembers the excitement of climbing Ireland’s Holy Mountain as a teeanger.
There are many different ways to learn, but the best way to learn is from listening to personal narrative.
This is Mary’s story »

St. Patrick’s Day Message by Archbishop Eamon Martin 17 March 2019

Read Archbishop Eamon Martin’s message for St. Patrick’s Day here: In the words of Pope St. John Paul in Drogheda in 1979, the Archbishop of Armagh, is Primate of All Ireland because he is the Comharba Phádraig, the successor of Saint Patrick, the first Bishop of Armagh.
Click here »

 
The Apostle of Ireland by Canon Sheehan of Doneraile 1902

A stirring article on St. Patrick written at the turn of the last century by Canon Patrick A. Sheehan. He was born in Mallow on 17 March 1852 - St. Patrick’s Day. He was parish priest of Doneraile in the Diocese of Cloyne and known and loved by many as Canon Sheehan of Doneraile. A great read and a beautiful insight into what being a catholic meant to the Irish people in his day.
You can read the article at this link »

Pope Francis invites the people of Ireland to take up once again the prayer of St. Patrick…

At the close of his homily in in Phoenix Park, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, encouraged all present to renew the prayer of St. Patrick, quoting a few lines from St. Patrick’s Breastplate in English and Irish.
“As we now prepare to go our separate ways, let us renew our fidelity to the Lord and to the vocation he has given to each of us. Taking up the prayer of Saint Patrick, let each of us repeat with joy: “Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me”. With the joy and strength given by the Holy Spirit, let us say to Him with confidence: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68). Pope Francis, Phoenix Park, Dublin 26 August 18.
To read the full homily click here »

 


I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in threeness, Through confession of the oneness, of the Creator of Creation.

St. Patrick b 387, d 17 Mar 461 Photo: St. Patrick’s Church, Rome

 


© Pádraig Naofa 2020