Éirinn go brách - Ireland Forever! Happy St. Patrick's Day tablescape

Ireland: land of verdant greens, Guinness, Irish lace and shamrocks. Why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day?  I asked several people. I felt like Jay Leno on his Jaywalks! These are some of the answers:

 He drove the snakes out of Ireland.

Patron Saint of green beer.

During the potato famine Patrick decided everyone need to celebrate.

Somebody who witnessed a miracle.

He drank a lot and still lived so now we celebrate that.

Dunno!

St. Patrick's day is celebrated on the day St. Patrick died, 17th of March 493. He is credited with bringing the Irish into Christianity.

When he was 16, Irish marauders captured Patrick and took him to Ireland, where he was sold into slavery. 

Who could have known that the 6 years of slavery were to prepare him for his future apostalate. 

He learned the native Celtic tongue.

His master was a Druid and Patrick learned all the details about druidism, which later helped him to free the Irish from this bondage.

He fled after 6 years of slavery and headed back to Britain.

From that point on he devoted himself to the service of God.

 After several years he was ordained into the priesthood.

According to legend, he was drawn back to Ireland by the pleas of the children:

"O holy youth, come back to Erin and walk once more amongst us." 

After 18 years in the ministry he was able to begin his plans for his return to Ireland.

He had been entrusted with the mission to gather the Irish into the folds of Christianity.

He returned to Ireland in the summer months of 433.

He also wanted to pay his old master off and therefore be a freed man.

In God's plan, he met those who could help him the most in his mission.

And although the Druids were adverse to his mission,

soon God's plan was to come to fruition and

Patrick won over the people.

And Ireland came to be a Christian nation.

One of the "arguments" he used to defend his ways is this:

But St. Patrick, filled with the Holy Ghost, made answer:

"God, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things."
"The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers."
"The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars."

"The God of the high mountains and of the low-lying valleys."

"The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven."

"His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein."

"He gives breath to all."

"He gives life to all."

"He is over all."

"He upholds all."

"He gives light to the sun."

"He imparts splendour to the moon."

"He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean."

"He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights."

"His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself."

"The Son is not younger than the Father."

"And the Father is not older than the Son."

"And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them."

"The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided."

"But I desire by Faith to unite you to the Heavenly King, as you are daughters of an earthly king."

St. Patrick's Day is a holy day, a day of obligation (in Ireland): on Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. 

Moreover they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.

So let's all take the day off!!!

 

The beautiful prayer of St. Patrick, popularly known as "St. Patrick's Breast-Plate", is supposed to have been composed by him in preparation for this victory over Paganism. The following is a literal translation from the old Irish text:

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Cast:

Green linen tablecloth - Williams Sonoma

Lace tablecloth - estate sale

Napkins - estate sale

Napkin rings - Dillards

Dinner plate - Wedgwood Windsor

Salad plate - Bordallo Pinheiro

Bread and Butter plate - Granada, Fine China of Japan

Silver - WMF

Crystal knife rests - husband's grandmother

Green water goblets - Handblown in France purchased in Santa Fe, NM

Crystal wine glasses - estate sale; Libbey Rock Sharpe

Silver candlesticks - gift

Crystal candlesticks - Home Goods

Revere bowl - gift

Butter dish and sterling salt and peppers - estate sales

Crystal decanter - Tuesday Morning

Shamrock plant - grocery store

Thank y'all for dropping in. I'd love to read your thoughts, so leave a comment if you'd like.

I'll be linking up to Tablescape Thursda and Holiday Haven's St. Patrick's party and Cuisine Kathleen's St. Paddy's Day bloghop!  Be sure to drop in there for lots more inspiration!!