We are less than a month away from St. Patrick's Day and I thought I would make a quick mention of the great Saint's prayer and tell you about a recent encounter. I have posted portions of the prayer here before.
I was visiting a Catholic store a few weeks ago and met up with a woman whose son had gone through school with one of my older kids. Her son had been a nice enough boy when I knew him, but I had heard from my son that he had gotten into some trouble with drugs. I knew next to nothing about what was going on, but you could see there was pain in this woman's face. The woman herself is a wonderful person and devoted mother and wife.
I asked her whether she had seen the St. Patrick holy cards and I pulled a few off one of the shelves. I mentioned that I had learned an appreciation of St. Patrick because of his prayer and his life. I liked the fact that there is a desperation in St. Patrick that comes out in the prayer. I think its message is especially strong for those who are in desperate need. In the prayer, St. Patrick asks for more than help, he asks to be surrounded by Christ from all sides.
I bought a few cards and she took one for herself as well to read after I left. I also showed her a St. Brigid card that I had bought there before, which has a prayer that asks for God's help in finding peace. She seemed interested in both cards and I hope the prayers would help her. Both prayers are wonderful.
I have been in situations like the one that she is going through where there seems to be no good answer and you have to just ask the Good Lord to hold you up and surround you with His love and protection. We parents are meant to be protectors of our children and often we are, but the one thing we cannot protect them from is their own self destruction. I think many of us who know this woman would view her as an especially devoted mother. May God protect her and her son.
I was visiting a Catholic store a few weeks ago and met up with a woman whose son had gone through school with one of my older kids. Her son had been a nice enough boy when I knew him, but I had heard from my son that he had gotten into some trouble with drugs. I knew next to nothing about what was going on, but you could see there was pain in this woman's face. The woman herself is a wonderful person and devoted mother and wife.
I asked her whether she had seen the St. Patrick holy cards and I pulled a few off one of the shelves. I mentioned that I had learned an appreciation of St. Patrick because of his prayer and his life. I liked the fact that there is a desperation in St. Patrick that comes out in the prayer. I think its message is especially strong for those who are in desperate need. In the prayer, St. Patrick asks for more than help, he asks to be surrounded by Christ from all sides.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me.
Christ below me, Christ above me.
Christ at my right, Christ at my left.
Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height.
I bought a few cards and she took one for herself as well to read after I left. I also showed her a St. Brigid card that I had bought there before, which has a prayer that asks for God's help in finding peace. She seemed interested in both cards and I hope the prayers would help her. Both prayers are wonderful.
I have been in situations like the one that she is going through where there seems to be no good answer and you have to just ask the Good Lord to hold you up and surround you with His love and protection. We parents are meant to be protectors of our children and often we are, but the one thing we cannot protect them from is their own self destruction. I think many of us who know this woman would view her as an especially devoted mother. May God protect her and her son.
One version of Saint Patrick's Prayer/BreastplateLorica.
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