Thursday, March 17, 2011

St. Patrick’s Day: Shake and Pray

mcdonalds-shamrock-shake Happy St. Patrick’s Day! How do you celebrate? My ancestry is Scottish, but this won’t stop me from wearing some green and enjoying Shamrock shakes with my sons today! I was in a McDonalds yesterday where the manager was taking down all the signs advertising the Shamrock shake. When I protested that it was only March 16 and he couldn’t do that, he explained they were all out of the mix. I protested all the more! How scandalous is that! Hopefully the luck of the Irish is with us today as we try to select a more worthy, a more loyally Irish McDonalds!

From the legacy of St. Patrick’s mission to Ireland, we have received a great prayer.

Prayer of St. Patrick

shamrockI arise today 
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
Carlingford Lough I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
ireland Rostrevor cross I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
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. shamrock
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

 

WesternBrookPondGrosMorne-Newfoundland-Lewis

The Church of Ireland breaks the fast and sombre mood of Lent in order to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick This year, I gave up chocolate for Lent, but for a reason that might surprise you. Last Easter, I discovered that 200,000 children labour in the cocoa jungle of Côte d'Ivoire to produce the Kit Kats, Hersheys and Mars bars we enjoy so much. And 12,000 of those children have been trafficked from other West African countries into slavery. During Lent this year, I want to work through a Christian response to this bitter truth about chocolate. I’m looking for help, for Christians who would think, pray, discuss and discern with me what we should do to act redemptively. Want to join the discussion?

Giving up chocolate for Lent, maybe for life by Ken Symes

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