Lenten Moments of Mercy: Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent Feast of St. Patrick   Christ always walks with us, within us, behind us, before us, and beside us.

Scripture Seek the LORD and his strength;             seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done,             his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered. Psalm 105:4‒5     Reflection St. Patrick (c 389–c 461) was born to a Roman aristocratic family in Britain. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland. He was sold to a pagan family and tended sheep as a slave for six years. Tending sheep year after year gave him plenty of time to think and reflect on his life. During his captivity, he started to pray and he opened his heart to God. Patrick realized that God loved him even as he suffered the hard life of a slave. With God's help, Patrick managed to escape his captivity and returned to his family in Britain. When at home Patrick could not forget Ireland. He recounted a vision he had to return as a missionary:   [T]here, in a vision of the night, I saw a man whose name was Victoricus coming as if from Ireland with innumerable letters, and he gave me one of them, and I read the beginning of the letter: “The Voice of the Irish;” and as I was reading the beginning of the letter I seemed at that moment to hear the voice of those who were beside the forest of Foclut which is near the western sea, and they were crying as if with one voice: “We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.”   Patrick studied for the priesthood, and was later ordained a bishop. He returned to Ireland but his experience was not a triumphal procession or parade. He followed the Way of the Cross. He lived in poverty and had no legal protection as he walked between the warring tribes and clans. He was beaten, robbed, and imprisoned in chains. He never lost his joyful faith and trust in Christ whom he honored in a prayer we know as “The Breastplate of St. Patrick:”   Christ be with me, Christ within me Christ behind me, Christ before me Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Pope Francis “The cross shows us a different way of measuring success. Ours is to plant the seeds: God sees to the fruits of our labors. And if at times our efforts and works seem to fail and produce no fruit, we need to remember that we are followers of Jesus . . . and his life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, the failure of the cross.” Homily, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 24 September 2015   Lenten Action ► Pray “St. Patrick’s Breastplate” today. ► Share the story of St. Patrick with a child in your life.   Prayer St. Patrick, through your intercession, help us to discover the living Christ so we may be courageous followers of the Way of the Cross.

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