15 Mar

St. Patrick’s Day Prayer and Irish Blessing

The Leo House would like to wish a “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” to all our friends, family and community members. In this spirit, we are sharing an old Irish blessing you may use to celebrate and honor the patron saint of Ireland, who worked tirelessly to inspire holiness in the Christian faithful.

An Old Irish Blessing for St. Patrick’s Day

May your days be many and your troubles be few.

May all God’s blessings descend upon you.

May peace be within you, may your heart be strong.

May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.

May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us.

May the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us.

May thy Salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore.

Amen.

Written by St. Patrick

Image credit: The image above of Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan is from CatholicNews.com

Green Light for St. Patrick’s Day?
Can Catholics eat meat on Friday, March 17th, during Lent?

This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on Friday, March 17th. The Lenten season is also celebrate at this time (which goes from Wednesday, March 1 until Thursday, April 13). Lent is a period during which many Christians observe fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial and spiritual discipline. The lenten rule usually requires Catholics to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. However, people who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day usually do so by sharing traditional Irish meals like corned beef and cabbage.

Many Catholics are conflicted on what to do when that Friday includes St. Patrick’s Day. For this reason, many U.S. Bishops have taken notice that the two holidays observed on the same day. Some have accordingly given dispensation for Catholics in their diocese to allow them to eat meat on this particular Friday. In exchange for a “green light” to eat meat in observance of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, parishioners in some dioceses may therefore do an extra act of other pious works including charity or penance.

As you look forward to celebrating St. Patrick will you be celebrating with the traditional corned beef and cabbage? Or, will you continue to abstain from meat to celebrate Lent?