St. Patrick's Day and the Coronavirus
This is the strangest St. Patrick’s Day in memory. Rather than gathering in its pubs to celebrate, America is hunkered in its homes to hibernate. What are we to make of this? How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s day when the coronavirus clogs the airwaves, closes the airways, and contaminates the air? Perhaps St. Patrick can help. For while his holiday is widely celebrated, Patrick himself is virtually unknown. Who was he? Why is he remembered as the patron saint of Ireland? The surprising thing about Patrick is that he was not even Irish. He was born in Britain around 390 A.D. His family was deeply religious – his father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest – but Patrick was not. When Patrick was sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and enslaved in Ireland. For six long years he was malnourished and mistreated, fearing for his life, and longing for his family. As is often the case, however, hard times offer the opportunity for spiritual growth and character development. ...