Presentation Sisters Union North East Ireland Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Patrick’s life journey to conversion and mission was far from an easy one, and a great many of his experiences recounted in his Confessions are those that many people today can resonate with. His story opens our eyes to make those experiences of the migrant, the labour, the refugee and the trafficked person, and the challenges they face in today’s society very real to us.
Pope Francis has just recently shared the chosen theme “Migrants, missionaries of hope” for the 2025 World Day of Migrants and Refugees. He writes:
“Migrants and refugees become ‘missionaries of hope’ in the communities where they are welcomed,” … “often contributing to revitalising their faith and promoting interreligious dialogue based on common values. They remind the Church of the ultimate goal of this earthly pilgrimage—the attainment of our future home-land.”
“In light of the Jubilee, the theme highlights the courage and tenacity of migrants and refugees who bear witness each day to hope for the future despite difficulties.”
The arrival of St. Patrick to these shores brought ‘Hope through Faith’ to so many people that he came into contact with, turning their lives around, not only then in reality, but also in historic accounts woven into myth and legend. His legacy and life continues to speak to us today resonating with our call from Pope Francis to be ‘missionaries of hope’ in our own land, and further afield, wherever we are called to be.
A living faithful Church
This St. Patrick’s Day we recall the life of this courageous missionary but, maybe also because of our shared experience this year of a synodal Church, we can call to mind too, and give thanks for all those unnamed faithful followers of Patrick who against incredible odds became ‘a living faithful church’ in these lands, and who planted the seeds for missionary endeavour that endures today, from this small island to the edges of the earth.
In his Confessions, St. Patrick shares:
Who was it who called one as foolish as I am from the middle of those who are seen to be wise and experienced in law and powerful in speech and in everything? If I am most looked down upon, yet he inspired me, before others, so that I would faithfully serve the nations with awe and reverence and without blame: the nations to whom the love of Christ brought me. His gift was that I would spend my life, if I were worthy of it, to serving them in truth and with humility to the end. (#13 St Patrick’s Confessio)
From where did this wisdom come to me, a wisdom which was not in me? I didn’t even know how the number of days, much less did I know God. Where did such a great and life-giving gift come from then, to know and love God, even at the cost of leaving homeland and parents? (#36)
I pray for those who believe in and have reverence for God. Some of them may happen to inspect or come upon this writing which Patrick, a sinner without learning, wrote in Ireland. May none of them ever say that whatever little I did or made known to please God was done through ignorance. Instead, you can judge and believe in all truth that it was a gift of God. This is my confession before I die. (#62)
Fáed Fíada (The Cry of the Deer)
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.
I arise today through the strength of Christ 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 the Archangels,
in hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets,
in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors,
in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through the strength of Heaven:
light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire,
speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,
stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.
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 secure me:
against snares of devils, against temptations of vices,
against inclinations of nature, against everyone who
shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils):
against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose
my body and my soul,
against incantations of false prophets,
against black laws of heathenry,
against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry,
against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
against every knowledge that endangers man’s body and soul.
Christ to protect me today
against poison, against burning, against drowning,
against wounding, so that there may come 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 in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
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.
Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
Useful links:
To the translation of the text of St. Patrick’s Confessions HERE
To ‘What do we know of Patrick?’ see HERE
Note: This year, the world day will not be observed on the last Sunday of September as usual but will instead take place from October 4-5 to coincide with both the Jubilee of Migrants and the Jubilee of the Missions at the Vatican.