Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Saint Patrick


Liturgical art is woven into my business creating unique stoles and worship banners. Therefore when I recently read, “the saints are to God like stained glass is to sunlight” I immediately loved the connection of a liturgical art form to faith. I think this person was seeing light changing as it passed through the colored glass. The many colors combine to form diverse hues to reveal hidden perfections of the original light beam. This calls to mind the virtues of the saints that help us to better appreciate God's comprehensive goodness.

Saint Patrick is of course one example from history that we can model our lives after. He was a missionary and the foundations of Christianity in Ireland are largely attributed to him. His life included a time in captivity, but he showed faith when he heard God’s call. The seeds that were planted when Patrick learned the Celtic language while in captivity allowed the perfections of God’s holiness to shine through him. By contemplating and honoring saint’s goodness, we come better to know and revere the overawing holiness of God.
Many of us are preparing to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Some will do this with a green beer in hand or a green carnation on the lapel. But you might model your action after St. Patrick who of course focused elsewhere. He said, “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. Be always ours this day and for evermore.”