Dublin, Ireland, Mar 19, 2007 / 06:58 am
Christians should go beyond parades and honor St. Patrick by living according to his example, said Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh and primate of Ireland.
In a St. Patrick’s Day message, Archbishop Brady urged Christians to carefully read St. Patrick’s “Confession of Grace”, which tells of the Saint’s love for God and desire to share the Good News with the Irish.
The archbishop expressed his regret that this work is not widely known. For the Church in Ireland, he said, this text “is arguably as important as one of the letters of the New Testament.” Like St. Paul, Patrick is writing to the communities to whom he communicated the Good News.
He described St. Patrick as “an excellent guide to Easter” and said the Saint can inspire in others the Christian virtues of compassionate love for all, forgiveness, prayerfulness; attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, courage and devotion to reading the Bible.
“Patrick came so that we might know and love Jesus Christ and make real in our lives the love of Christ for others. That is the only vision which will create real peace, genuine wholesomeness and lasting prosperity for all on this island,” he said.
“In my own heart I sincerely know that Patrick's spiritual presence is very much with us,” he added.
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