On March 17, the Catholic Church especially honors Saint Patrick -- Catholic bishop, "Apostle of Ireland" and one of the most well-loved and celebrated saints of all time. But, this year, St. Patrick's Day falls during Lent -- which leaves some Catholics wondering whether they may celebrate the joyous feast day during the penitential season.
The answer is, "Yes." As long as the feast day is on the church's calendar of feasts, the faithful may celebrate the feast in Lent, Anchorage Archbishop Roger Schwietz told the Catholic Anchor.
However, when the feast day falls on a day of abstinence from meat, such as a Friday in Lent, a special dispensation from the local bishop is necessary before revelers can enjoy any traditional Irish corned-beef. Archbishop Schwietz has granted such a waiver when St. Patrick's day has fallen on a Friday, to the joy of parishioners of St. Patrick's Church in Anchorage, which hosts a large celebration for its namesake.
This year, St. Patrick's Day -- as well as the often-celebrated St. Joseph's day -- take place on a Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
Saint for unbelievers
The great patron of Ireland, Saint Patrick was born in Scotland to Roman parents around 385. His mother was a relative of Saint Martin of Tours.
When he was 14 years old, Saint Patrick was kidnapped by an Irish raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave. For six years in the Pagan land, the youth herded sheep for a Druid high priest and chieftain.
Throughout his captivity, Saint Patrick fervently prayed to God. He later wrote: "... His fear increased in me more and more, and the faith grew in me, and the spirit was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers, and in the night nearly the same, so that whilst in the woods and on the mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer and felt no hurt from it, whether there was snow or ice or rain ..."
At the age of 20, inspired by an angel in a dream, he escaped to the coast and journeyed across the sea back to his family. In Britain, he studied for the priesthood and was ordained. Later, Saint Patrick became a bishop. For 18 years, he helped Saint Germanus successfully quell the heresies of Paganism and Pelagianism which Christian Britain was battling.
Still, according to The Catholic Encyclopedia, from time to time, Saint Patrick saw visions of the children in Ireland crying to him: "O holy youth, come back to Erin, and walk once more amongst us." Eventually, Pope Celestine I charged Saint Patrick with the mission of returning to Ireland to draw its people into the fold of Christ's universal church. For his work, the Holy Father gave the saint many relics and spiritual gifts -- as well as the name "Patercius" or "Patritius" -- a foreshadow of the coming fruitful apostolate in which Saint Patrick became "the father of his people."
Saint Patrick arrived at Ireland's shores on March 25, 433 -- on the feast of the Annunciation. While some Irish were happy to hear Saint Patrick preach the Gospel, the chieftains and the Druids -- eager to maintain the hold of superstition among the Celts -- were up in arms.
There are a number of dramatic accounts of Saint Patrick's heroic stands against the Pagan forces. In his work, "Confessio," Saint Patrick said that he and his companions were seized and carried off as captives 12 times. But the faithful servant of Christ overcame the trials.
Saint Patrick and his followers -- some of whom were later canonized, too -- converted thousands. And Saint Patrick built churches and formed dioceses for his flock in all the provinces of Ireland.
The humble saint is known for his clear, powerful expositions of the principles of the Catholic faith. He even employed the ordinary, little, three-leaved shamrock plant to teach people about the Trinity. For years, he worked miracles, taught the true faith and brought the Body and Blood of Christ to the Irish.
When he died on March 17, 461 (some say 460 or 493), the Irish people came to mourn and venerate him. Saint Patrick's body was wrapped in a shroud woven by Saint Brigid, and his remains were interred where the Cathedral of Down is now located.
This article originally appeared in the Catholic Anchor, the newspaper of the archdiocese of Anchorage, and is republished here with permission.