St Patrick's Tea

These are the most beautiful pictures I have from St. Patrick's Day and they were actually taken today since yesterday was so full. There was no month of St Patricks Irish dancing and pub performing this year thanks to Covid protocols. Instead, the high school soccer team began its season yesterday, having transferred fall sports to spring.  We had a very late post game dinner of corned beef in the crock pot and baked potatoes and the girls made our standby soda bread recipe here.  Our informal family reviews of this recipe are very positive. 

We watched PS I Love You this week which always makes me exceptionally emotional. (insert disclaimer for any inappropriate content) It also makes me miss my big girls tremendously. Alannah suggested a St Patrick's playlist on Spotify so I happily blasted that while driving to and from the game.  

We did read the long biography from Butler's Lives and of course read the Lorica.  It was not picture perfect the day of, nor was it a well orchestrated "all at one time" celebration.  It was a bits and pieces, spirit of the day sort of thing, as it usually works out here. I pace myself and fit things in as they can be peacefully be fit in.  That looks different every year. 

The funniest Irish quote I saw this year has me chuckling still.  My friend Molly, who shares my unique combination of love for all things Irish AND for Polish pottery shared this one by Yeats:

“Being Irish, she had an abiding sense of tragedy which sustained her through temporary periods of joy.”  

We ARE a dramatic bunch with an acute sense of the tragic lol.  

So here I am, a day late and a dollar short, likely.  I don't create content. (though I don't begrudge those in a position to do so) I recall and record over here. And sometimes I recreate as I did today, having the tea and soda bread leftovers when we had a little more time to enjoy.

Lorica of Saint Patrick

Author: Saint Patrick

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 
Through a belief in the Threeness, 
Through confession of the Oneness 
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today 
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, 
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, 
Through the strength of His resurrection and 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 service of archangels, 
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, 
In the prayers of patriarchs, 
In preachings of the apostles, 
In faiths of confessors, 
In innocence of virgins, 
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven; 
Light of the sun, 
Splendor of fire, 
Speed of lightning, 
Swiftness of the wind, 
Depth of the sea, 
Stability of the earth, 
Firmness of the 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 hosts to save me 
From snares of the devil, 
From temptations of vices, 
From every one who desires me ill, 
Afar and anear, 
Alone or in a mulitude. 
 

I summon today all these powers between me and evil, 
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, 
Against incantations of false prophets, 
Against black laws of pagandom, 
Against false laws of heretics, 
Against craft of idolatry, 
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards, 
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. 
Christ shield me today 
Against poison, against burning, 
Against drowning, against wounding, 
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

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 when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, 
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, 
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, 
Christ in the eye that sees me, 
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, 
Through a belief in the Threeness, 
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

Comments

[Luana]

Happy St. Patricks Day! Your table looks so inviting and beautiful!
And what a fun quote about being Irish! :)