For St. Patrick’s Day in 2nd grade, Mrs. Margretando (one of our elementary school teachers) sat us all down to tell us a story of a leprechaun. Without a book or paper in her hand, she held us captive with every sentence. Her story telling abilities were so engaging & effortless as she created magical images in our minds through the performance of her words. It was my favorite part of that school year, and truly the only thing I remember, as it is still seared in my mind all these years later.
By college, St. Patty’s Day had become an excuse to drink beer and wear green. One year I gifted bark covered in green icing to bar-going college kids and called them “Irish Potato Cookies.” It was a fun & harmless prank which everyone took in stride – I still giggle about it to this day – no doubt the kind of mischief leprechauns admire. But overall, the magic of my second grade world had been transformed into a hedonistic yearly event.
Once I became a mother, St. Patrick’s Day ceased to be much of anything. We didn’t celebrate, for I didn’t know how to celebrate something that had become another commercialized American holiday. There was no deeper meaning to me, so I didn’t see the point. What was I really teaching my child by purchasing cheaply made plastic shamrocks or creating random crafts? What actually were we celebrating?
As I’ve become more interested in Ancient Christianity and it’s traditions, I’ve found there is a much fuller way to teach our children about Saint Patrick’s Day. A way which contains the magic and awe of mystery, but with deep meaning (the opposite of a hedonistic display). This version blends culture, history, beauty, whimsical story, and unwavering faith.
We hope you enjoy the following resources about Saint Patrick:
The Story of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was not a leprechaun with a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. However, the symbolism of his story is important: church tradition states he did use three leaf clovers (or shamrocks) to teach about the Trinity, and that he removed snakes from Ireland. His life and journey is a fascinating one, filled with pirates, danger, and angelic premonitions.
The Protection of Saint Patrick
Many prayers written for protection are known as lorica’s, the Latin term for breastplate. Like the armor of a breastplate, these prayers are meant to protect those who recite them. Saint Patrick wrote his own, known as The Breastplate Prayer, in A.D. 433. It includes an especially beautiful description of how God protects and guides us through His Creation.
The Deer’s Cry Hymn
The Breastplate Prayer was turned into a hymn and is often called The Deer’s Cry. This is attributed to the story of how this prayer protected Saint Patrick:
Because he was preaching a new religion in Ireland at the time, Saint Patrick was aware there were druids planning to kill him as he traveled to the King’s court. Legend has it that St. Patrick and his group recited this prayer and were undetected by the druids. Instead, they saw a gentle doe followed by twenty fawns.
