This coincidence may be seen as, in itself, symbolic.  There is no doubt that the death/resurrection motif, was a characteristic both of Patrick`s personal spirituality and of his missionary preaching. In the "Confession", in a reference to his early life, he writes:                 

“ I was as a stone lying in the deep mire and He that is mighty came
  and in His mercy lifted me, and indeed raised me up again and
  placed me on top of the wall”

We recall Patrick`s confrontation with the forces of darkness, when he dared to enkindle the Paschal fire on Tara, that great stronghold of  Celtic paganism. In St Paul`s  First Letter to the Corinthians, we read :                     

“To shame what is strong , God has chosen what was low and contemptible, mere nothings, to overthrow the existing order".                                

Patrick's life can be considered as a type of  “case-study” exemplifying the thought of his great mentor.

And what of ourselves, Patrick`s spiritual children?
We too have been redeemed from the mire of our sinful state through the Passion Death and Resurrection.  By Baptism we have been raised up in  Christ.  We are called to be the presence of Christ in this world, not only communally (as church) but individually as well.  If I as an individual  fail in this calling, then  tragically no one else can reflect God`s presence as I am called to do. It follows that we must regularly call ourselves to account , and no time is more appropriate than now, as we draw near to the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. 

However weak we may feel ourselves to be, let us ask God for help and He will answer: “Would your Father refuse the good Spirit to those who ask?”- The Lord will surely do great things for us as he did for St. Patrick.  Let us resolve then as we greet each new day, to renew our faith and trust in our most merciful and loving Lord. And as we do so may the holy words attributed to St Patrick resound  “mantra- like” in our minds and hearts.        

                  ……                …………I   ARISE   TODAY

  Sr Nuala Mary Mc Kinstry, OP