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I love Saint Patrick’s Day for a variety of reasons. First, it’s the day when everyone – including this American with deep Norwegian roots – celebrates this Irish saint. Saint Patrick’s Day – the Feast of Saint Patrick – “is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland,” according to Wikipedia.
Second, I love that everything on this day is green: clothes, hair, beer even the Chicago River! Here in the Midwest, we have been looking at a lot of white and brown. Green is a welcome change and gets us ready for spring.
Last, but not least, is my love of Saint Patrick stories. I’ve heard that he used the shamrock to illustrate the story of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Often in the summer I bend down to pick up a three-leaf clover, and I think about God’s love for us.
So, top o’ the morning to you, and Happy Saint Patrick’s. Enjoy your day of playing Irish. And do spend some time thinking about Saint Patrick’s shamrock illustration: the Trinity.
This message is excerpted from “Top O’ the morning to you” by Nancy Giddings from the March 17, 2016, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Patrick, bishop, missionary to Ireland, 461.