On St. Patrick’s Day, we get to celebrate the life of a holy man. Only God knows the number of souls in heaven due to the tremendous labors of this great saint of Ireland. Work was the keynote of his mission – “labor which I had learned from Christ my Lord.”
His humility, self-sacrifice, intense love of God, and his wholehearted dedication to the spread of Christ’s kingdom was the secret of his extraordinary success. When his preaching failed to make an impression, his example did. The greatest sermon he ever preached was his own love. He was active as a missionary in Ireland, and the founder of Christianity there.
Legend credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, using it to illustrate the Christian teaching of three persons in one God.
In my years as a priest, I have learned to enjoy corned beef, cabbage, carrots, boiled potatoes, soda bread, and Kerrygold butter.
Two days later, on March 19 is the Church’s official day to celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the foster father of Jesus, the patron of the universal church – and my onomastico.
If a saint’s greatness is measured by the importance of his God-given role upon earth, none, except for Mary, is greater than Joseph. Protector of Mary and foster-father of Jesus, he was charged with the responsibility of guidance and the support of the Holy Family. He was also accountable for the education of the Christ-Child. It was his trade which Christ learned; his speech Christ imitated. No one ever loved Jesus and Mary as did he. His power in heaven stems from this.
In many Italian-American communities, thanks is given to San Giuseppe for preventing a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. Legend says, there was a severe drought at the time, and the people prayed for their patron saint to bring them rain. They promised that, if God answered their prayers through Joseph’s intercession, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. The rain did come, and the people of Sicily prepared a large banquet for their patron saint.
In some communities, it is traditional to eat Neapolitan-type cream puffs filled with custard known as zeppole. The name is a play on S. Giuseppe. Sfingi are Sicilian donuts filled with cannoli cream. Some foods are served containing breadcrumbs to represent sawdust, since Joseph was a carpenter.
Happy name days to all the Patricks and Patricias, the Josephs, JoAnnes, and Josephines. Celebrate well on these two days. And don’t forget to give God the glory.