Laetare Sunday - Rejoice Sunday
...and the week of St. Patrick's Day.

The annual celebration of Ireland's great missionary and saint is nearly upon us. I am not Irish by descent and I am in fear and trembling as I write this blog. But I feel that I must for the sake of my good Irish friends and all Irish Folk of good will.

Dear friends: St. Patrick himself would be be distressed at the manner in which his memory is held...Pub Crawls, Drunken Behavior, being a Public Nuisance, etc. It seems that hoisting a beer, wearing a silly green hat and being loud and frisky have become synonymous with St. Patrick's Day.

Many of my Irish friends are quite put out over this behavior. Those who are old enough will recall a beautiful holy day in Ireland that began with Holy Mass and later in the day brought family together for a holiday meal. They remain puzzled by how the day has become so identified with raucous behavior. One would think that all Irish are drunks and ne'er do wells. I know this is not the case but my Irish friends are beginning to become quite insulted by these allusions.

The Irish, were for many years, the bedrock of Catholicism in our our newly-found nation as well as in the Emerald Isle. Being Irish meant being a hard worker, a believer, a family man/woman, a promoter of justice and fairness. The present celebration of St. Patty's Day (vs. St. Patrick's Day) is an insult to the great Saint and the great Man that he was.

If I were Irish, and I am not, I would not be amused by the manner in which the day is invoked.
May St. Patrick live long in the hearts of the Irish who suffered much for the faith and may he bless the Irish People and all People who are of good will and peace.

St. Patrick, pray for us.

Pax et Bonum