Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of St. Patrick (Irish:
Lá Fhéile Pádraig), is celebrated this Thursday, March 17. St Patrick, Bishop (c. AD 389–461), is the "Apostle" and Patron of Ireland. This feast is also occasion to celebrate the heritage and culture of the Irish. Celebrations generally involve the participation at Mass, parades and festivals, and the "wearing of the green."
Memorial of St. Patrick Mass
There will be a Mass celebrated in Irish (Gaelic) and English,
at Immaculate Conception Church (540 Chestnut Ave., Trenton) on
Thursday, March 17, at 12:15 PM. The Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Michael J. Walsh, pastor of St. James Church, Pennington (presiding), and Father Cesar Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels, Trenton; other clergy will concelebrate. Parking is available on the hside of the church and also in the rear of the church on Division St.
Among St. Patrick's writings, we find the following verses that serve as a great morning prayer:
I arise today through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me afar and anear, alone or in a multitude. Christ shield me today against wounding Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. I arise today through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation.