St. Patrick’s SMS Text Messages

The reason the Irish are always fighting each other is they have no other worthy opponents.
** Anonymous
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St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.
** Adrienne Cook
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So, success attend St. Patrick’s fist,
For he’s a saint so clever;
Oh! he gave the snakes and toads a twist,
And bothered them forever!
** Henry Bennett
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I showed my appreciation of my native land in the usual Irish way by getting out of it as soon as I possibly could.
** George Bernard Shaw
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May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
** Irish Blessing
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You know how on St. Patrick’s Day everybody is Irish. In Quincy this weekend, everybody’s German.
** Mary Alice
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May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
** Irish Blessing
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Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don’t want to press your luck.
** Author Unknown
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When Irish eyes are smiling,
‘Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
** Unknown
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Oh, while a man may dream awake,
On gentle Irish ground,
‘Tis Paradise without the snake -
That’s easy to be found.
** Frederick Langbridge
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If you’re enough lucky to be Irish, you’re lucky enough!
** Irish Saying
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May luck be our companion
May friends stand by our side
May history remind us all
Of Ireland’s faith and pride.
May God bless us with happiness
May love and faith abide.
** Irish Blessing
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Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter
Lullabies, dreams, and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes.
** Author Unknown
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Nobody gets upset with the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”
** Gabriela Lemus
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“St. Patrick… one of the few saints whose feast day presents the opportunity to get determinedly whacked and make a fool of oneself all under the guise of acting Irish.”
** Charles M. Madigan
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“St. Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday in Ireland. The first thing you do is go to church.”
** Dermott Reid
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May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
** Irish Blessing
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A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.
** Author Unknown
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I think I’ve discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it.
** Charles Schulz
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For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way -
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day.
** Unknown

Why Saint Patrick's Day?

Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. St Patrick is credited with bringing christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known about him comes from his two works; the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish christians. Saint Patrick described himself as a "most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean things had become the people of God."
Many folk ask the question 'Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?' The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans. Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in the late fourth century, and is often confused with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be the first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.

Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been - the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

There are several accounts of Saint Patrick's death. One says that Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits, and as a preservative against the "evil eye." Another account says that St. Patrick ended his days at Glastonbury, England and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many Catholic places of worship all around the world are named after St. Patrick, including cathedrals in New York and Dublin city

Why Saint Patrick's Day?
Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

In American cities with a large Irish population, St. Patrick's Day is a very big deal. Big cities and small towns alike celebrate with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!