Where is St. Patrick today?

We all know that the feast of St. Patrick is celebrated worldwide on March 17. But have we ever asked ourselves, “how did he do what he did in Ireland?” After all, Patrick, it is said, came from Great Britain or Gaul (present day France). He did not arrive on the Emerald Isle speaking fluent Gaelic. In fact, it is a miracle that he was not killed by the pagan Celts!

He had little training in evangelization, but he assimilated the Celts little by little. Picking up a word here, a phrase there. Gradually, he became fluent in the Irish language, so much so, that he began to preach in Irish and teach the inhabitants of the one Ireland (there were not Protestants) about Christianity.

Using a simple catechesis, he presented the doctrine of the Trinity through the Shamrock. Through graces given this missionary, he performed miracles, such as ridding Ireland of snakes. People became enamored with Patrick. He was sincere. He did not ask for money. He was happy to be among the people who embraced him as one of their own.

With the passage of time, all of Ireland converted to Christianity. This is not to say that pagan mythology did not continue. Pots of gold, leprechauns and fairies still led to superstitions and aspirations of better days, especially during the periods of poor crops, hunger and poverty. But the spirit of St. Patrick prospered through vocations of men to the priesthood and women to religious life.

The tremendous impact of St. Patrick, and later St. Brigid and St. Kevin resulted in seminaries full of young men who wanted to be religious brothers and priests. Convents and monasteries were bursting at the seams with women who aspired to living out the evangelical counsels in testimony to the world that awaits us. Eventually, the spirit of St. Patrick inspired many Irish brothers, priests, sisters and nuns to leave their beloved Ireland to bring their Catholic faith to other countries, in particular, the United States.

If one looks at the history of the Catholic Church in America, one has to take note of the influence of the Irish prelates, priests, brothers, sisters and nuns who made our country their own. They administered the young dioceses of the United States. They staffed the parishes, attended not only by Irish Catholics but by the immigrants arriving from other lands. They set up Catholic schools and hospitals.

The sisters were instrumental in making Catholic education available to all who wished to enroll in their schools, regardless of a family’s ability to pay tuition. Their hospitals were staffed by nurses who were sisters. They established Catholic universities and colleges. In short, American Catholicism was shaped by the work first begun by St. Patrick.  And in the spirit of this great saint, the bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters inspired those in their pastoral care to follow in their footsteps in priestly and religious vocations.

But where is St. Patrick today? In Ireland, the seminaries are dwindling. Many are closed. Some remain open to offer courses in theology to the laity. Vocations have plummeted. Many of the Irish no longer attend Mass. Sadly, clergy and religious abuse, secular humanism and materialism have extinguished the flame of St. Patrick, St. Brigid and St. Kevin.

Young women, just 60 years ago, had a choice: stay home, get married or become a nun. Today, women can live independently, and pursue any career they wish. Young men are encouraged by their families to find jobs that pay well and offer incentives for advancement. And, sadly, many of our young Catholics no longer wish to marry in the Church, nor do they wish to baptize their children in the faith of the Church. Many claim to believe in God but not so much in organized religion, that is, the Catholic Church.  What will it take to turn their hearts back to God?

It is a given that the more freedom people enjoy, the less dependent they are on a higher being. It is a given that the more material things people possess, the less they are attracted to embracing vocations which bode of chastity, obedience and poverty. Finally, there are no more role models to inspire the young to pursue a vocation to the priesthood, or religious life, be it active or contemplative.

We need another St. Patrick, not just for Ireland but here, too. So, while you are marching in your parades, eating corned beef and cabbage, watching young people perform Riverdance, pray, pray, pray for the spirit of St. Patrick to rekindle the flame of faith among our young people. They are the hope of the Church, in Ireland, in Europe and in the United States. Erin Go Bragh!

Father Comandini serves as diocesan coordinator of the Office for Ongoing Faith Formation.