Enjoy your celebration of this great saint but don't forget his remarkable asceticism, which began while he was a slave in Ireland:
“After I had come to Ireland I daily used to feed cattle, and I prayed frequently during the day; the love of God and the fear of Him increased more and more, and faith became stronger, and the spirit was stirred; so that in one day I said about a hundred prayers, and in the night nearly the same; so that I used even to remain in the woods and in the mountains; before daylight I used to rise to prayer, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm; nor was there any slothfulness in me, as I now perceive, because the spirit was then fervent within me.” (Confessions §16)
As well as ridding Ireland of snakes and refuting demonic druids, Patrick abolished the island's slave trade. No mean feat, and I'd say we need his prayers today as much as ever.
God bless,
LSP
