The Holiday Thief

As we converge on St. Patrick's Day, we are often distracted by dancing leprechauns, green beer, and ticker-tape parades.  With the secularization of this holiday, we have essentially trampled over the life of St. Patrick by failing to honor the true measure of this man.  Who was he and what did he stand for?  For a short account of his life, visit http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89.

St. Patrick was responsible for bringing the message of Christ to Ireland.  Because of him, thousands were converted to Christianity and many of his followers became saints themselves.  He used the metaphor of the three-leaf clover (or shamrock) to tangibly portray the essence of the Holy Trinity.  We use the shamrock to symbolize "getting lucky" in varied and vulgar ways. 

Why is it that our holidays-- Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day-- have become so secularized and dichotomous?  Why do we even consider Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and leprechauns on these days which should be our most sacred?  It is because Satan has used these things to distract us from the true meaning of our holidays in an attempt to steal them from us.  He wants us, through our distraction, to forget the lives that gave reason for the holidays in the first place.    

Jesus says in John 10:10 that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy."  We cannot continue to let the thief steal the things-- and the people-- who have been the most precious to us.  And so tomorrow, give thanks to men like St. Patrick who had the courage to stand up for the faith and spread the Gospel of Christ to a place that lacked hope and the message of salvation.