Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy St Patrick's Day



I have never been too comfortable with the shamrock as a way of teaching the Trinity, I suspect it is not really from St Patrick but is an illustration of his desire to teach true dogma.

Happy St Patrick's Day

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Happy St Patrick's Day, Father.
Your posts are becoming less challenging by the day. Are they after you?

Anonymous said...

According to Wikipedia (which in this case I'm inclined to trust):

"It is notable that there is no mention anywhere in (the) writings of St. Patrick or the legend of his using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity ".

The first historical record of a link being made between shamrock and teaching about The B.Trinity is in the 18th century. The shamrock seems to have been used a national badge by then, so many people wore it on March 17 as a matter of national pride. Linking it to the doctrine of the Trinity is probably a pious fiction by a well meaaing cleric of the time.

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

I don't know, GW, in my current state of weakness, I found that quite challenging.

How is the glue diet going, Father?

How may people are actually doing some fasting and not doing those weird redefined fasting suggested by the Bishop of Rome? I wonder?

Pelerin said...

Ginge White -I have been wondering the same thing but didn't dare ask!

Supertradmum said...

Modalism is a problem in the Church today; perhaps the second most common heresy after Pelagianism/Neo Pelagianism.

I know some Latin Rite Catholics who do the Byzantine fast...btw.

As to shamrocks, not a good way to teach anything, but mythology.

The Lord’s descent into the underworld

At Matins/the Office of Readings on Holy Saturday the Church gives us this 'ancient homily', I find it incredibly moving, it is abou...