Why St. Patrick Would Prefer a Three-Leaf Clover

Saint Patty’s Day is known all across America as another reason to celebrate and wear festive attire. But when the history of a holiday gets shoved to the side, its real meaning gets overlooked, too.

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Saint Patty’s Day is known all across America as another reason to celebrate and wear festive attire. Bars fill from wall to wall with a sea of green, and spies remain agile in search of someone to pinch for breaking the dress code. And any excuse to have a party is fine by me. I love parties! But when the history of a holiday gets shoved to the side, its real meaning gets overlooked, too.

Saint Patrick is held with high regard in the Catholic Church. He is a role model of God’s favor and a picture of love, hope, and endurance, especially throughout the Irish culture. However, contrary to common belief, Saint Patrick was not actually Irish. In fact, he was born in Britain when Ireland was being ruled by the Romans in an area that was basically counted as Scottish territory. At sixteen years old, he was captured by Irish pirates who took him back to Ireland as a slave to herd sheep.

During the six years that he was in the field, Saint Patrick turned to prayer. He glorified God for his escape from slavery when he had a dream one night to travel to the coast. There, he found sailors who whisked him back to his family in Britain.

 

The four-leaf clover represents good luck, but the three-leaf clover represents a Good Father.

Another vision a few years later inspired him to become a priest and return to Ireland as a missionary. And though the four-leaf clover is considered a good-luck charm, it was the three-leaf clover that Saint Patrick valued. Using its individual yet connected features as a symbol, he described the Holy Trinity to various kingdoms throughout the country.

The separate leaves represent the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Where the leaves meet represents the unity of all three. One in three and three in one. Multitudes of people were converted to Christianity after hearing him speak about the Godhead this way. I don’t know about you, but I find that rather “lucky.”

Below is “The Shield of St. Patrick” which is also known as “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.” It is a prayer that is attributed to Saint Patrick, a man who knew from where his help came. A man who clung to the cross with everything he had and desired to share the power of Christ far and wide.

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One, the One in Three. I bind this day to me forever by power of faith Christ’s incarnation, his baptism in the Jordan river, his death on the cross for my salvation; his bursting from the spiced tomb, his riding up the heavenly way, his coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to harken to my need, the wisdom of my God to teach, his hand to guide, his shield to ward, the Word of God to give me speech, his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me; Christ to comfort and restore me; Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three, of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word; praise to the God of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord!

 

Attributed to Saint Patrick
Paraphrased by Cecil Frances Alexander

 

 

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About the Author

Becca is a gentle soul who seeks the best in the world and in others. She is easily touched by the beauty of books, music, and art. Though she aspires to write as eloquently as Emily Dickinson or Lang Leav, she hopes to make her own mark on the world one day. She dreams of leaving behind a voice that sparks creativity, imagination, hope, love, joy, and faith.