Not for the first time, our Tuesday homily was about a saint, this time about the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. We learned some very interesting facts about Patrick. To begin, Patrick wasn't Irish. It seems that he was abducted from England by Irish raiders while a young teen and help captive in Ireland for six years until making his escape at the age of about 20. But I do not wish to focus on Patrick. His parents are far more interesting.
The history of the church in the British Isles is germaine to all Anglicans, Episcopalians and Presbyterians, as we trace our roots back to those islands. Patrick was Roman. His parents were Romans sent to England to deal with the Pelagian heresy by the church in Rome. This is all taking place in the fifth century. The great debate between Augustine and Pelagius and its aftermath subsequent to Pelagius' death was burning strongly in Rome. The fact that Patrick's parents were sent to England for this reason speaks to just how widespread this problem had become for the church. This heresy that infests the protestant churches of our time was the reason for Patrick's presence in Ireland in the first place. It is shameful that we have come to the point that history has erased the most important legacy of Patrick's family, that of putting down the Pelagian heresy.
Happy St. Patrick's Day. Isn't it nice to know that God chose you?
--Ogre--
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