It's quite an ignoble beginning to the tale of a national hero! While some other nations' heroes were born to lead, ours was seized by pirates and sent to herd sheep on a mountain slope of an island that his people called Hibernia - the land of winter. He escaped, and then came back. Why?
Long lost in the mists of time and history, Patrick and his reasons for returning will remain forever a mystery. The story tells us he came back in response to the pleas of the Irish in his dreams. He didn't come back for the scenery; it must have been something positive that he saw in the locals.
The story of the Briton who came into voluntary exile among us has marked our national psyche indelibly ever since. From the voyages of Maeldun to the Maynooth Mission to China, from the convicts to the coffin ships, our people have spread throughout the world to live that same ideal that Patrick lived - that of an apostle exiled from his home. The voice that called Patrick to walk among us once again still echoes in the ears of millions of emigrants and missionaries. The history may be uncertain, but the spirit is still strong.
When Patrick lit his fire on Slane he ignited a nation. The fire he lit that day has spread throughout the world, as generation after generation leaves these shores to take up a life elsewhere. Brendan discovered Newfoundland, Cillian converted Germany, O'Higgins liberated Chile and Ned Kelly encapsulated the Australian character. Overall, we are a small nation that has exercised disproportionate influence on the planet. Looking back at what has been achieved should drive us forward with a zeal to continue the good work.
Beyond the parades and parties, St Patrick's Day is a good day to ask ourselves why Patrick came back. It is a day to affirm that which is good about our nation and recover the positive side of our story. It is a day to ask ourselves about Irish virtues and to reassert them where they are wavering. Are we still an island of saints and scholars? Are we really the land of a hundred thousand welcomes? Does the whole world really want to be Irish on St Patrick's Day?
Celebrating our Irishness is done so positively on this feast: "Everybody is Irish on St Patrick's Day!" It may sound corny and it might be commercial, but that sentiment is so powerful and positive that we shouldn't dismiss it. Today is the day when we celebrate the achievements of our emigrants abroad. Today is also the day when we assert the hospitality that we claim to be endemic to our race. It also happens to be the day that stands alone in that we are inclusive in our nationality rather than defining it by difference from others.
As millions of people throughout the world take to the streets to celebrate what Patrick saw as special in the Irish we should be honoured by his and their compliments. That honour should also be a challenge to live up to the reputation our people have developed abroad. It would almost seem that the promise God made to Abraham rested on us:
Imigh as do thir fein, agus do mhuintir fein,
Deanfaidh me cine mor daoibh. . .
And he did.
I hope we deserve it!
F. MacE.