St Patrick and the Heroic Offering

My homily for the Pioneers, for St Patrick’s Day 2022 based upon the relationship between St Patrick and the Heroic Offering

Pioneers say this offering daily.

The Heroic Offering “For thy greater Glory and consolation, O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, for Thy sake, to give good example, to practice self-denial, to make reparation to Thee for the sins of intemperance and for the conversion of excessive drinkers, I will abstain for life from all intoxicating drinks, Amen”

The Pioneer pledge has echoes of St Patrick contained within it. Good example, self denial, inspired by the love and compassion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Not a condemnation but an invitation to follow a different path one that leads to life and an understanding of its sacred nature.

St Patrick, the English born saint of the Irish has come to represent one day of excess, in drinking and having a good time. Perhaps this surprises me, because this is the opposite to his legend and his own writings too. 

I think St Patrick was quite austere, uncompromising, and would have been surprised himself at being adopted as the saint of a one day and all night drinking session in his honour! 

Drink is not the problem, it is like life, part of the gifted nature of living, but for some it can be a real curse and addiction, a bind so strong that lives are ruined. Pioneers pray for, and support spiritually and practically those who are struggling with the negative aspect of drinking to excess. St Patrick is a great role model for seeing the road signs for heaven ahead and taking those paths and sticking to the right path that is leading towards heaven’s shores.

He starts his confessions saying, I Patrick a sinner, a simple country person. His apostolic work and knowledge of the clan system in Ireland made his mission to the Irish people successful. His greatness was not eloquence, but  creating a person in prayer where God’s love constantly shone through him

The commercial appeal of St Patrick is one days excess, but the enduring appeal is more challenging and more rewarding too.

What do we take from St Patrick, a saint whose legend is surrounded in myth and story. His missionary faith led him to a life of prayer, a life of penance, a life of giving of himself in service of the heart of Jesus, a wise and holy man who did not keep the faith to himself but passed it on like a flame, through his example and goodness. 

I read a few words about St Patrick in a book dedicated to the great saint and it portrays what I would like to say too. 

“As we celebrate the feast of this great missionary saint, let us ask ourselves whether we are grateful to God for the gift of Faith which has been passed down to us. Do we, like Patrick, use every means to pass on this Faith and spread it? St. Patrick’s life was penitential and prayerful as well as active, his spirituality solid, and his dependence on God absolute. St. Patrick can serve as a model for all of us to get our priorities straight.” 

For thy greater glory, Sacred Heart of Jesus, we say, so as to remind us to show a good example.

May St Patrick help each person to tread the path of life and for those who stray may we be a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, holding out a hand to embrace another, lifting up and encouraging, for like Patrick we too are sinners, simple country folk, who rely upon God for everything.